There are big changes afoot in the corridors of MI6. Having been under the jurisdiction of the Broccoli family for decades, creative control of the James Bond franchise has now passed over to Amazon MGM Studios.

Amazon bought MGM for $8.5 billion in 2022, giving the retail giant the distribution rights to six decades (and counting) of Bond movies. But Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson, long-time guardians of the 007 brand, had retained the final say on the content of the movies – until an unexpected deal last week saw the duo (who remain co-owners of the franchise) cede creative control to the studio.

With no new Bond movie since 2021’s No Time to Die, Amazon MGM will be eager to make the most of its biggest screen asset. And with shared multimedia universes like Marvel and Star Wars currently a must-have for anyone who owns a streaming platform, Amazon will surely be looking for ways to bring a Bond TV show to its Prime service. So, as MI6’s greatest Universal Export prepares to enter a brave new world, here are (00)7 ways Amazon could bring James Bond and his world to the small screen.

1. Young Bond

Given the success of Charlie Higson’s (and later Steve Cole’s) Young Bond novels, a TV show focusing on 007’s early days seems a logical place to start. While the books follow teen Bond during his school days at Eton in the 1930s, there’s no reason a Young Bond TV show couldn’t bring things up-to-date to take advantage of 21st century gadgets, and increase the show’s appeal to modern kids.

A young adult show is unlikely to be the flagship of Amazon’s Bond offering, but a family-oriented adventure series has undeniable potential. It could also be a good way to get younger viewers hooked on the veteran franchise.

2. A Nomi or Paloma spin-off

Barbara Broccoli was never keen on the much-discussed idea of Bond being a woman, but she did sign off on a female 007. In No Time to Die, MI6 agent Nomi (played by Lashana Lynch) inherited the codename when Bond retired from active duty, and was every bit her predecessor’s equal in the field.

Another spin-off option could see CIA agent Paloma (Ana de Armas) – a breakout star in her brief appearance in No Time to Die – given top billing. The problem is, with both actors already starring in spy/action franchises of their own (Lynch in The Day of the Jackal, de Armas in John Wick spin-off Ballerina), they may be reluctant to step back into such similar territory.

3. Bond-branded Spooks

Slow Horses, Black Doves, The Night Agent, The Day of The Jackal, The Night Manager… There’s no shortage of espionage-themed shows on TV, and plenty of appetite for more. A spy series featuring “from the world of 007” branding would immediately force its way to the front of to watch lists, and a Spooks-style MI6 show – featuring a more grounded approach to spycraft than 007’s usual blockbuster carnage – could be a globetrotting smash. Occasional cameos from the likes of Moneypenny, M and Q – or even the man himself – could reinforce the show’s connection to the main brand.

4. The animated comedy

It hasn’t always hit the mark (the recent Section 31 was something of a disappointment), but Star Trek has long been a standard bearer for sensible franchise extensions. Its biggest – and arguably smartest – swing has come with Lower Decks, an animated comedy that pokes gentle fun at its predecessors on the final frontier, while still treating the 50-something franchise with the utmost respect.

It’s proof that comedy doesn’t have to tarnish the legacy of its source material, and – seeing as 007 has decades of his own history to look back on – Bond seems ripe for a few jokes. There’s certainly no shortage of potential comedy gold in the 25 official movies so far, and Amazon wouldn’t even have to go full Austin Powers to exploit it.

5. Period Bond

Bond continuity is a strange thing. Although Daniel Craig was born six years after 007’s screen debut in Dr No, his incarnation is theoretically the same man Sean Connery played in the 1960s. Bond has historically existed in the present of each film, living in a Dorian Gray-style time warp as the world around him.

There’s no reason, however, that we couldn’t have a TV series featuring Bond at the height of his powers in the ’60s, ’70s or ’80s – or even pre-date the movies, by heading back to the 1950s of Ian Fleming’s early novels. The Cold War has always been the ideal arena for brilliant spy tales, so why not put 007 back in his natural habitat?

6. Meet the villains

Whether they’re looking to irradiate the United States’ gold reserves at Fort Knox, kickstart a war between the superpowers, or simply extort an awful lot of money from unwitting government, Bond’s baddies tend to be rather more memorable than his allies. So why not shift the focus to the villains, giving the likes of Auric Goldfinger, Francisco Scaramanga and, of course, Ernst Stavro Blofeld to show what makes them tick? After all, everybody’s the hero of their own story. (Volcano lairs are, of course, optional.)

7. The reality show

There’s already been a game show inspired by the Bond universe. Fronted by Brian Cox as the sinister “Controller”, 007: Road to a Million invites contestants to complete a set of challenges on a globetrotting quest for a massive cash prize. It remains – to date – the closest thing we’ve had to an official Bond spin-off on the box

Reality TV could be another avenue for the world’s most famous spy franchise. Members of the public are already willing to subject themselves to the rigours of special forces training in SAS: Who Dares Wins, and they’d undoubtedly be keen to learn what it takes to be an international person of mystery – though, presumably, they wouldn’t be allowed to talk about it afterwards.