Editing Eon Productions

{{short description|British film production company known for producing the James Bond film series}}
{{distinguish|Eon Films}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{EngvarB|date=March 2016}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Eon Productions Limited
| logo = [[File:EON Productions logo.svg|frameless|class=skin-invert]]
| type = [[Private company limited by shares|Private]] (limited with [[share capital]])<ref>{{cite web|title=EON PRODUCTIONS LIMITED|url=https://companycheck.co.uk/company/00697555/EON-PRODUCTIONS-LIMITED/companies-house-data|website=Company Check}}</ref>
| industry = [[Outline of entertainment|Entertainment]]<br />[[Film]]
| foundation = {{start date and age|1961|07|06|df=y}}
| founders = [[Albert R. Broccoli]]<br />[[Harry Saltzman]]
| location_city = [[London]]
| location_country = United Kingdom
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people = [[Michael G. Wilson]]<br />[[Barbara Broccoli]]
| products = [[James Bond in film|''James Bond'' film series]]
| revenue = 
| operating_income = 
| parent = 
| homepage = {{URL|eon.co.uk}}
}}

'''Eon Productions Limited''' is a British [[film production]] company that primarily produces the [[James Bond in film|''James Bond'' film series]]. The company is based in London's [[Piccadilly]] and also operates from [[Pinewood Studios]] in the UK.

==''James Bond'' films{{anchor|Bond films}}==
{{main|Production of the James Bond films{{!}}Production of the ''James Bond'' films}}
Eon was started by film producers [[Albert R. Broccoli|Albert R. "Cubby" Broccoli]] and [[Harry Saltzman]] in July 1961, at the same time they became partners and sought financing for ''[[Dr. No (film)|Dr. No]]''. The year before they formed [[Danjaq]], which for legal reasons became Eon's holding company, from which it licenses the rights to produce the ''Bond'' films.

Broccoli had been interested in the ''Bond'' novel rights for several years but was dissuaded from pursuing the project by his former partner. When they dissolved their relationship he was free to pursue the property, for which Saltzman, a novice to film production, had taken a gamble to acquire. The two were introduced by a [[New York City|New York]] writer who was acquainted with both, and formed a partnership within a week of meeting. The enterprise was and is still a family business, including both wives of the principal partners, as well as several of their progeny, the latter group now carrying on their parents' work. Albert almost immediately included [[Dana Broccoli]]'s college-aged son [[Michael G. Wilson]] in the early films, doing various production jobs.

In 1975, after nine films, Harry Saltzman sold his shares of Danjaq to [[United Artists]] (UA). Although Albert R. Broccoli died in 1996, Eon Productions is still owned by the Broccoli family, specifically Albert R. Broccoli's daughter, [[Barbara Broccoli]], and his stepson and her half-brother by actress Dana Wilson Broccoli, Michael G. Wilson, who are the current producers of the films.

In February 2025, [[Amazon MGM Studios]] and Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli announced the formation of a joint venture that would manage the franchise rights to James Bond, giving Amazon MGM full creative control from the Broccoli family.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2025/02/james-bond-amazon-mgm-studios-takes-control-1236295821/|title=James Bond Shocker! Amazon MGM Studios Takes Creative Control Of Spy Franchise As Producers Michael G. Wilson & Barbara Broccoli Step Back|first=Justin|last=Kroll|first2=Mike|last2=Fleming Jr.|first3=Jake|last3=Kartner|work=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|date=2025-02-20}}</ref>

Albert R. Broccoli's name has appeared in the opening "presents" credit of every Eon-produced ''James Bond'' film, and as the first name in the credits from ''[[The Spy Who Loved Me (film)|The Spy Who Loved Me]]'' onwards. From ''[[Dr. No (film)|Dr. No]]'' through ''[[The Man with the Golden Gun (film)|The Man with the Golden Gun]]'', the credit was "Harry Saltzman and Albert R. Broccoli present"; for some films Broccoli came first. After Saltzman left, the opening credit was "Albert R. Broccoli presents" through to ''[[GoldenEye]]'', which was the last film produced before Broccoli's death, even after Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson replaced him as producers. On all films since Broccoli's death, the opening credit is "Albert R. Broccoli's Eon Productions presents", with "Ltd." usually added after "Productions" in the film proper.<ref name="DVD">DVD and Blu-ray copies of Eon's Bond films.</ref>

