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Quick LinksHis Journey of Franchise Villainy Started Before Star WarsHis Range of Characters Transcends The Human FormHis Career In Supporting Roles Continues To This Day

Character actors are an interesting bunch. They are often key speaking roles in plotlines which aren't usually at the forefront of the story, yet their presence is unforgettable. Whether they fade out of the plot or are killed off as soon as their role in the story has expired, the characters they portray can often be so signature that it grants these performers a wealth of future roles of similar weight. In the case of Julian Glover, it's been a lifetime of being "That Guy" in many franchises.

Like most classically-trained actors, Julian Glover hails from London England, and honed his craft for years in Britain's illustrious theaters and shows featured on the British Broadcasting Corporation television channel. In the late 70s, Glover would begin scoring roles in Hollywood roles,...

The 2025 Oscars were shaken (not stirred) by the most famous spy in the world.

Sunday’s 97th annual Academy Awards ceremony featured a tribute to James Bond and the franchise’s long-running history of legendary and Oscar-nominated and -winning theme songs, including winner “Skyfall” (which was performed and cowritten by Adele)

The Bond franchise has received six Oscar nominations for its many indelible songs, including “Live and Let Die” from 1973’s Live and Let Die (performed by Wings and cowritten by Paul and Linda McCartney), “Nobody Does It Better” from 1977’s The Spy Who Loved Me (performed and written by Carly Simon), and “For Your Eyes Only” from 1981’s For Your Eyes Only (performed by Sheena Easton and written by Bill Conti and Mick Leeson). Famous tracks performed by Shirley Bassey (“Goldfinger”), Nancy Sinatra (“You Only Live Twice”), and Duran Duran (“A View to a Kill”) were snubbed by the Academy.

As far as iconic film franchises go, few do it better than the British super-spy James Bond. For over 60 years, the espionage series has followed the exploits of Bond, the ultimate gentleman spy, with a keen taste for sophistication. That stylish detail carries over to Bond's choice in automobiles, both used practically to get around his globe-hopping destinations and often fully stocked with lethal extras installed. Just like the many memorable women that Bond has romantic dalliances with, Agent 007 is rarely seen with the same car in more than one movie.

From the fully submersible to the reliable set of wheels to get through windy roads in the middle of a high-speed chase, Bond has an extensive array of cars. Though many of the makes and models gradually change over time, that classic sense of distinction never diminishes.

Here are the 10 best James Bond cars ranked.

Read more: The 10 Best...

The 97th Academy Awards are ready to shake, not stir, things up as the event hails the creative masterminds behind the James Bond film series. The fast-approaching Oscars are set to honor outgoing Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson through a musical presentation.

Via Variety, the upcoming Oscars will feature a song tribute hailing the iconic Bond themes over the franchise's shelf-life as a homage to Broccoli and Wilson. Details about the tribute remain scarce, with it being unknown whether it will acknowledge all James Bond theme songs or just the ones that have won or been nominated for Oscars. Sources close to the production claim the tribute will include an "assembly of surprising and immense talents."

RelatedGame of Thrones and Wheel of Time Stars Lead Betting Odds for James Bond 26 Villains

The odds are in on which actors might play James Bond's villain in Amazon's new film,...

Get ready to shake your martinis to the iconic sounds of James Bond theme songs, as the longtime producers of the seminal cinematic franchise are set to be honored with a musical tribute at the 97th annual Academy Awards. According to reports, producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson will be honored on the main stage after receiving their own Honorary Oscars at the Governors Awards.

In a new report from Variety — though the Academy Awards themselves have not yet commented on the matter — it was confirmed that Wicked will not be the only musical moment to take place during Sunday's Oscar ceremony. Though details on specifics remain scarce, Variety had this to say about what they did know about the musical moment:

"It is unclear whether the tribute will focus solely on Oscar-winning and nominated songs or take a broader approach to celebrating all 26 Bond themes. However, according to sources,...

The Oscars are ready to toast the celebration with a martini — shaken, not stirred.

Variety has learned exclusively that the ceremony will perform a special tribute of the iconic songs of the James Bond franchise at Sunday’s Academy Awards in honor of longtime producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, who received Honorary Oscars at the past Governors Awards. The Academy declined to comment.

While details remain scarce, it is unclear whether the tribute will focus solely on Oscar-winning and nominated songs or take a broader approach to celebrating all 26 Bond themes. However, according to sources, the tribute will include what is being described as an assembly of surprising and immense talents.

If the Academy opts for a comprehensive retrospective, it could offer long-overdue recognition to classics such as Shirley Bassey’s “Diamonds Are Forever,” which, despite being considered one of the franchise’s finest musical moments, was overlooked...

The next James Bond film will have a new casting director following the casting retirement of Debbie McWilliams, who has cast each of the last 13 James Bond films.

