Ep. 2: Apple & Amazon Fight for Bond Rights, Beyonce Singing the Bond 25 Song

The Words Are Not Enough

Get fitted for your tux because it's time for Episode 2 of The Words Are Not Enough!
In this episode Griffin (@griffschiller) and Brody (@brodyserravalli) discuss the following:
Tomorrow Never Lies
* James Bond Rights
* http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/apple-amazon-join-race-james-bond-film-rights-1035539
* Fresh off the presses today is some new development into which company may land the film distribution rights to the highly coveted James Bond franchise.
* While Warner Bros. remains in the lead to land film distribution rights, Apple and Amazon have unexpextedly thrown their hats into the ring.
* MGM has been looking for a deal for more than two years, and Sony, Universal and Fox had also been pursuing the property, with Warners and Sony the most aggressive.
* However, according to sources in contact with the Hollywood Reporter, the tech giants are willing to spend in the same ballpark as Warners, if not much more, for the rights.
* They consider Bond one of the last untapped brands (like a Marvel, Pixar or Lucasfilm) that could act as a game-changer in the content space. Apple’s and Amazon’s inclusion in the chase would indicate that more is on the table than film rights, including the future of the franchise if MGM will sell or license out for the right price.
* Sources say newly arrived executives Zack Van Amburg and Jamie Erlicht (former co-presidents of Sony Pictures Television) are spearheading the effort on Apple’s behalf - suggesting they may be interested in also bringing Bond to television stating, “In the world of Lucasfilm and Marvel, Bond feels really underdeveloped"
* Valuation of the franchise may be anywhere between $2 billion and $5 billion, says an insider.
* Other sources insist that, at this stage, Eon producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson remain traditional in their outlook and that theatrical movies are their main concern
* Beyonce recording Bond 25 song
* Natural when the release date and return of Daniel Craig was announced for Bond 25 the rumor mill started to churn in regards to who will sing the main title song for Craig’s final outing.
* According to Daily Star, Beyonce is in talks to record the theme song for Bond 25.
* The singer has reportedly held meetings with leading Bond producers, and could even rope in husband Jay-Z to perform the title track.
* According to a source allegedly close to Beyonce "This is the only project she is remotely interested in right now.”
* “To tie-up a deal with Beyoncé for a theme song for Daniel’s fifth appearance as 007 would really be the icing on the cake”, an MGM studio executive reportedly added.
* It’s important to note that the pop star has not confirmed that the rumor is true, in fact when Billboard reached out for a comment, a rep replied simply with “This is a rumor."
* Bond 25 Plot details
* Over the past couple of days, new details regarding the potential plot of Bond 25 have emerged and needless to say have gotten a lot of people talking.
* According to Page Six a Hollywood insider is reporting that "Bond quits the secret service, and he’s in love and gets married.” The source continues that “his wife then gets killed,” bringing Bond back into action.
* The source says that as the next film opens, they are in wedded bliss. “The film’s like ‘Taken’ with Bond,” says the source, who adds that the suave spy is trying to avenge his wife’s murder.
* George Lazenby’s birthday
Q Branch
* Review/discussion on Becoming Bond in honor of George Lazenby’s birthday
* Lazenby’s subtle but significant impact on the Bond Franchise
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