A £450m new film studio in the North East could become the surprise home for 007 after Amazon took creative control of the spy franchise.
Amazon is expected to move quickly to kickstart the Bond franchise after announcing a new deal that would see long-term Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson step back, and Jeff Bezos’s company take full creative control.
Crown Works Studios will be built on the River Wear in Sunderland (image – 4D Studio architects)
But after agreeing an estimated $1bn (£791m) deal with Broccoli and Wilson to take over the franchise, Amazon is expected to push ahead with plans to fully exploit the Bond brand with spin-off films, prequels, perhaps telling the back-story of much-loved characters like M, and TV series.
Pinewood Studios, traditionally the home of Bond, has revealed plans to build more film stages. Its Albert R. Broccoli 007 Stage was built in 1976 for The Spy Who Loved Me and the studio group has launched a public consultation over its proposals to expand in Buckinghamshire.
Other studios are pitching to be part of the Bond boom with Crown Works, a joint venture between Cain International and Fulwell73, the company co-owned by Corden, behind the Gavin & Stacey Christmas finale, Sunderland Till I Die and The Kardashians, in the mix.
James Corden, left, with Daniel Craig and Remi Malek on The Late Late Show with James Corden (photo – CBS archive)
Leo Pearlman, Fulwell 73’s managing partner, told The i Paper: “We’d build Crown Works to Amazon’s spec to facilitate such a commitment. We’d make it the centre of the Bond universe.”
Sunderland-born singer Emeli Sandé could be in the frame to sing the next Bond theme – although it might be a stretch to imagine Corden himself slipping on 007’s black tuxedo.
“You would expect the sort of prequels, origin stories and series devoted to niche characters in the ‘universe’ that every other piece of big IP has spawned over the past decade.”
“There necessarily will be more nuance and backstory brought to the character, and therefore greater opportunity to clash with existing fans who will be annoyed by change and ask why, given that the character is and remains very successful and popular,” Harrington said.
“The world would have us believe that the brave decision would be to modernise Bond to conform to a particular perception of a new enlightened man, or woman for that matter.
“True bravery would be to stick with what made Bond great, he’s a deeply flawed character, he’s uncompromising, he’s who many people wish they could be.”
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