The 1965 film ''[[Thunderball (film)|Thunderball]]'' differs from the others in how it credits Saltzman and Broccoli; due to a legal agreement with [[Kevin McClory]] related to the rights to Ian Fleming's original novel, McClory received producer credit on the film, with Saltzman and Broccoli credited as executive producers. This agreement also gave McClory the rights to remake ''Thunderball'' in the future, resulting in the 1983 non-Eon production, ''[[Never Say Never Again]]''. McClory would attempt to remake the story a second time in the 1990s, but was prevented from doing so. In 1999, Eon picked up the rights to the ''[[Casino Royale (novel)|Casino Royale]]'' novel after a lawsuit between [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]] (MGM) and [[Sony Pictures]] ended as part of a trade deal that saw Sony acquiring MGM's interest in the ''[[Spider-Man in film|Spider-Man]]'' film rights.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|date=September 14, 2004|title=Past 007 Attempts|url=http://www.mi6.co.uk/sections/articles/sony_past_007_attempts.php3?s=articles&t|url-status=usurped|archive-url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20091010074357/http://www.mi6.co.uk/sections/articles/sony_past_007_attempts.php3?s=articles&t|archive-date=October 10, 2009|access-date=November 7, 2007|publisher=MI6, Home of James Bond}}</ref>

The copyrights and trademarks for the film properties which began with ''[[Dr. No (film)|Dr. No]]'', are held by Danjaq and United Artists Corporation; United Artists was bought by MGM in 1981, but as an MGM subsidiary its name still appears in Bond copyright and trademark disclaimers. ''[[Casino Royale (2006 film)|Casino Royale]]'' (2006), ''[[Quantum of Solace]]'' (2008), ''[[Skyfall]]'' (2012) and ''[[Spectre (2015 film)|Spectre]]'' (2015) were co-distributed with [[Sony Pictures Releasing]] through its [[Columbia Pictures]] label.<ref>{{cite news|last=Fritz|first=Ben|title=Sony and MGM finalize James Bond, co-financing partnership|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2011/04/sony-and-mgm-finalize-bond-co-financing-partnership.html|access-date=21 December 2012|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=13 April 2011}}</ref> With the revival of United Artists&nbsp;– formed as a joint venture between MGM and [[Annapurna Pictures]] under the label [[United Artists Releasing]]&nbsp;– as well as the expiration of Columbia Pictures' deal with the Bond franchise, the distribution of ''[[No Time to Die]]'' (2021) is shared between United Artists Releasing (domestically) and [[Universal Pictures]] (internationally), while Danjaq retains the essential rights to the film.

The distribution rights for all of Eon's films are owned by [[MGM Home Entertainment]], and were controlled by MGM's distributor [[Warner Bros. Home Entertainment]] (previously [[20th Century Fox Home Entertainment]]).<ref name="DVD"/><ref>[https://deadline.com/2011/04/mgm-re-ups-dvd-deal-with-fox-through-2016-122936/ MGM Re-Ups DVD Deal With Fox Through 2016], deadline.com</ref> [[Sony Pictures Home Entertainment]] initially assumed the home video rights to ''Casino Royale'', but the 2012 home video editions of this film were issued by MGM and 20th Century Fox.<ref name="DVD"/> Since 2020, WBHE took over the home entertainment distribution rights to the Bond films after MGM ended their home media agreement with Fox in June 2020, excluding the home media release of ''No Time to Die'' (which is handled by [[Universal Pictures Home Entertainment]], although both companies own a joint venture called Studio Distribution Services).<ref>{{cite news|work=HD Repor|url=https://hd-report.com/2020/01/23/james-bond-films-starring-daniel-craig-to-release-as-single-4k-blu-rays/|title=James Bond films starring Daniel Craig to release as single 4k Blu-rays|date=23 January 2020|access-date=31 January 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Fleming|first=Mike Jr.|title=James Bond 25 Sets Distribution: Universal Wins International, MGM Releases Domestic Through Annapurna Joint Venture|url=https://deadline.com/2018/05/james-bond-25-universal-pictures-international-mgm-annapurna-daniel-craig-danny-boyle-john-hodge-1202397905/|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=24 May 2018|access-date=2 December 2019}}</ref>

