The Spy Who Streamed Me:

So they’ve gone and done it again, another small, indie label sold off to the corporate machine to be diluted and rebranded into an unrecognizable shadow of its former self.

Ok, so maybe Amazon’s recent acquisition of the production rights for the James Bond franchise, a 60-year spanning goliath of cinema, isn’t quite the same as your favourite craft beer brewery being absorbed by Heineken, or is it?

Will 007’s gratifyingly potent elixir be watered down to a less unique, less intoxicating percentage, one more palatable for consumption by today's streaming generation? As a fan of James Bond myself (so much so I’ve written my own 007 script and am documenting my journey of trying to get it made into the next James Bond Movie) I certainly hope not. All over the world lovers of these iconic British spy films now wait in tense anticipation to see what Amazon will do with their beloved 007.

If we’re honest, the James Bond films were never originally supposed to be ‘connoisseur films’, which arguably they have slowly evolved into overtime, as the appetite of mainstream audiences for the exploits of ‘one man heroes’, have altered to cravings for more inclusive and relatable characters to connect with. The 007 films, with their fast cars, daring stunts, and luxury destinations were originally intended to be entertainment for everyone, when cinema was a cheap pastime that the whole family could enjoy together. The early James Bond movies represented escapism and fantasy but often lacked humanity, whilst the Bond of Late has arguably become too bulked down in realism, delving into topics like ageism, mental health, and fatherhood in an attempt to stay relevant. Now, in 2025 what’s more relevant than Amazon and the fast-paced, hyper-connected world it represents? The megacorp that is Amazon and its streaming service ‘Prime’ and others like it have become the evolution of cinema for the 21st century. Good job really, as you need to remortgage your house these days to take the family to watch the latest film on the big screen. So perhaps Amazon is perfectly positioned to bring James Bond back to the masses where it belongs, only this time in the comfort of our own homes. Whilst Amazon has indeed received a lot of negative feedback for its handling of the Rings of Power, specifically for its embellishment of Tolkien's original material, Ian Fleming’s books are hardly as epic and original as Middle Earth, which produces a cult-like following from its unforgiving fans. That’s not a criticism of Ian Fleming, the Bond novels work well as film adaptations for precisely that reason - there isn’t much subplot. So how will Amazon handle this iconic franchise in a world where the trilogy has given way to the series and where quantity rather than quality reigns supreme? Do these concise, no-loose-ends stories, with their purposefully unrealistic characters and plots, really lend themselves to a multiple-series format with subplots and emotional character arcs that don’t seem to resolve until season 9? Well, that’s the real question, isn’t it? Amazon has the budget and the production capability to pull off an amazing original James Bond spectacle but a James Bond series? Well, that's another thing altogether. Whilst it’s yet to be confirmed whether Amazon will be exploring the series format with their newly acquired franchise or not, the way I see it, they only have 3 options:

Option A: Carry on the same way all Bond films have gone before them and produce an awesome new 2-hour Bond adventure with a brand new actor, never-seen-before gadgets, and breathtaking stunts. If so I have the perfect script.

Option B: Produce a prequel series that introduces today’s younger audience, less familiar with the franchise, to a younger, hungrier James Bond serving in the Royal Navy during WW2. This series could lead up to or even include the original film plots which began in 1962 with Sean Connery’s Dr No. Whilst tempting initially it may be dangerous in the long run and could set the franchise up for a massive fall if Amazon tries to copy and paste the same films again; a popular choice today for creatively limp studios eager to cash in on past successes. Watch the series ‘Gotham’ for an example of how not to do it.

Option C: They could create a new series that sees a new Bond embark on new missions. Now this one I see being the most problematic. Over the course of the last 60 years/25 films, Bond has done it all. From abseiling inside a volcano, fighting a battle in space and surfing a tsunami (let’s skip past that last one), special agent 007 has quite the top secret C.V. So where can he be taken to next? What impossible scenarios can be thought up for him to conquer now in 2025? The first problem is that the life expectancy of a spy is short, secret missions are usually planned for months yet their daring execution is usually comparatively also, quite short. Series on the other hand, are long. So what’s the answer? Flesh out the characters and subplot? The problem with that is you run the risk of it becoming a soap opera, whilst simultaneously reducing the characters' fantastical appeal. We’ve already seen this done with Daniel Craig's Bond, whose gritty, emotional interpretation of the character, ends up walking James Bond into his first-ever defeat. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that killing off your leading man is not the wisest choice when his name and character are literally the franchise.

So what is the answer? What should Amazon do now to avoid yet another franchise fuck up? How can they heal the wounds left by the creative choices of Wilson’s and Broccolis ‘No Time to Die’? Only time will tell but if they get stuck they can always contact me as my story fits nicely into the pre-existing Bond universe whilst still containing new ideas, gadgets and a refreshing 007 storyline. It also, most importantly, resurrects 007 from his untimely demise and explains how James Bond escaped his inescapable, impending doom at the end of his last mission. Well of course he did, James Bond has to survive. Unless you want your next serving of 007 to be in the form of a Zombie movie? Whilst I’d be surprised if anyone, particularly an executive from Amazon, comes across this article in the vast ocean of the internet, if you are still reading, I thank you for your time.

For more works of Fac-tion by Jacobie Jones click the link below.

https://shopping-feedback.today/authors/james-spencer-briggs