Amazon MGM Revealed To Have Paid $20 Million USD for Full Creative Control of the James Bond Franchise

Summary

• Amazon MGM Studios acquired full creative control of the James Bond franchise from EON Productions for a surprisingly low reported cash price of $20 million USD
• The acquisition price is dramatically lower than the rumored $1 billion USD valuation, suggesting the deal includes undisclosed incentives like stock options or profit-sharing
• The deal marks the end of the long-time producers’ creative oversight and signals a new, corporate-driven era for the 007 franchise

Amazon MGM Studios has secured full creative control of the monumental James Bond franchise for a surprisingly low initial cash payment. A new earnings report filed by EON Productions, the long-time stewards of 007, revealed that Amazon paid just $20 million USD for the rights to the spy franchise and its related assets.

This figure is vastly lower than initial rumors, which speculated the price tag could be as high as $1 billion. The $20 million USD amount, revealed in EON’s UK tax filing, barely covers the reported salary of Daniel Craig’s final Bond film, No Time to Die.

The deal, which was finalized in February 2025, grants Amazon MGM the authority over all creative decisions, including the upcoming Bond 26 film, which is reportedly being directed by Denis Villeneuve. While the producers, Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, remain co-owners of the intellectual property under a joint venture, their long-held creative oversight has officially been ceded.

Experts suggest the deal’s true value likely includes other lucrative incentives, such as Amazon stock options or profit-sharing agreements, which were not disclosed in the filing. Regardless of the final total, the low initial price is a remarkable development that signals a new, corporate-driven era for one of cinema’s most iconic and valuable franchises.