MGM looks like it might be the virtual garage sale as the future of each franchise it holds the rights to are all being called into question. Seems it is business as usual for The Hobbit, however this is the first news we have heard about Bond, the “other big name” that MGM owns.
“A source close to the dealings has let We Are Movie Geeks know that Bond is alive and well, and will be settling into his new domicile for marketing and distribution at 20th Century Fox.”
I am waiting for the fanboy rage to kick in and comments drooling how “Fox will ruin the franchise” start spewwing, but this is just distribution and marketing rights. It isn’t like the franchise will no longer be produced by MGM, just that the financial burden of advertising and distribution will be left to someone else.
Should MGM fold, I would think this puts Fox in a solid position to make a bid on the franchise, but I still don’t think that would ruin it.
Of course this is just a “source” and no official announcement has been made.