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Though 007 won’t be making an appearance on the 2025 movie schedule, the current changing of the guard that oversees his cinematic legacy has been making some huge moves. Uncertainty over the famed franchise has started to take on a new form thanks to Amazon-MGM’s James Bond deal seeing long-time stewards Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson handing over the keys to their family’s kingdom.
Now another retirement stands to further complicate things, as casting director Debbie McWilliams has officially announced her own departure from Commander Bond’s camp. While the decision was made before the recent bombshell, McWilliams’ statement contained some rather blistering remarks about the future. As shared by Screen Daily, McWilliams got rather candid about how she feels about the road ahead, which wrapped up with the following sentiment:
Looking at Amazon’s previous theatrical films does not fill me with any great enthusiasm. If they mess with the Essence of Bond they risk alienating a huge audience. Choosing the actor to fill the role is a huge task and not one I would hand over to subscribers of X.
Even as someone who’s maintaining an open mind in this new era of James Bond, I’d be lying if Ms. McWilliams’ remarks didn’t strike a chord with the piece of me that’s still shaken and stirred. Let’s not forget the reports that alleged Bond 26’s potential tone is going to skew towards exactly the sort of project Amazon-MGM Studios’ detractors are fearing.
That last dig in Debbie McWilliams’ message wasn’t just random shade either, but rather a targeted reference. On the same morning that Amazon-MGM Studios was announced to be taking complete creative control over the 007 movies, company founder Jeff Bezos put this post onto social media:
To be a bit pessimistic for a second, that move sounds akin to taking the voting process that gave us the meme known as Boaty McBoatface and applying it to the next face of James Bond. Which only fits with the overall story that alleged clashes in tradition versus modernity led to a massive feud between Barbara Broccoli and Amazon-MGM execs.
While it by no means confirms such stories are true, it certainly doesn’t look good. Looking into providing this potential window into Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson’s thought process, here’s why the woman who’s cast Bond since For Your Eyes Only thinks this unexpected twist came to pass:
I am sad to see the end of this era but totally understand why it has happened. Prior to Amazon acquiring MGM, Barbara and Michael had a good working relationship with the studio and always held the final decisions. Producing a Bond film takes at least 2 years of their lives with little time for anything else. And with Michael retiring I think Barbara did not have the appetite to shoulder the burden alone. She has so many other interests, especially with her theatre projects.
The overall picture of where Bond 26 stands is a bit more murky now, even in the wake of events that feel like they’d turbocharge the process. In addition to needing to find a new head of story for the 007 saga, there’s now a need to find a casting director that will likely become embedded for the next film and beyond.
Whether or not the fears of Debbie McWilliams are valid or unfounded is left to be seen. What can be said is that she served her post with great distinction and helped keep the wheels turning on this landmark franchise. With that, we here at CinemaBlend wish Ms. McWilliams all the best in the world with her future endeavor, whether they be shaken or stirred.