20 Popular Action Movies Will Disappear From Netflix This Month
Netflix's three-month licensing deal with the James Bondfranchise is about to come to an end. Earlier this year, the streaming giant announced that the entire James Bond catalog would be landing on the platform for a limited time, which comes to a close on April 21.
From Dr. No to Casino Royale, Netflix has housed all 25 Eon-produced Bond movies for the past three months. This marked the first time that the entire franchise had been available on streaming. Generally, an ever-rotating selection is available on Prime Video.
The deal was part of a larger agreement with Amazon (which owns the rights to James Bond through its acquisiton of MGM) to bridge the gap between Prime Video and Netflix. The streamer was also given the rights to hit shows like The Man in the High Castle, which was previously an Amazon Original.
The agreement extended beyond the United States into Europe and South America, with several other territories getting access to the entire James Bond catalog for the first time. It was a clear success, with several movies (typically Daniel Craig's later entries) breaking into the Netflix Top 10.
It's nothing new for Netflix to strike short-term licensing deals like this, but the streamer rarely acquires a whole franchise just to drop it again three months later. This was a historic collaboration between the two studios, and one that will hopefully continue into the future.
There has been no official announcement regarding where James Bond will be heading next, but it's safe to assume that (at least) some of the movies will return to Prime Video. Others will be available to buy or rent on VOD platforms such as Amazon Prime or Apple TV.
The timing of this licensing deal is no coincidence; the upcoming 26th James Bond film is currently in pre-production, with casting underway for a new actor to adopt the famous 007 mantle. Dune filmmaker Denis Villeneuve has been confirmed to direct the project, while Peaky Blinders writer Steven Knight will pen the screenplay.
Several names have reportedly been in contention for Bond since Amazon acquired the franchise and essentially overwrote Eon's existing casting progress. These included Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jacob Elordi, Callum Turner, and even Tom Holland (via Variety). Conversely, Dealine reports that Villeneuve is seeking an "unknown" British actor to carry the franchise forward.