“I have now hung up my casting hat and have moved on to other film-related projects,” said McWilliams in an email to Screen.

McWilliams made her decision to retire from casting prior to Amazon MGM Studios acquiring creative control of the James Bond franchise from longtime producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, announced last week.

McWilliams has cast each of the last 13 James Bond films for Eon Productions, from 1981’s For Your Eyes Only...

Quick LinksMichael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli Still Own 2/3 of James BondJames Bond Is a Big Franchise With a History of Quality IssuesJames Bond Fans Are Angry About Potential Spinoffs and TV ShowsFans Seem to Want Generational Franchises to Die Rather Than Grow

In July 1961, film producers Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman formed Eon Productions after securing the rights to adapt Ian Fleming's James Bond novels into films. Since then, the company has overseen the first modern franchise, complete with reboots and recasts of the central character. Over time, Albert's son, Michael G. Wilson, and daughter, Barbara Broccoli, also joined the company. These films have been distributed by MGM Studios, which was purchased by Amazon in 2022.

With the news that both Wilson and Broccoli are stepping back from active producing roles, Bond fans online erupted with outrage. It's fair to have skepticism about a corporation that's already facing...

The big news this week, of course, is that after more than sixty years, the Broccoli family has given up creative control over the James Bond franchise. As the site’s long-time James Bond superfan, I must admit that this news sent a bit of a chill down my spine, as the Broccoli’s have always been superb creative Stewarts over the franchise. Michael G. Wilson, the stepson of the Og bond producer, Albert R. Broccoli, actually co-wrote all of the 007 movies from For Your Eyes Only through Licence to Kill. Barbara Broccoli came along a little later, stepping up around the time Albert (or Cubby as he was often called) became ill during the Pierce Brosnan era, with him dying in 1996. Barbara is the one who famously championed Daniel Craig, ignoring widespread fan derision, who called him James Blond. Of course, he wound up being one of the...

Update: After it was announced that Amazon MGM Studios had taken control of the James Bond franchise, Daniel Craig released a statement to Variety in support of Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, whose family has overseen the franchise since the very beginning.

“My respect, admiration and love for Barbara and Michael remain constant and undiminished,” Craig said. “I wish Michael a long, relaxing (and well deserved) retirement and whatever ventures Barbara goes on to do, I know they will be spectacular and I hope I can be part of them.“

The actor played 007 in the last five James Bond movies, and now that Amazon is in charge, he may very well be regarded as the last “real” Bond.

— Original article follows —

It’s finally happened—after rumours of discord between Amazon/MGM and the Broccoli family, who have been the creative stewards of the 007 franchise since its big-screen...

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The "James Bond" franchise has been around for a long, long time. It's one of the most enduring franchises in all of pop culture, without exaggeration. For many, that started when Sean Connery first put his stamp on 007 in 1963's "Dr. No." In truth, it really started with author Ian Fleming and his original "Bond" novel, "Casino Royale" in 1953. That book would go on to serve as the inspiration for Daniel Craig's first go-around as the MI6 agent. However, according to Craig, a different Fleming book was a larger inspiration for his version of the character.

In a 2021 interview with The Guardian as Craig was getting ready to say goodbye to 007 when "No Time to Die" was making its way to theaters, the actor was asked which Fleming novel served as the largest influence on his version of Bond.

Sean Connery was a straight talker, sometimes to a fault. He didn't hold back when laying out his low opinion of the literary James Bond. He never restrained himself when discussing how the role that made his career was somewhat of a double-edged sword, at one point claiming that he "always hated that damn James Bond" and that he'd "like to kill him." Plus, as "Goldfinger" director Guy Hamilton revealed on the banned James Bond commentary tracks, Connery didn't stop himself from providing opinions on individual story beats, at one point calling the moment where Oddjob (Harold Sakata) crushes a golf ball with his bare hands "ridiculous" and claiming it would never make the final cut. (It did.)

That last example points to Connery's ongoing distaste for the more fanciful elements of James Bond. Despite "Goldfinger" being responsible for some of the more outlandish Bond trademarks, such as the high-tech...

Quick Links Roger Moore Was Way Too Old to Play James Bond in 'A View to a Kill' James Bond Is Upstaged by Villains in 'A View to a Kill' 'A View to a Kill' Is the Worst Bond Movie

Sean Connery set the definitive tone for the James Bond film series with the intoxicating mixture of brawn, intelligence, menace, and sexy sophistication that Connery displays in the first Bond film, Dr. No, the first of seven appearances Connery made as the fictional MI6 agent between 1962 and 1983. When Roger Moore replaced Connery in the 1973 installment Live and Let Die, Moore put his own cheeky imprint on the character and series, and while Moore’s lighthearted portrayal of Bond remains polarizing, the series continued successfully with Moore throughout the rest of the 1970s and into the early 1980s.

However, following the release of the 1981 installment For Your Eyes Only,...

