Will Amazon's 007 franchise ever take center stage again? Thinking about this, I flashed back to a conversation with an actor friend telling me, "I've just been offered a big payday as the next James Bond but I can't get over the feeling that his every line has been said before – and maybe better.

For more than 60 years, one family has determined everything about James Bond, from how he takes his martini (“shaken, not stirred”) to his firearm (Walther PPK) and vehicle (Aston Martin) of choice.

Craig played the character for 15 years, and his departure spurred years of speculation about what its future might be.

Amazon MGM Studios. State of play: Amazon announced today that it had formed a new joint venture that gives it creative control of the James Bond fran

In a James Bond shakeup that stirred the film industry, Amazon MGM announced that the studio has taken the creative reins of the franchise after decades of family control.

Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson ceded their creative control of the franchise to Amazon MGM in a deal worth an additional $1 billion.

THR has spoken to a “source familiar” with this earthshaking development, and it appears that Jeff Bezos may have been the overall catalyst. In a rundown that theorizes what actually happened, this unnamed party alleges that the founder of Amazon pulled the trigger due to this concern:

The biggest news in Hollywood in recent months is the fact that Amazon MGM has taken over creative control of the James Bond franchise. It’s the biggest change behind the scenes since the Bond movies started being produced.

Former Bond Girl Jane Seymour says she's hopeful for the future of the 007 franchise after Amazon acquired creative control.

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy pledged the tech giant will "take great care" with the franchise and doesn't yet have specific plans for its next creative steps.

Barbara Broccoli attended a performance of her stage musical "Buena Vista Social Club" at the Atlantic Theater in New York. The longtime James Bond producer and gatekeeper was joined by three top Amazon MGM Studios executives - Jennifer Salke,