James Bond bidding war: Studios battle for license to film
JAMES Bond is the most wanted man in Hollywood, with major movie studios bidding to capture the world’s most famous fictional spy.
Studios will begin the battle to purchase the distribution rights for future Bond films from next we
The battle to buy worldwide distribution rights to the 007 franchise, which has made £4billion at the box office, begins shortly after tomorrow’s UK release of Spectre.
Warner Bros are favourite to land the contract and experts believe the switch from current distributor, Sony Pictures Entertainment, to a rival camp could trigger bigger budgets and more spectacular special effects.
Sony, which also distributed the three previous films starring Daniel Craig as Bond – Casino Royale, Quantum Of Solace and Skyfall – wants to renew the contract.
Reviews for the forthcoming Bond instalment, Spectre, have been overwhelmingly positive
The Bond franchise has made more than £4bn at the box office
Chairman Tom Rothman said: “We’re going to compete for the rights but so is everybody in the business.”
He was at the helm for the most successful Bond film in history: Skyfall in 2012, which made a record $1.1billion, or £717million.
2012's Skyfall was the most successful Bond in history, taking more than £750m at the box office
But last year’s hacking of Sony’s computer system revealed the studio clashed with partner MGM over rising costs that pushed the Spectre budget over £200million.
We’re going to compete for the rights but so is everybody in the business
LA based media analyst Mike Raia said: “Warner Bros are much bigger players and own a raft of successful franchises, including an exclusive deal with DC Comics.”
Star Wars: Episode VII, The Force Awakens could be the biggest Hollywood blockbuster of all time with experts predicting the Disney film will make $1billion or £650million in its first week.
It opens in the US on December 14 and the day after in the UK.