Adele is one of the most accomplished singers of her generation. In addition to being one of the world's best-selling musicians, she's won 16 Grammys, 18 Billboard Music Awards, 12 Brit Awards, five American Music Awards, and among her other accolades, her "Skyfall" theme got James Bond an Oscar.

James Bond movies have followed a winning formula that's kept 007 on movie screens for 60+ plus years, and that formula follows a few trademarks: Beautiful women, super-villain lairs with death traps, lots of guns, terrible puns, etc. Before the adventure truly kicks off, though, Bond films must have a lavish title sequence with a custom-composed song.

The first two Bond films, "Dr. No" and "From Russia With Love," actually used instrumental openings. Then for the third (and some say best) Bond film, "Goldfinger," the theme song had lyrics -- written by Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse, and sung by Shirley Bassey. "Goldfinger" the song is...

James Bond (Roger Moore) remembered his dead wife in 1977's The Spy Who Loved Me, 8 years after she died. Tracy Bond (Diana Rigg) is the only woman James Bond ever married, which happened at the end of 1969's On Her Majesty's Secret Service. James Bond (George Lazenby) met and fell in love with Contessa Tracy Divincenzo, the troubled daughter of international crime lord Marc-Ange Draco (Gabriele Ferzetti). Draco and 007 teamed up to take down the diabolical former leader of Spectre, Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Telly Savalas).

Tracy and James Bond marry at the conclusion of On Her Majesty's Secret Service, but their union would be tragically brief. Driving to their honeymoon, the couple was ambushed by Blofeld and his henchwoman, Irma Bunt (Isle Steppat). Blofeld and Bunt gunned down Tracy. In the next 007 movie, 1971's Diamonds Are Forever, James Bond (Sean Connery) went on a worldwide manhunt for Blofeld, but he never mentioned Tracy.

James Bond sometimes announces himself from Universal Exports. Ian Fleming's master spy is famously Agent 007 of the British Secret Service Aka MI6, Bond's work and his license to kill take him to every far-flung corner of the world, and 007 faces villains who threaten the safety of the planet. Sometimes, to infiltrate an enemy's organization or to simply glean information, Mr. Bond resorts to his special cover as an employee of Universal Exports.

James Bond has starred in 25 movies, many of which are based on the novels of Ian Fleming. Like 007 himself, Universal Exports originated in Fleming's printed work, with the company's first mention in Live and Let Die, the second James Bond novel. In that instance, the fake corporation was called "Universal Export." However, by Fleming's 11th Bond novel, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, 007 notes that the Universal Exports cover was defunct after his cover had been blown too often.

The 1980s brought some of the best James Bond movies, like License to Kill and the massively underrated For Your Eyes Only, but it also brought some of the worst, like Octopussy and A View to a Kill. The ‘80s were a very hit-and-miss time for Hollywood, as the experimentation of the American New Wave was replaced by flashy big-budget studio fare, and, by extension, it was a hit-and-miss period for the Bond franchise. The decade kicked off with the final years of the Roger Moore era, when many critics were complaining that Moore had aged out of the role.

After Moore’s tenure ended, Timothy Dalton was brought in with a radical reinvention of the character. The goofy, tongue-in-cheek humor of the Moore era was replaced by a darker, more grounded tone more in line with Ian Fleming’s source material. Dalton’s two Bond movies were the polar...

James Bond: the name itself oozes intrigue, danger, and sophistication. But let’s be real—what really makes him stand out is that iconic number: 007. It’s more than just a random code slapped onto a spy. It’s a symbol of everything Bond represents: high-stakes missions, suave charm, and, of course, the famous license to kill. But have you ever wondered why Ian Fleming, Bond’s creator, picked 007 instead of, say, 005 or 009? Turns out, there’s more to it than just sounding cool. Fleming’s choice was a clever mix of historical inspiration, personal nods, and a touch of literary magic.

Let’s break it down.

The Real Spy Stuff Behind 007

First off, Fleming was no stranger to the world of espionage. During World War II, he worked for British Naval Intelligence, rubbing shoulders with real-life spies and secret agents. This is where it gets interesting. Back in those days,...

60 years ago, Sean Connery's only James Bond movie that didn't involve his secret agent battling Spectre premiered, and it became his most popular 007 outing. Sean Connery starred in 6 James Bond movies from 1962's Dr. No to 1971's Diamonds Are Forever, although George Lazenby became 007 in 1969's On Her Majesty's Secret Service when Connery quit James Bond. All of those Bond movies involved Spectre as the villainous organization 007 battled, except for 1964's Goldfinger.

