Iconic James Bond star blasts ‘absolute madness’ of Amazon taking over franchise

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James Bond star Valerie Leon has slammed news that Amazon MGM Studios has taken creative control of the franchise.

The 81-year-old Bond Girl, who played a hotel receptionist and a lady in the Bahamas in The Spy Who Loved Me and Never Say Never Again respectively, insisted the decision to give control to the US company is ‘madness’.

‘I think it’s madness, absolute madness. We all enjoy Bond as it was. Daniel Craig was killed off in No Time To Die, and I just don’t understand,’ she said on Friday’s episode of Good Morning Britain.

‘Of course, money was involved and that’s why Amazon have taken it over. it’ll never be the same again, ever.’

Amazon acquired the rights to the 007 franchise through its parent studio Eon, founded in 1961, when it bought MGM in 2022 for $8.45billion (£6.69bn), duly forming its own studio.

Until now, the final say on key production issues went to producers and half-siblings Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, the children of famed Bond producer Albert ‘Cubby’ Broccoli.

Never Say Never Again actress Valerie Leon isn’t keen on the move (Picture: Warner Bros/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock) The Bond Girl thinks the decision is ‘madness’ (Picture: ITV/Good Morning Britain)

Amazon MGM Studios, Wilson and Broccoli have ‘formed a new joint venture to house the James Bond intellectual property rights’, with the duo remaining co-owners of the franchise’, while Amazon MGM Studios ‘will gain creative control’ of 007.

Leon worked with both Sean Connery and Roger Moore on the big screen, and she credited them as a huge part of the big screen series’ legacy.

‘I think they were in fact to the two best Bonds, but they were right at the beginning of the series. And yes, possibly their Britishness,’ she said.

Leon acted opposite Sean Connery and Roger Moore (Picture: Warner Bros/Kobal/Shutterstock)

‘They were just so memorable. Because I’m the age I am, I remember them more than the other Bonds. I really think it’s sad that Amazon are doing this.’

Now, speculation about who will be the next Bond has intensified.

Leon pointed out that Broccoli has done ‘such a wonderful job carrying the franchise on’, while conceding ‘life changes and what will be will be’.

‘It’s not a question of “worry me”, because life changes and everything moves on and changes,’ she added.

Daniel Craig’s successor has still not been revealed (Picture: Col Pics/Everett/REX/Shutterstoc)

‘I just – the Bond franchise was very British and it won’t be anymore. If they make films, they probably won’t go to the cinema – everything is so changed now, it won’t be the same.’

In December, the Wall Street Journal, pointed at growing tensions as the producer reportedly believed she could ‘hold Bond hostage from Amazon for as long as she sees fit’.

The outlet claimed Broccoli didn’t see the studio as a good fit for the franchise and she was quoted saying: ‘Don’t have temporary people make permanent decisions’, which is something her father once said.

Michael G Wilsox and Barbara Broccoli have given up creative control (Picture: Dave Allocca/StarPix/REX/Shutterstock)

The producer allegedly also called the studio ‘idiots’ and pushed back against the expansion plans for spin-offs and TV shows focused on the likes of Moneypenny.

There are fears from fans that Amazon could move ahead with a prequel TV series, having proved successful already with Lord of the Rings’ show Rings of Power.

There is also a chance that female 007, Lashana Lynch, takes off on her own adventures in either a parallel film series or TV show, with the literary side of Bond already expanded into comic books.

Good Morning Britain airs weekdays at 6am on ITV1.

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