This just in: Amazon now owns James Bond.
Amazon, the massive corporation that made a name for itself as an online retailer before branching out to other industries, is set to acquire the Metro Goldwyn Mayer movie studio in a deal that's worth an estimated $8.45 billion.
The deal was officially announced on Wednesday, May 26, following a week full of rumors about the acquisition. What's Next for Amazon and James Bond? The MGM acquisition gives Amazon multiple franchises and IPs to work with.
In the official news release, Amazon said that it will "empower MGM to continue to do what they do best: great storytelling."
Amazon's acquisition of MGM also gives them rights to some 4,000 films and 17,000 TV shows. Or, basically, all films MGM has released after 1986. Unfortunately, films released before 1986 aren't included as part of the deal. Those are owned and controlled by Turner Entertainment Company. Interestingly enough, the said division of WarnerMedia is also in the middle of its own acquisition.
Amazon will likely add MGM's treasure trove of films and TV shows to its own streaming service, Amazon Prime Video, in an attempt to bolster its offerings.
In addition to the existing library of TV shows and films, Amazon's acquisition also means that the company will now have rights to MGM's slate of upcoming films. Naturally, this includes the James Bond movie, No Time to Die, which has seen numerous delays. Other noteworthy films include Paul Thomas Anderson's Soggy Bottom and Ridley Scott's House of Gucci, among others.