Adapted from the seventh James Bond novel written by Ian Fleming, Goldfinger saw 007 face the eponymous Auric Goldfinger (Gert Frobe), a criminal mastermind who sought to control the world's supply of gold. Goldfinger's master plan, Operation Grand Slam, involved breaking into Fort Knox and irradiating the United States' gold reserves, thereby increasing Auric's wealth. Bond battled Goldfinger and his iconic henchman, Odd Job (Harold Sakata), and prevented the madman's scheme with the help of Goldfinger's pilot,...

As anticipation remains high for what the franchise's future holds, 20 James Bond movies have found a new home on streaming platform Pluto TV. Adapted from the novels by British author Ian Fleming, the franchise began in 1962, with Dr. No, and starred Sean Connery in the leading role of the iconic MI6 agent 007. To date, the series has grossed around $7.8 billion, making it one of the most successful franchises of all time, even as six different actors have taken on the role, most recently that of Daniel Craig.

Now, those interested in revisiting the James Bond franchise will now have the opportunity to watch 20 of the titles in the series on the streaming platform Pluto TV. The available titles are Die Another Day, Diamonds Are Forever, Dr. No, For Your Eyes Only, GoldenEye, Licence To Kill, Live and Let Die, The Living Daylights, The Man With The Golden Gun, Moonraker, Octopussy,...

James Bond director Sam Mendes has spoken about his potential future with the franchise. Before joining the long-running spy series adapted from the works of novelist Ian Fleming, Mendes was best known as the Oscar-winning director of 1999's American Beauty, the feature that also won Best Picture at the 2000 Academy Awards ceremony. His first Bond feature was the 2012 Daniel Craig era outing Skyfall. He then returned to helm 2015's Spectre. However, the final Craig movie, 2021's No Time to Die, was helmed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, and the upcoming James Bond 26 has no attached director.

Inverse recently interviewed Mendes while the filmmaker was promoting the HBO series The Franchise, on which he is an executive producer. When asked if he would consider returning for another James Bond movie, he referenced the 1983 Bond movie Never Say Never Again by saying "never say never," though he did express doubt about the prospect.

Celebrate James Bond Day this October 5th with a martini and all the 007 missions, as all 25 official James Bond films are now available to stream worldwide on Prime Video. The official James Bond X/Twitter account shared the news that every Bond outing, from Connery to Craig, are now on the streaming platform, meaning audiences can immerse themselves in the action-packed world of Britains greatest spy.

You may not have ever heard of James Bond Day, but the celebration takes place later this week on October 5, which marks the date that the first official James Bond movie, Dr. No, premiered way, way back in 1962. Starring Sean Connery, who is still considered by many to be the best iteration of the character, and directed by Terence Young, Dr. No started it all, and finds Bond in Jamaica where is investigating the disappearance of a fellow British agent.

Connerys other outings include From Russia with Love,...

The James Bond and Star Wars franchises are perhaps the best examples of film franchises evolving to ensure their longevity and continued success. As a result, it is easy to understand why both have lasted decades and rank among the most successful film franchises. However, the launch of Star Wars directly affected the James Bond franchise back in 1977.

The success of Star Wars affected plans for the Bond franchise (Credit: Lucasfilm).

George Lucas took the world by storm when he debuted his sci-fi space opera saga’s first installment in theaters, with the film becoming a global sensation. As a result, producers of the Bond franchise decided to capitalize on the audience’s interest in space-themed stories by launching a similar movie. Here is how the release of Star Wars derailed the original plans for Bond.

The James Bond Franchise Changes Its Plans to Capitalize on Star Wars Success

The Spy Who Loved Me...

The James Bond movie franchise has been running since Dr No. in 1962, with 25 official James Bond movies and seven James Bond actors, with an eighth actor yet to be announced for Bond 26. While no James Bond actor has made a cameo in a different 007 movie the Bond franchise is well-known for featuring cameos from celebrities and people involved in production.

Among many celebrity James Bond cameos, Madonna plays a fencing instructor in Die Another Day, pre-Stranger Things David Harbour sports a mustache in Quantum of Solace, and Virgin Airlines owner Richard Branson is searched by an airline in Casino Royale. Still, one man has made more James Bond movie cameos than any other person, sometimes playing more than one character in a single movie. This is James Bond co-producer Michael G. Wilson, the actor who appears most in James Bond movies, along with the late Desmond Llewellyn,...

There exists an alternate cinematic realm wherein Pierce Brosnan, having concluded his run on the briefly successful NBC action-drama "Remington Steele," inherited the role of James Bond from Roger Moore and likely guided the franchise through a rapidly shifting geopolitical landscape. It's possible he could've failed, but that would've been the fault of the production team led by Albert "Cubby" Broccoli. Because Brosnan was born to play Bond. Broccoli even said as much when he met the actor on the set of 1981's "For Your Eyes Only." Though I'm a huge Timothy Dalton supporter, I think versions of "The Living Daylights" and "License to Kill" tailored to Brosnan's more debonair persona would've been much bigger hits, and brought a quick resolution to the legal wrangling that hastened Dalton's departure.

