Sony will want a role in the James Bond movies once the sale or restructuring of MGM is complete, Sony Pictures Entertainment Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Michael Lynton told Bloomberg.
Sony, which distributed and co-produced Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace, is interested in distributing new 007 films or becoming a production partner to MGM or its new owners. Lynton said Sony hasn’t held formal discussions with potential buyers.
“We would like to be as involved with ‘James Bond’ as we’re permitted to be,” Lynton said.
Not all of MGM’s suitors are equipped to handle global marketing and distribution of the films. Lionsgate, for example, couldn’t distribute Bond movies worldwide by itself, Vice Chairman Michael Burns said last week.
Other potential MGM bidders include billionaire Len Blavatnik’s Access Industries, Time Warner Inc. and Liberty Media Corp.
