Listen to the article
Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, the sibling producers behind the James Bond franchise, are set to receive honorary Oscars amidst anticipation for the next 007 actor.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on Wednesday that Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, the half-sibling producers of the James Bond movies, will be awarded honorary Oscars at the Governors Awards ceremony in November. The recognition comes at a pivotal moment for the iconic spy franchise, as speculation mounts over who will succeed Daniel Craig in the role of the suave British agent.
Wilson and Broccoli, who have overseen the Bond series since 1995’s “Goldeneye,” have been instrumental in the franchise’s enduring success. Under their stewardship, the films have reached new heights, with 2012’s “Skyfall” grossing over $1 billion at the box office. The Academy’s president, Janet Yang, praised the siblings’ accomplishments, stating that the award “is a testament to their success as producers of the fan-favorite Bond series and their contribution to the industry’s theatrical landscape.”
The honorary Oscars will be presented at a ceremony in Los Angeles on November 17, alongside other luminaries such as Quincy Jones, Richard Curtis, and Juliet Taylor. Jones, a trail-blazing musician, composer, and producer, has received seven Oscar nominations for his work on films like “In Cold Blood,” “The Wiz,” and “The Color Purple,” but has yet to win. In 1967, he became the first Black composer to be nominated in the original song category for the film “Banning.”
Richard Curtis, the British writer and director behind romantic comedies such as “Notting Hill,” “Bridget Jones’s Diary,” “Love Actually,” and “Four Weddings and a Funeral,” will receive the Jean Hersholt statuette for his humanitarian work as co-founder of Comic Relief, a charity that raises money for various causes. Curtis has previously been nominated for an Oscar for his screenplay for “Four Weddings and a Funeral.”
Casting director Juliet Taylor, known for her work on films like “Taxi Driver,” “Annie Hall,” “Sleepless in Seattle,” and “Schindler’s List,” will also be honored with an honorary Oscar at the ceremony.
The Governors Awards were established in 2009 to separate the honorary Oscars from the main awards show, allowing more time to celebrate the industry veterans who may not have received their due recognition at the regular Oscars. Last year’s honorees, including comedy icon Mel Brooks and actress Angela Bassett, received their statuettes at a delayed ceremony in January due to the Hollywood strikes.
As the Bond franchise enters a new era, with Amazon’s acquisition of MGM and the search for a new lead actor, the honorary Oscars for Wilson and Broccoli serve as a fitting tribute to their unwavering dedication and success in steering the series through the years. The Broccoli family’s company, Eon, maintains significant creative control over the Bond films, which are based on Ian Fleming’s novels, but has remained tight-lipped about the future of the franchise.
With AFP
