Apple and Amazon are reportedly in the running for James Bond movie rights

Apple and Amazon have reportedly joined the bidding war for James Bond distribution

rights, and the companies are willing to spend a lot of money. According to a new report from The Hollywood Reporter, Apple and Amazon are open to spending more money than Warner Bros., the current frontrunner, for the rights. Sony Pictures Entertainment has had the distribution rights to the movies since 2006, but that contract expired after 2015’s Spectre. MGM and Eon Productions, which co-own the film rights, but don’t distribute, have been hearing pitches from studios for more than two years, according to THR. JAMES BOND, EXCEPT STREAMING A source who spoke to THR said that Apple’s interest in the franchise has made Warner Bros. eager to close the deal quickly. The distribution rights are reportedly worth anywhere from $2 to $5 billion, according to THR. (The movies themselves have usually only generated a small profit.) In Sony’s previous distribution contract, the studio covered half of Spectre’s production costs and only received a quarter of profits, according to The New York Times. MGM and Eon are also only offering a one-film deal, The New York Times reports, but the possibility of distribution, even for a limited time, would be a big win for Apple or Amazon, both of which have been trying to distinguish themselves from their competitors in a crowded streaming market.                                                                                              https://www.theverge.com/2017/9/6/16261668/amazon-apple-james-bond-franchise-streaming