Timothy Dalton admitted he was "shocked" after learning the James Bond film franchise is now under Amazon's control. On Thursday (February 20), longtime 007 producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson announced their intention to form a joint venture with Amazon MGM Studios to manage the James Bond intellectual property rights. For over 60 years, the British-American Broccoli family has maintained a non-compromising oversight over the beloved movies, which they treated like a luxury brand.
Broccoli and Wilson have guided the film series together since the death of original Bond producer Albert R 'Cubby' Broccoli in 1996. It marks the end of an era for the Bond Films, which had remained a family business since the first film in the franchise, Dr. No, was released in 1962.
Dalton, 78, who played the iconic secret agent in two films in 1987 and 1989, said news of Broccoli and Wilson's departure surprised him. Speaking to Radio Times , he said: "I was very, very surprised and shocked. Barbara is I think a fabulous woman and a wonderful producer, as was her father Cubby Broccoli, who I got on with very well and liked a lot.
"He was a very powerful and strong anchor for the project. Nothing went on that he didn't want and it's sad that he's not with us anymore, that's all I can say." Dalton added: "He was well in charge of the show and that's not so anymore.
" The actor's portrayals of the British spy in The Living Daylights (1987) and Licence to Kill (1989) are celebrated for b.