007 reality show turns to Succession star Cox

The James Bond-themed reality show on Amazon Prime has signed up Brian Cox, star of the series Succession, for a part.

On 007’s Road to a Million, Cox will be “The Controller.” Cox’s character controls the fate of contestants on the show.

Cox’s hiring was reported on various entertainment sites, including Deadline: Hollywood. The James Bond website of Eon Productions also carried an announcement.

The reality show is a competition among teams of two. Here’s an excerpt from the Eon announcement about Cox’s participation:

The Controller revels in the increasingly difficult journeys and questions the contestants must overcome. He has millions of pounds to give away, but he doesn’t make it easy. Whilst he lurks in the shadows, he is watching and controlling everything.

Brian Cox said, “I got to see how ordinary people would cope with being on a James Bond adventure. As they travel the world to some of the most iconic Bond locations, it gets more intense and nail-biting. I enjoyed my role as both villain and tormentor, with license to put the hopeful participants through the mangle.”

This is the first major piece of news since the reality show was announced in early 2022. The contestants are seeking a prize of 1 million British pounds ($1.25 million).

The reality show is the only James Bond spinoff Amazon has come up with since it acquired Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Eon Productions boss Barbara Broccoli has said she’s not interested in Bond streaming shows and that 007 will remain a theatrical movie franchise.

Here’s an Eon tweet about the hiring of Cox:

Actor Brian Cox will star as ‘The Controller’ in 007’s Road to a Million which will launch later this year on @primevideouk https://t.co/9R8LCplRfP pic.twitter.com/W39BzQIZvk

— James Bond (@007) April 24, 2023

Bond 26 questions: The Variety interview edition

A previous Image for the official James Bond feed on Twitter

So, Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson gave an interview to Variety. The Eon Productions duo again said James Bond won’t return to theater screens soon and they’re looking for the next actor to make a long-time commitment.

However, there were other interesting tidbits. Naturally, the blog has questions.

How many Bond films will get made during an actor’s “10-, 12-year commitment”?

That’s the kind of commitment the Eon pair said they’re looking for from a new Bond actor. But at the current rate of production, that might only be three films. The Eon series had only two entries — Skyfall and SPECTRE — during the entire decade of the 2010s.

Yes, there were external factors, including Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s bankruptcy in 2010 and COVID-19 in 2020. But some of the gaps were self-imposed, including putting off the development of what became No Time to Die to try and get Daniel Craig back for another movie.

Will Bond 26 with a new actor really be that much different than Craig’s run?

One passage in the Variety story suggests not.

Both Wilson and Broccoli, who is a director of the U.K. chapter of women’s advocacy org Time’s Up, have left their mark on Bond, particularly in humanizing the once-womanizing spy and ensuring more fulfilling, meatier roles for the female stars of the franchise. These are qualities that will continue in the next films, says Broccoli. (emphasis added)

What are they up to in the interim?

Barbara Broccoli is one of the producers of Till, a fact-based film about the lynching of 14-year-old Emmett Till in 1955 and its aftermath. It’s due out next month. Wilson “has written a TV show that the duo are looking to set up,” according to Variety. And both are involved in producing an Amazon streaming show 007’s Road to a Million. That is currently in production, Variety says. Amazon also owns MGM.

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.