Amazon acquires MGM for $8.5B

[Arthur]

www.reuters.com/technology/amazon-snaps-up-james-bond-owner-mgm-845-bln-streaming-war-heats-up-2021-05-26

 

Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O) will buy MGM, the fabled U.S. movie studio home to the James Bond franchise, for $8.45 billion, giving it a huge library of films and TV shows and ramping up competition with streaming rivals led by Netflix and Disney+.

 

The deal aims to bolster Amazon's television-focused studio with new and historic filmmaking from MGM, which has snapped up lucrative series including "Rocky" and "Tomb Raider" since its founding in 1924.

 

Streaming video helps the world's largest online retailer draw people to subscribe to Prime, a club with fast shipping, and to shop more once they're members. Privately-held MGM, or Metro Goldwyn Mayer, also owns the Epix cable channel and makes popular TV shows including "Fargo," "Vikings" and "Shark Tank."

 

Jeff Bezos, Amazon's founder, laid out the rationale for the deal at the company's annual shareholder meeting on Wednesday.

 

"MGM has a vast, deep catalog of much beloved intellectual property," he said. "With the talented people at MGM and the talented people at Amazon Studios, we can reimagine and develop that IP for the 21st century."

[ICTDirect_Dave]

Woah! Big deal that!

 

This bodes well for a potential new Stargate series I reckon.

[paulkerton]

It seems like a lot of money for the number and type of franchises they've purchased themselves here.

They don't really have control over Bond. The Broccoli's have always resisted spin-offs and TV shows and are insistent that it remains a cinema franchise.

Stargate is ripe for reboots and remakes. It's been long enough now that they could remake the first film.

 

Other than that I guess Robocop, Tomb Raider, Rocky rebooted (or continue Creed), Pink Panther, The Millennium Trilogy are there but it's not packed with big titles they can utilise.

[ICTDirect_Dave]

They've hundreds of films and dozens of tv shows to trawl through and revisit. There must be some gems in there.

Who wouldn't love a TV series reboot of The Man form UNCLE? I would!

 

As for Stargate. I guess they could reboot the movie. That could work. But I want the next TV show!

Brad Wright has one ready to go and MGM were ready to commit just before covid. I'm hoping with the salke to Amazon that this goes ahead finally.

[localzuk]

Amazon are more focused on TV than movies, so I'd say a new Stargate series is more likely than a movie.

[paulkerton]

Who wouldn't love a TV series reboot of The Man form UNCLE? I would!

 

Ahhh that's the thing though, Turner bought MGM in 1985 then sold it in 1986 and took most of the catalogue and franchises before selling it, so Man from UNCLE is owned by Warner Brothers/ATT/Discovery now.

Gone with the Wind, Wizard of Oz, Fame etc... they'll all be on HBO Max in the US.

 

Amazon are more focused on TV than movies, so I'd say a new Stargate series is more likely than a movie.

 

I can see them going "Both? Both is good!" for something like Stargate.

Introduce it back with a "2 hour special" if you will, and then TV to follow it up. They've made or at least distributed a few movies exclusively you know. Aeronauts, Peterloo, Without Remorse, Borat 2, Sound of Metal, Coming 2 America.

Edited May 27, 2021 by paulkerton

[LeMarchand]

Tomb Raider, Rocky rebooted

 

Another Alicia Vikander TR movie is still going ahead and a "Rocky: Origins" is already in planning.

 

Who wouldn't love a TV series reboot of The Man form UNCLE?

 

Only if they don't let Guy Ritchie anywhere near it. His film was fine as a period spy movie, but it wasn't UNCLE!

 

Amazon are more focused on TV than movies, so I'd say a new Stargate series is more likely than a movie.

 

Definitely more focused, but Borat 2, Coming 2 America and The Tomorrow War are all "big" Amazon movies.

 

 

Edit: both disappointed (UNCLE clarification) and ninja'd by @paulkerton's post.

Edited May 27, 2021 by LeMarchand

[paulkerton]

Edit: both disappointed (UNCLE clarification) and ninja'd by @paulkerton's post.

 

;)

I could totally take another Alicia Vikander Tomb Raider. She is perfect for the role.

Was supposed to have entered production already but I think Covid stalled it.

Isn't it one of the people behind Lovecraft Country doing it now instead of Ben Wheatley?

[LeMarchand]

Isn't it one of the people behind Lovecraft Country doing it now instead of Ben Wheatley?

 

Yep, but Ben does now get to work with England's greatest living actor - he's directing The Stath in The Meg 2.