Pierce Brosnan was the platonic ideal of a big-screen James Bond.

Alas, NBC boneheadedly misread the ratings uptick the due-to-be-cancelled...

Moneypenny, a key character in James Bond films, plays a crucial role as an MI6 agent assisting Bond in the field and office. Moneypenny's character is a combination of several significant female characters from the original book series, adding depth and complexity. Loelia Ponsonby, a character from Fleming's novels, could bring a refreshing twist to the Bond franchise if introduced in Bond 26, challenging predictability.

James Bond's iconic Moneypenny character has become a fixture in the franchise despite her canonical counterpart never appearing in the films. Moneypenny, most recently played by Naomie Harris, is a fellow agent working with MI6 and assisting Bond. Partners in the field and office, Moneypenny and Bond have a complicated relationship that often toes the line between professional and romantic. Like Bond, Moneypenny reports to the agency's head, M, and frequently pulls unseen strings off-screen to help the agents.

The Bond films are filled...

Charles Dance's gravitas and intelligence shine through in his portrayal of complex characters like Tywin Lannister. From early villain roles in Bond films to Last Action Hero, Dance perfected the art of playing menacing characters. Despite not winning an Emmy for Game of Thrones, Dance's portrayal of Tywin Lannister finally brought him the stardom he deserved.

Gravitas may be Charles Dance's greatest asset, given his proclivity to play characters with a seriously stern disposition. Had he taken the path of least resistance in his career, he might have had a much different trajectory, given some of the highly commercial roles that were reportedly made available to Dance in the '80s and '90s. Instead, the British actor toiled, somewhat, in obscurity despite the occasional high-profile role in America usually as a villain.

That would all change with Game of Thrones, when Dance impressed mightily in the role of Tywin Lannister,...

While he may be known as the campiest person to ever don the 007 title, Roger Moore's stint as James Bond did have its fair share of tense and engaging moments. While Roger Moore's career as Bond is goofy on the whole (especially that one time he ventured into outer space in Moonraker), some of Moore's Bond films are more self-serious than others. Among these are the fan-favorite entries of The Spy Who Loved Me and For Your Eyes Only, as well as the film most relevant to today's conversation The Man with the Golden Gun.

Supporting characters like Rublevitch and Frederick Gray provide depth and balance to Bond's adventures. Notable characters like Felix Leiter and Q have evolved over the franchise, adding layers to Bond's story. Each actor who has portrayed James Bond has brought a unique stamp to the iconic character, keeping audiences engaged.

On his own, he's one of the most iconic movie characters of all time, but 007's franchise has been shared by some memorable James Bond characters who have been staples of the movies. The 007 series has never been too concerned with continuity, but there is a mythology to these movies that has allowed certain characters to become expected participants in all of Bond's adventures, namely his loyal allies within MI6. However, there have also been some notable supporting players who fans might not realize have frequent appearances.

With Bond himself as such a notable and memorable character, he doesn't...

Ranker is a popular place on the Internet where people can rank whatever they want, however, they want, and whenever they want. This is always a fan-focused ranking system, and it is never officially tied to the people behind the projects in question. Recently, a large survey was organized on Ranker, whose goal was to determine the best James Bond films of all time. The list includes 26 titles in total, but in our report, we have decided to list the top ten films from the site to provide you with better insight, combined with our original comments and opinions, which will add flavor to the whole report.

Of course, since this is indeed an important list, we have decided to report on it, so we are going to bring you the results by listing the top 10 movies on this list, from 10th to first place. We hope you’ll enjoy it!

The James Bond franchise has been a staple of the espionage genre for decades, beginning in 1953 with Ian Fleming's iconic book series starring the British super spy. The character designated 007, became the most famous fictional spy of all time thanks to his appearance in multiple films, beginning with 1962's Dr. No.

Over the last sixty years, seven actors have portrayed James Bond in twenty-five films from Eon Productions. With Daniel Craig now retired from the role and producers on the hunt for the next Bond, the franchise stands at a tipping point. In anticipation of the eighth 007, learn more about the various actors who played James Bond and what their eras brought to the franchise.

James Bond Eras

Bond Actor

Films

Tenure

Sean Connery

Dr. No

1961-1967, 1970-1971, 1982-1983

From Russia With Love

Goldfinger

Thunderball

You Only Live Twice

Diamonds Are Forever

Never Say Never Again (non-Eon)

David Niven...

For over a decade, Roger Moore had the task of living up to everything that Sean Connery had put in place as 007. And while some will defend Moore forever, we can’t forget the clown costumes, slide whistles, gondola chases, and so much more that pushed James Bond into an uncharted level of ridiculousness. Perhaps all of this could have been prevented had Timothy Dalton not been so green, turning down On Her Majesty’s Secret Service because he was in his mid-20s. That’s all hypothetical, of course, but Timothy Dalton would go on to reinvent James Bond in a way that may not have sat with contemporary audiences but marked a true challenge for what it meant to carry the torch. Dalton played 007 just twice; and with that, we’d challenge you to name just as many worthwhile post-Bond movies from the underappreciated actor (who we’re...

