Summary
- Producer Barbara Broccoli downplays the possibility of a scripted James Bond TV show, stating that the focus remains on big-screen adaptations.
- Broccoli explains that the Bond movies are made for the theatrical screen and everything about them is designed for worldwide audiences to experience in that format.
- The reality competition series 007: Road to a Million, hosted by Brian Cox, debuting November 10 on Prime Video, embodies the same ethos of heroism, courage, and fortitude that the Bond movies offer, providing good entertainment for audiences.
A James Bond producer gives an honest response to whether the franchise will ever create television spinoffs. Daniel Craig has officially given his farewell as the iconic character after 2021’s No Time to Die, with no concrete updates on who will succeed him in the role. At the same time, James Bond is coming to television in the form of a reality competition series. Hosted by Succession star Brian Cox, Prime Video’s 007: Road to a Million debuts November 10, and it’s filled with plenty of references to the indelible film series.
But as to the question of whether a scripted version of James Bond will appear on the small screen, producer Barbara Broccoli downplayed the possibility in an interview with The Guardian and explained why the focus remained on big screen adaptations. Broccoli was speaking in the context of promoting 007: Road to a Million and looking at the future of the franchise more broadly, saying, “We make the Bond movies for the big theatrical screen.” The producer’s full quote is below:
“Our focus is making the feature films. When we get going on a Bond movie it takes our full attention for three or four years so that’s our focus.
“We make the Bond movies for the big theatrical screen and everything about the Bond movies is for audiences to see around the world on that format, so we’ve not wanted to do television.
“[The reaality show] same ethos of heroism, courage and fortitude we do in the movies … I think it’s really good entertainment and that’s what people need.”
A Bond TV Show Is Intriguing (But The Risks Are Obvious)
The biggest risk in bringing Bond to television is obvious when looking at the damage done to the MCU and, to a perhaps lesser extent, Star Wars as well. Marvel Television and its various productions, such as Daredevil: Born Again, are going through an undeniably rough patch. Part of that is due to the fact that, telling a story on TV should be different from telling a story in a two-hour movie. They require different skills. Films can get by on sheer spectacle and propulsiveness while TV, at its best, prizes characterization and individual scenes that linger on the emotional history of the characters.
By shifting its focus to television, the Bond creative team would be diverting attention away from what has made the franchise special throughout the decades. A potential fix could be to focus on the character of M, for example, rather than Bond. Rightfully, though, producers like Barbara Broccoli don’t want to run the risk of diluting a formula that has largely worked wonderfully.
At the same time, from a purely speculative vantage point, there could be potential in a limited-run series that carries the James Bond name and exists within its world. It could be a change to hire a huge name like Tom Holland, who has said that he wants to play Bond, and make it something of a more comedic sprint that is distinguished from the films. In other words, they could adjust the franchise for TV as opposed to the opposite.
Source: The Guardian
