For better or worse, the James Bond franchise is now in the hands of Amazon. A new bombshell report sheds light on how the deal came to be and the company's spin-off plans that were shot down by producers.

Amazon’s new James Bond franchise definitely has potential, but it comes with some major obstacles that it needs to overcome in order to succeed.

James Bond – now under the creative control of Amazon Studios following its buy-out of producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson – will remain a man and British (or the Commonwealth), according to UK media.

As the James Bond franchise undergoes a major shake-up, word on the street is that the next leading 007 character could finally be a woman. It was recently confirmed that Amazon MGM Studios would be taking over Bond after the Broccoli family ceased creative control.