Jaws' girlfriend in Moonraker did not have braces, despite popular belief. The Mandela Effect refers to widespread false memories, likely contributing to the myth. Movie producer Broccoli added a love interest for Jaws due to audience's positive reaction to Jaws.

Movie Urban Legend: Dolly, Jaw's girlfriend in the James Bond film, Moonraker, had braces on her teeth.

The 1979 James Bond film, Moonraker, is one of the most notable Bond films for a few reasons. First off, at the time, it was The most successful Bond film of all-time, grossing $210 worldwide, a record it held up throughout the 1980s and all the way through the release of Pierce Brosnan's first Bond film, GoldenEye, 16 years later. However, with its space theme (almost assuredly a reference ot the insanely high box office results of Star Wars a couple of years earlier), it was also the most over-the-top James Bond film to...

The "Star Wars" universe is stuffed with memorable baddies, and since the theatrical films have mostly been shot in London, these villains are typically from the United Kingdom. Everyone's got a favorite: Ian McDiarmid's sinister Emperor Palpatine, Peter Cushing's ruthless Grand Moff Tarkin (who was digitally resurrected for "Rogue One"), Kenneth Colley's stressed out Admiral Piett ... there's really no wrong answer here. But if I absolutely have to place one member of the Galactic Empire over all the others, I might just go with Julian Glover's delectably evil General Maximillian Veers.

Why? Even though he doesn't get much screen time in "Star Wars: Episode V -- The Empire Strikes Back", Glover is just such a strikingly nasty piece of work during the assault on the Rebels' Hoth base of operations that I find myself wishing Lucas had found more for him to do.

No one should...

Cheap DVDs, torrenting and streamers looked to have killed off video rentals. But a group of cinephile shop owners are keeping the flame alive

A man shuffles along a royal blue carpet and props himself up against a stacked shelf of videos. Reeling off a list of films, he is handed three store-branded DVD cases. In return? A crisp fiver – plus his thoughts on South Korean horror flicks without any dialogue. This isn’t a sepia-tinged flashback from the past. Nor is it all just a dream. It is 2024 and the transaction is taking place at Snips Movies, one of the UK’s last video rental stores, tucked away in a town in Wirral since 1995. The odd passerby does a double take, staring back at the shop’s welly-green facade to confirm its reality.

Snips’ owner, Dave Wain, is part of a small cast of movie mavericks refusing to let video rental fade to black.

Chris Brearton is exiting Amazon MGM Studios after a long career at MGM to pursue other opportunities, the company announced on Wednesday. In a memo to staff, Amazon Studios and Prime Video senior vice president Mike Hopkins revealed that Brearton “has decided to leave Amazon to pursue a new opportunity outside the company.”

Brearton had most recently served as vice president of Pvs Corporate Strategy at MGM+ and MGM Alternative Television. As part of his exit, the company has restructured some of Brearton’s direct reports: MGM+ which is led by Michael Wright and Josh McIvor, and and MGM Television, led by Lindsey Sloane, will now report to Kelly Day, head of Prime Video International. MGM Unscripted, under Barry Poznik, reports to Brad Beale, head of global content licensing. MGM corporate strategy head will now report to Amazon Studios chief Jennifer Salke in the newly created role of Head of Global Strategy and Business Development,...

Exclusive: Chris Brearton is stepping down from Amazon, 18 months after taking on a new role.

Brearton has been VP Pvs Corporate Strategy, MGM+ and MGM Alternative Television, since November 2022.

Brearton joined MGM as Chief Operating Officer in February 2018. He spent four years in that role before taking on a broader role following Amazon’s $8.5 billion acquisition of the studio in 2022.

After shepherding MGM’s integration into Prime Video and Amazon Studios, Brearton took on the new role, leading business planning and corporate strategy for Prime Video and Studios and also overseeing MGM+ and MGM Alternative.

His new role coincided with Amazon Studios boss Jennifer Salke taking over leadership of MGM.

Deadline understands that Brearton, who also is chair of the board of directors at USA Swimming, is pursuing a “new opportunity outside of the company”.

Starting April 15, Brearton’s responsibilities will be divided among a number of senior execs.

MGM...

Of all the actors who have played James Bond, Roger Moore’s tenure as the character is one of the most interesting. Although his debut in 1973’s Live and Let Die suggested that Moore could take the franchise in an inventive, original direction, his subsequent films grew increasingly silly and unfocused. Bond managed to go to space in Moonraker, skate down a mountain in For Your Eyes Only, and dress up as a clown in Octopussy. By the time that Moore made his last appearance as 007 in A View to a Kill, the film felt closer to a Zucker brothers parody than an actual Bond entry. Often regarded as one of the worst entries in the entire series, A View to a Kill nearly featured David Bowie as the main villain.

