Last year marked six decades of the James Bond franchise, created by British author Ian Fleming, who penned a series of spy novels starring the suave James Bond character, also known as Agent 007.
Fleming’s first Bond novel, Casino Royale, was written during the author’s time in Jamaica and published in 1953. Over the next few years, Fleming wrote 11 more Bond novels and two collections of short stories, creating a world of rich and detailed espionage that is loved by fans worldwide.
The spy books became a cultural touchstone and spawned a wildly popular film franchise that is now under the careful management of producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, who have an unprecedented level of creative control over the films.
But who are the producers behind one of the most successful and lucrative film franchises of all time, and how did they get there? It all started with the first Bond film, Dr. No (1962), which was produced by Barbara Broccoli’s father, Albert “Cubby” Broccoli.
Who produced the first Bond film?
EON Productions has produced every Bond film since 1962 and was started by film producers Albert “Cubby” Broccoli and Harry Saltzman in 1961. Its name is said to be a portmanteau of “Everything or Nothing”, which was originally the title. of a proposed James Bond television series that was never produced.
In total, EON Productions has produced 25 official James Bond films, making it the longest-running film series in cinema history, with no sign of stopping anytime soon.
The company’s original founder, Albert Broccoli, has produced a total of 17 Bond films since Dr. No.’s release in 1962 and worked with most of the 007 actors during his reign.
He died at the age of 87 in 1996, a year after the release of GoldenEye, starring Pierce Brosnan.
Despite his passing, EON Productions continues to be owned by the Broccoli family, specifically Albert’s daughter Barbara Broccoli and stepson Michael G. Wilson, who are the current producers of the Bond films.
Who is Barbara Broccoli?
Barbara Broccoli (62) is the daughter of Albert “Cubby” Broccoli and is the co-producer and mentor of the James Bond films, along with her stepbrother Michael G. Wilson.
Born in Los Angeles in 1960, Barbara began working on the James Bond franchise in the 1980s and has produced several notable films in the franchise, from The Living Daylights, License to Kill, GoldenEye and Tomorrow Never Dies, to Casino Royale. Quantum of Solace, Skyfall and Specter and No time to Die.
Broccoli has been heavily involved in all aspects of the Bond production process, from script development to casting, editing and character development. “For better or for worse, we are the custodians of this character”, Broccoli said variety. “We take that responsibility seriously.”
He has also been instrumental in modernizing the 007 franchise, making sure it remains relevant and appeals to a new generation of audiences.
Who is Michael G. Wilson?
The other half of the dynamic 007 duo, Michael G. Wilson (80) was born in New York City in 1942 and is the stepson of Albert R. “Cubby” Broccoli.
Wilson began his career in the film industry as a production assistant on “The Battle of Britain” (1969), which was produced by his stepfather Albert.
He went on to work as a writer and producer on several other films before becoming a full-time producer on the Bond series in the 1980s.
In addition to producing the Bond films, Wilson also co-wrote several of them, including The Living Daylights (1987), License to Kill (1989), The World Is Not Enough (1999), Quantum of Solace (2008), Skyfall (2012) , Specter (2015) and No Time to Die (2021).
He has a background in finance and investment, and has used these basic skills to help make the James Bond franchise a financial success and has been instrumental in securing financing for the films.
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