Following their purchasing of MGM, I had assumed Amazon Studios would’ve handled worldwide distribution of all their films, but it turns out not to be the case.
It was announced on Sunday that Warner Bros had been handed the international distribution rights to all upcoming MGM films, apart from the next James Bond film.
Under the new arrangement, WB’s international distribution will start as early as this year with the release of Timothee Chalamet’s Bones and All in November, followed by Creed 3, directed by Michael B Jordan, in 2023.
It’s a similar pact to which the company did with Universal, which released high-profile projects like House of Gucci, Licorice Pizza and the successful international release of No Time to Die.
As any Bond fan outside the US will say, it was cool to see the classic Universal logo become the gun barrel. It’s great we’ll see it again as the studio will handle the international release of Bond 26. Additionally, they’ll work on releasing Till, starring Danielle Deadwyler and Jalyn Hall, in the true story of Mamie Till Mobley’s relentless pursuit of justice for her 14-year-old son, Emmett, in October.
The studio will also handle the Jesse Buckley, Claire Foy and Rooney Mara drama, Women Talking, which is set for an early 2023 release.
The deal, believed to be three years but can be extended, shouldn’t come as such a great surprise as Warner Bros’ new co-chairs, Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy, recently arrived from MGM, so it’s a win-win for everyone.
So what this actually means is WB will release MGM movies everywhere outside the US, including China, and physical home entertainment. Furthermore, they’ll work together on marketing/advertising, publicity, distribution and exhibitor relations on behalf of MGM’s future theatrical slate, with the responsibility for execution falling on Warners.
As for the prized golden goose of the Bond series, WB will have the possibility of releasing an official Eon-Bond picture with Bond 27 (after they released Never Say Never Again).
Since Barbara Broccoli stated we’re at least two years away from getting a new 007, it looks like the studio will take the opportunity of extending this current deal solely to say a James Bond movie is on their slate.
However, as stated in the opening paragraph, it makes Amazon’s buying MGM confusing and maybe hints at the company only having it for the iconic productions library for their Prime streaming service.
The Bear Cave 