“It was all me, James. It’s always been me,” the villain played by Christoph Waltz reveals to super spy James Bond. “The author of all your pain.”

The name of that author? Ernst Stavro Blofeld. When Waltz revealed himself as Blofeld in 2015’s Spectre, he reversed a problem that had plagued the Bond franchise for decades: the long absence of 007’s greatest recurring arch-enemy and the huge stakes that came along with his every appearance.

How could the man who escaped every death trap and seduced every woman lose his man? How did the notoriously controlling Eon Productions, which owns the rights to Ian Fleming’s novels, let one of its most important characters slip through its hands?

Turns out, the true author of Bond’s pain is the copyright office and the he said/she said litigation that slows down big budget productions.

The Birth of Blofeld

Ernst...

Although it’s difficult to imagine that someone would say no to Steven Spielberg – the guy who changed cinema with 1975’s Jaws, Eon studios apparently rejected him. According to reports, after earning popularity and experience following Jaws, Spielberg wanted to direct a James Bond movie. But unfortunately, despite begging producer Cubby Broccoli for a chance, the filmmaker was turned down.

Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

But surprisingly, Steven Spielberg’s love for his childhood hero James Bond, and his desire to direct a Bond movie came true after he collaborated with his best bud George Lucas. Working on Lucasfilms’ adventure film series Indiana Jones starring Harrison Ford, Spielberg went on a mission to make his dream come true and took a cheeky 007 dig in Temple of Doom.

James Bond Producer Turned Down Steven Spielberg

Ian Fleming’s James Bond novels had a massive fanbase, which...

Hollywood embraced space movies post-Star Wars, leading to Moonraker's absurd space adventure starring James Bond. Silly moments on Earth in Moonraker include a pigeon doing a double take at Bond in a hovercraft gondola in Venice. Director Lewis Gilbert cleverly achieved the pigeon's double take without CGI by using a looping editing technique.

Moonraker is notorious for being the most far-fetched James Bond movie, because it sends 007 into space, but the movie’s most absurd moment happens long before it leaves Earth’s atmosphere. The end credits for The Spy Who Loved Me declared, “James Bond will return in For Your Eyes Only.” But after the unexpected blockbuster success of Star Wars, space movies were in fashion, so the Bond producers delayed For Your Eyes Only and followed up The Spy Who Loved Me with Moonraker instead.

After Star Wars became the biggest movie of all time, Hollywood started setting everything in space.

Bond 26 faces a challenge in living up to past success and the legacy of Daniel Craig's reinvention of the character. The new Bond film's delay suggests careful planning, but risks losing momentum in a rapidly changing industry. The future Bond actor must navigate high expectations, evolving storytelling, and stiff competition in the spy genre.

James Bond is one of the most enduring franchises in movie history, but making Bond 26 as successful as past iterations is going to be a challenge. Daniel Craig, the last actor to take up the mantle of 007, reshaped the character of Bond in many ways, as did the films he starred in. Audience members have high expectations for who will be the next actor to embody the role, as well as the tonal shift the next film needs to take to stay relevant.

Much of the decision-making process behind Bond 26 remains shrouded in mystery,...

Alec Mills, who served as a camera operator on five James Bond films before graduating to cinematographer on the Timothy Dalton-starring The Living Daylights and Licence to Kill, has died. He was 91.

Mills died Monday, his son, Simon Mills, announced. He battled dementia and was living in an assisted care home in Denham, Buckinghamshire, England, he said.

For 007 movies, Mills operated a camera on Peter Hunt’s On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969), Lewis Gilbert’s The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) and Moonraker (1979), and John Glen’s For Your Eyes Only (1981) and Octopussy (1983).

Glen then made him his director of photography on the only two Bond films to star Dalton, The Living Daylights (1987) and Licence to Kill (1989), with the latter shooting mostly at Churubusco Studios in Mexico City.

Mills also was a camera operator on Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1969), Roman Polanski’s Tragedy of Macbeth (1971), Gulliver’s Travels (1973), John Guillermin’s...

One of the best things about the old Star Wars Expanded Universe was that it afforded writers a chance to delve deeply into the various supporting players who would pop in and out of the original trilogy with nary an explanation for who they were or what their deal even was. One might call this the Boba Fett Syndrome. Take Lando Calrissian's (Billy Dee Williams) cyborg pal Lobot, who joined the smuggler in going legit after Lando became the Baron Administrator of Cloud City. He makes but a few wordless appearances in "The Empire Strikes Back" only to vamoose, never to be seen or mentioned again.

