Bond questions: The reality show (?!) edition

James Bond is about the join the ranks of Survivor and The Masked Singer when it comes to reality shows. Well, if a March 25 story by Variety is to be believed, that may be in the cards.

Eon Productions, which makes the Bond films, has repeatedly said it’s not interested in 007 spinoffs. However, Variety says Eon’s Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson are backing this project.

Naturally, the blog has questions.

WTF? Over the years, various ideas have been floated for alternatives for Eon’s film series.

For example, you could have low-key, faithful adaptations on TV of Ian Fleming’s original novels while still making the bigger, more expensive movies.

Eon has been consistent — no!

However, based on the description in the Variety story, Broccoli and Wilson have signed on to a crappy, obnoxious reality show. (Are there any other versions of a reality show?)

Did Broccoli and Wilson change their minds? Money has a way of causing people to reconsider.

Where do we go from here? On Jan. 1, 2021, the blog provided “unlikely” Bond spinoffs. The Adventures of Bill Tanner. Cooking With May. Golfing With Hawker.

Excuse me while I run down to the copyright office.

Bond reality show in the works, Variety says

h/t to James Bond Television for the alert.

A James Bond-themed reality show is being developed, Variety reported.

Here’s an excerpt:

Production on “007’s Road to a Million” will begin later this year, and the new show will launch on (Amazon) Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories. Casting is underway and applicants are being invited to send in submissions.

The show will see contestants competing in a global adventure to win a £1 million ($1.3 million) cash prize. Filmed in many of the historic locations featured throughout the seminal Bond films, the “cinematic format” will be a test of intelligence and endurance. In addition to passing physical obstacles, the contestants — who will compete in two-person teams — must correctly answer questions hidden in different locations around the world in order to advance to the next challenge.

Amazon last week completed its $8.45 billion acquisition of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, James Bond’s home studio.

Eon Productions, led by Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, has said it opposes the idea of Bond spinoff shows on television. However, Variety says Broccoli and Wilson are on board with this project.

Here’s one more excerpt from the Variety story:

The Bond-themed Prime Video show comes during a period of transition for the franchise, which wrapped up Daniel Craig’s acclaimed run last year with “No Time to Die.” Broccoli and Wilson must now find a new actor to handle the role and to help continue to find ways to make the womanizing spy relevant in a changed world.