Studio Fight For Bond, James Bond Film Rights Heats Up

Back in 2006, the franchise film rights to the most notable of British martini drinking super spies became part of the Sony lexicon.  They’ve held on to them for the last 10 years, making Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace, Skyfall, and Spectre with leading man Daniel Craig.

It would appear there is now an open season on the rights, and as the New York Times reports, there are no less than five studios vying for the property.  Sony’s rights to distribute the films expired in 2015, which means the two companies who currently the film rights Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer  Eon Productions, are shopping around for a new house.

NYT goes on to say the presentation to whet the appetite of possible studios was held inside a soundstage on a recreated set from the 1963 first James Bond film Dr. No.

The four big players courting the rights at this time are Warner Bros., Universal Pictures, 20th Century Fox and Annapurna (Oracle heiress Megan Ellison‘s new ‘start up’ company).

At this time, the deal is for one film only, so if any of these studio houses are looking for a long term lease, they’ll have to prove themselves with the property where it counts.  At the box office.