Sony wants role in James Bond movies after MGM sale
17-Mar-2010 • Skyfall
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Sony is interested in distributing new Bond films or becoming a production partner to Los Angeles-based MGM or its new owners, Lynton said at the ShoWest industry trade show in Las Vegas. He said Sony hasnât held formal discussions with potential buyers.
âWe would like to be as involved with âJames Bondâ as weâre permitted to be,â Lynton said in the March 15 interview.
The Bond movies are among MGM assets that also include film rights to J.R.R. Tolkienâs âThe Hobbitâ and a library of more than 4,000 titles. The Los Angeles-based studio put itself up for sale after failing to make payments on $3.7 billion in debt.
There may be a role for Sony or another large studio, even if MGM is sold. Not all of MGMâs suitors are equipped to handle global marketing and distribution of the films.
Companies considering second-round bids for MGM include Lions Gate Entertainment Corp., the independent studio run from Santa Monica, California, that typically focuses on smaller genre films, including the âSawâ horror films and Tyler Perry comedies. Lions Gate couldnât distribute Bond movies worldwide by itself, Vice Chairman Michael Burns said at a New York investor conference last week.
Other potential MGM bidders include billionaire Len Blavatnikâs New York-based Access Industries, New York-based Time Warner Inc. and Englewood, Colorado-based Liberty Media Corp., a person with knowledge of the situation said last month.
Sony distributed and co-produced the two most recent Bond films, âCasino Royaleâ and âQuantum of Solace.â Both films generated a majority of box-office revenue from outside the U.S. and Canada.
âCasino Royaleâ took in 72 percent of its $594.2 million from foreign ticket sales. For âQuantum of Solace,â 71 percent of $586.1 million in sales was from outside the U.S. and Canada, according to researcher Box Office Mojo.
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