These days, Lobot has a wholly fleshed-out and consistent canonical backstory thanks to books like the "Lando" and "War of the Bounty Hunters" comics series. However, before Disney assumed control of the franchise, you just had to piece together the character's history as best...

James Bond 26 should break canon to bring back Ana de Armas' Paloma, as her character stole the show in No Time To Die. Paloma's return may cause continuity issues but would be worth it, considering her unique and memorable role. Ana de Armas deserves to play Paloma in Bond 26 and could be a significant part of James Bond's future.

James Bond 26 must break canon to bring back one Daniel Craig era star, and a 2024 action movie will prove why. The next installment of the James Bond franchise will be without Daniel Craig, who played Bond in five movies over a 15-year period. Daniel Craig's James Bond death in No Time To Die confirms the actor will be stepping away from the role and allowing a new actor to take the mantle. Alongside casting a new Bond, the other classic supporting roles will likely all be recast, as has been the case over the years.

Mumbai, Jan 22 (Ians) Actress Kritika Kamra is all set for her upcoming thriller dramas, ‘Gyarah Gyarah’ and ‘For Your Eyes Only’, which she says are an immersive experience.

Last year, the actress pleasantly shocked her fan base by portraying the role of a lady gangster in ‘Bambai Meri Jaan’. Now, she is ready to push the boundaries once more.

Kritika said: “I find immense fulfillment in choosing projects that deviate from the expected, ventures that take me far beyond the realms of what people anticipate. The projects I’m diving into this year, particularly the thrillers, hold a special place in my heart.

“These narratives are intense, layered with suspense, and demand a profound emotional investment. It’s precisely this intensity that excites me and propels me to embark on this new journey with enthusiasm.”

Kritika added: “The thrillers I’m set to be a part of are not merely...

Actress Kritika Kamra has revealed that the year 2024 began on a ‘calm and restorative’ note, and shared that this year she will be doing whatever she wants, evolving at her own pace, moving mindfully, with authenticity and courage.

The actress is known for her works in ‘Bheed’, ‘Hush Hush’, ‘Tandav’, ‘Kitani Mohabbat Hai 2’ and many other projects.

Taking to Instagram, Kritika, who has 1.7 million followers shared her holiday album, and it is full of serenity and peace.

The string of photos shows Kritika posing for a mirror selfie in a red floral bathing gown, flaunting her bare skin. There is also a glimpse of a cottage in a forest, a video which features her taking a stroll in the forest lanes, natural beauty and a glimpse of the diva taking the sun bath.

There is also a photo of the ‘Pyaar Ka Bandhan’ actress swimming in a pool.

The post...

Over the course of "Star Wars," "The Empire Strikes Back," and "Return of the Jedi," the masked character of Boba Fett only has four lines of dialogue and six and a half minutes of screentime. Add in "The Star Wars Holiday Special," and the character suddenly had 20 additional lines. Either way, he was not a major player in "Star Wars," and ultimately fell into the mouth of a Shai Hulud on Arrakis a Sarlacc on Tattooine. It wasn't until the decade-and-a-half following the release of 1983's "Jedi" that Boba Fett would come to be admired by Starwoids who watched the "Star Wars" movies dozens of times each. In the "Star Wars" prequel films released from 1999 to 2005, Boba Fett was given a mythic backstory, and in 2021, he became the star of his own TV series.

But for many years, outside of the old Expanded Universe, he was merely the "four lines...

Pictures: Netflix – Illustration by What’s on Netflix

Welcome to one of our big 2024 and beyond previews here at What’s on Netflix. In this post, we’ll provide you with a comprehensive rundown of all the Indian movies and TV shows in development set to release on Netflix globally throughout 2024 and beyond.

Some long-awaited projects are nearing completion, old favorites are returning, and recently-announced movies and series are waiting to surprise and delight us. Here are the details on 7 upcoming Indian Original series and 10 new Original movies, plus scoop on the fates of more than two dozen Indian series — some of which have been officially renewed and others whose futures are still up in the air.

Editors note: All release dates and windows are subject to change.

Here all the Indian Original series and movies we hope to see in 2024 or beyond:

New Indian Netflix Original Series Coming in...

A24 are delivering a special gift to Max this December, as Leo Reich’s acclaimed stand-up show Literally Who Cares?! hits the streamer. The comedian has already won over the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and Off-Broadway with runs of the show, but this performance was taped at EartH in London. Consider checking it out – if A24 got involved in the project, you know you’ll definitely see something weird and special.

But if you’re looking for something more serious, add the new three-part documentary series Murder In Boston: Roots, Rampage & Reckoning to your watch list this month. The upcoming series delves into the fallout from the investigation into Charles “Chuck” Stuart’s 911 call reporting that he and his pregnant wife, had been shot in Boston’s Mission Hill neighborhood in 1989.

Here’s everything coming to (and leaving) HBO and Max this month…

HBO and Max New Releases – December 2023

December...