Outgoing Amazon MGM Studios unscripted chief Barry Poznick has recalled how he gained the trust of James Bond producer Barbara Broccoli over the concept for competition series 007: Road to a Million.
Broccoli is known for being fiercely protective of the British spy franchise so the idea for big-budget competition series was not the most straightforward sell. “[James Bond] is probably the biggest IP in the world, so it wasn’t the easiest to say, ‘Let’s turn this into a competition show,’” said Poznick at Content London this afternoon.
“Everybody had warned me not to approach her and not to talk to her about it – ‘James Bond is a movie franchise, and how could we do this,’” he continued, as the audience chuckled over the situation.
“I met with Barbara and we hit it off,” he added. “She understood it was a love letter to the super fans of Bond, taking them to these exciting adventurous spots around the world to see if they put up or shut up.”
He noted that the series “had to be scaled up to live up to the Bond brand,” and added of his interactions with Broccoli, “I wouldn’t say I charmed her as much as listened to her.” Poznick and his team deemed to make the show more “playful,” as most pitches the Bond producers had received over the years around brand extensions were more “serious” and involved “finding the next James Bond.”
007: Road To A Million, commissioned for Prime Video back in 2022, became the first unscripted show to use the James Bond brand, putting contestants through a series of tests related to the film franchise and shot around the world.
The show, originally made by UK indie 72 Films and MGM Television, launched its second season earlier this year. It features Succession star Brian Cox as the Controller, a machiavellian puppet master who sets malevolent challenges for the contestants.
Amazon MGM Studios went on to acquire creative control of the entire James Bond brand earlier this year in a game-changing deal for 007 brand.
Poznick was appearing on stage at Content London a week after Deadline revealed he was departing after nearly 10 years at MGM, which was acquired by tech giant Amazon in 2022.
Poznick, who was General Manager of Unscripted Television at Amazon MGM Studios, has signed a three-year deal to remain as executive producer on a number of projects.
He has a first-look production deal meaning he will continue to work on The Voice, Shark Tank, Vanderpump Rules and American Gladiators as well as The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, The Real Housewives of Rhode Island and The Real Housewives of Orange County.
Poznick, talking publicly about the role change, said his new post would allow him to continue overseeing the existing slate, while being “entrepreneurial and ‘produsorial’” at the same time, as he looks for “the next big thing.”
