In a James Bond shakeup that stirred the film industry, Amazon MGM announced Thursday that the studio has taken the creative reins of the 007 franchise after decades of family

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.

Longtime Bond custodians Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli said they would be stepping back. Amazon MGM Studios, Wilson and Broccoli formed a new joint venture in which they will co-own James Bond intellectual property rights — but Amazon MGM will have creative control.

For over six decades, the Broccoli family has been as much a part of the James Bond film franchise as vodka martinis (shaken, not stirred, of course), beautiful women and henchmen with terrible aim.

Seeing the James Bond franchise owned by any major corporation is a downer. It felt special to see something as big as 007 still having this small, independent feel because it was family-owned. However,

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.

It's taking around $1 billion to have James Bond stewards Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson cede oversight to Amazon MGM Studios, sources say.

In a huge shakeup for the James Bond series, Amazon will take creative control as longtime producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli step back.

A movie star from classic James Bond films warned that the series' acquisition by Amazon MGM may bring changes to the long-running franchise.