MGM film division chief to depart

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Jonathan Glickman, the president of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s film division, is leaving James Bond’s home studio, The Hollywood Reporter said.

Glickman, while hardly a household name, got some notoriety in 2014. That’s when Sony Pictures was hacked and confidential memos and emails became public.

Sony distributed four James Bond films through SPECTRE. Glickman wrote leaked memos about SPECTRE’s budget where he made suggestions for cost savings.

Glickman joined MGM in 2011 following a 2010 bankruptcy. He was part of a new executive team that took command of the studio.

When Glickman got the MGM post, the studio was run by Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum. Birnbaum stepped down to become a producer working out of MGM. Barber was fired by MGM’s board and never replaced. The studio is supervised by an “office of the CEO.”

Glickman’s duties included supervision of Skyfall, SPECTRE and No Time to Die. Glickman will stay with MGM long enough for the completion of No Time to Die, THR said.

Michael De Luca, who has experience as a film executive and producer will take over Glickman’s duties, THR said.

It’s hard to say what direct impact Glickman’s departure will have on the Bond franchise. The studio is one of Hollywood’s weakest and is owned by private equity firms. Glickman will be a producer working at MGM.

The departing executive “is said to have developed a strong relationship” with Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson of Eon Productions, which makes the Bond films, according to THR.