Apple contemplated $400 million deal for James Bond film ‘No Time to Die’
Apple reportedly contemplated an offer in the $350 million to $400 million range for what would have been a 12-month license to exclusively stream the upcoming James Bond film “No Time to Die” on Apple TV+, according to a report from The Hollywood Reporter.
Last week it was said that Apple was in discussions to acquire the rights to the film, which was scheduled for release in April 2020 but was postponed worldwide twice due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Hollywood Reporter suggests Apple was the only streaming service “interested enough to throw out a number” to MGM, the film studio that owns the Bond franchise, although it fell short of the rumored $650 million to $700 million the studio was asking for.
Multiple sources say Apple kicked the tires on Daniel Craig starrer No Time to Die and mulled an offer in the $350 million to $400 million range for what would have been a 12-month license. That was far short of the $650 million to $700 million — one source tells THR that even $800 million was mentioned — that MGM was hoping to get to make such a deal worthwhile.
It has been said that MGM “is under tremendous pressure to sell the film to the highest bidder” but no service is willing to spend up to $800 million for a 1-year deal.