In a surprising turn of events, Amazon has taken full creative control over the James Bond franchise, with long-time producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson stepping away. This shift has sparked considerable interest and speculation about the future direction of the iconic series. A recent report from Variety has provided some clarity on what's next for 007, including a notable rejection of a high-profile director.

Despite rumors that Amazon might pivot to a Bond TV series, Variety confirms that a new Bond film remains the "top priority." The first step for Amazon in this new era is to find a suitable producer for the franchise. They are reportedly eyeing someone with a track record similar to David Heyman, who successfully guided the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts series with a unified vision.

In a surprising twist, the report also revealed that acclaimed director Christopher Nolan had expressed interest in helming a Bond film following his work on Tenet. However, Broccoli's insistence on retaining "final cut" privileges led to his rejection. Nolan subsequently directed Oppenheimer, which not only grossed nearly $1 billion worldwide but also secured him the Best Picture and Best Director Oscars.

However, Amazon cannot proceed with any new hires for the Bond franchise until their deal with Broccoli and Wilson is finalized, expected sometime this year. This development comes after reports of a tense standoff between the Broccoli family, who traditionally held creative control and casting decisions, and Amazon, which acquired the rights to distribute Bond films following its $8.45 billion purchase of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 2021. The Wall Street Journal described this situation as leaving the franchise "on pause" amid an "ugly" dispute.

Neither Amazon nor Eon Productions have yet issued a statement regarding these developments.