Daniel Craig has expressed his admiration for producers Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli following the announcement that they have handed over creative control of the James Bond franchise to Amazon MGM Studios.

In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, Craig reaffirmed his deep respect and affection for the duo, saying, "My admiration, love, and respect for Barbara and Michael remain unwavering." He also wished Wilson a well-earned and peaceful retirement while expressing confidence that Broccoli's future projects would be remarkable, adding that he hopes to be involved in them.

Craig is the latest actor to portray the iconic British spy, starring in five installments of the long-running franchise: "Casino Royale" (2006), "Quantum of Solace" (2008), "Skyfall" (2012), "Spectre" (2015), and "No Time to Die" (2021).

Earlier on Thursday, The Hollywood Reporter revealed that Amazon MGM Studios will establish a new joint venture to manage the intellectual property rights of the James Bond franchise. Under this agreement, the studio will take creative control of the series, while Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli will remain co-owners. Amazon, which acquired MGM in 2022, has held the distribution rights for the Bond films since then.

Wilson, 83, announced that he will be stepping away from producing to focus on art and philanthropy. He and Broccoli have overseen the franchise's creative direction since inheriting the role from their father, the late Albert "Cubby" Broccoli, who was involved with the series from its inception, starting with the 1962 "Dr No" starring Sean Connery.

Amazon MGM Studios' acquisition of the James Bond franchise has ignited a flurry of memes and reactions, with fans voicing concerns about the series' future.

One fan lamented, "Today is a very, VERY sad day, marking the end of #JamesBond as we know him. But he had a great run. RIP."

Another compared the shift to Disney's takeover of Star Wars, writing, "The end of an era for sure. Remember when George Lucas handed Star Wars over to Disney? That. #JamesBond."

Criticism continued, with one user remarking, "Amazon is free to turn the franchise into another of its awful movies that flood Prime Video. RIP 007."

Some pointed to Amazon MGM Studios' handling of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power as a warning sign. One commenter sarcastically quipped, "Yay, after butchering Tolkien, it's time for another... one Brit at a time, Jeff. One Brit at a time."

Another user expressed skepticism about Amazon's approach to franchises, predicting, "They're gonna do a new season of JACK RYAN with a British guy and call it 'Bond: Legacy' or something".

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