==List of Bond films==
The ''Bond'' films produced by Eon Productions are:
# ''[[Dr. No (film)|Dr. No]]'' (1962)
# ''[[From Russia with Love (film)|From Russia with Love]]'' (1963)
# ''[[Goldfinger (film)|Goldfinger]]'' (1964)
# ''[[Thunderball (film)|Thunderball]]'' (1965)
# ''[[You Only Live Twice (film)|You Only Live Twice]]'' (1967)
# ''[[On Her Majesty's Secret Service (film)|On Her Majesty's Secret Service]]'' (1969)
# ''[[Diamonds Are Forever (film)|Diamonds Are Forever]]'' (1971)
# ''[[Live and Let Die (film)|Live and Let Die]]'' (1973)
# ''[[The Man with the Golden Gun (film)|The Man with the Golden Gun]]'' (1974)
# ''[[The Spy Who Loved Me (film)|The Spy Who Loved Me]]'' (1977)
# ''[[Moonraker (film)|Moonraker]]'' (1979)
# ''[[For Your Eyes Only (film)|For Your Eyes Only]]'' (1981)
# ''[[Octopussy]]'' (1983)
# ''[[A View to a Kill]]'' (1985)
# ''[[The Living Daylights]]'' (1987)
# ''[[Licence to Kill]]'' (1989)
# ''[[GoldenEye]]'' (1995)
# ''[[Tomorrow Never Dies]]'' (1997)
# ''[[The World Is Not Enough]]'' (1999)
# ''[[Die Another Day]]'' (2002)
# ''[[Casino Royale (2006 film)|Casino Royale]]'' (2006)
# ''[[Quantum of Solace]]'' (2008)
# ''[[Skyfall]]'' (2012)
# ''[[Spectre (2015 film)|Spectre]]'' (2015)
# ''[[No Time to Die]]'' (2021)

Other production companies were responsible for the ''Bond'' productions ''[[Casino Royale (1967 film)|Casino Royale]]'' (1967) and ''[[Never Say Never Again]]'' (1983). ''Never Say Never Again'' is a remake of ''Thunderball''.{{cn|date=April 2025}}

==Other film productions==
Since its first film, ''[[Dr. No (film)|Dr. No]]'' in 1962, Eon has made eight non-''Bond'' films. Saltzman and Broccoli produced other films separately: Broccoli produced the film ''[[Chitty Chitty Bang Bang]]'', based on a book by [[Ian Fleming]]; Saltzman produced several non-''Bond'' films during this time including ''[[The Ipcress File (film)|The Ipcress File]]'' and ''[[Battle of Britain (film)|Battle of Britain]]''.

Other non-''Bond'' projects from either 1963 or 1964&nbsp;– ''The Marriage Game'' written by [[Terry Southern]] and to have been directed by [[Peter Yates]]<ref>{{cite book|last=Southern|first=Nile|title=The Candy Men: The Rollicking Life and Times of the Notorious Novel Candy|publisher=[[Arcade Publishing]]|year=2004|isbn=155970604X|page=194}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Hill|first=Lee|title=A Grand Guy: The Art And Life of Terry Southern|publisher=[[HarperCollins]]|year=2010|isbn=978-0380977864|page=no page number}}</ref> <!--- Please keep both references. One provides a possible year or years - although I'm not sure I trust 63/64; the other confirms that both Broccoli & Saltzman, and not just Saltzman were involved. --->and ''The Pass Beyond Kashmir'' based on the novel by [[Berkely Mather]]&nbsp;– did not go into production.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cinemaretro.com/index.php?/archives/292-FILMS-THAT-NEVER-HAPPENED-THE-PASS-BEYOND-KASHMIR.html |title=Films That Never Happened: "The Pass Beyond Kashmir" – Celebrating Films of the 1960s & 1970s |publisher=Cinemaretro.com}}</ref>

In 2008, Eon signed a deal with Columbia Pictures to develop fifteen thrillers and family films outside the ''Bond'' franchise, with budgets of up to $80&nbsp;million (£40&nbsp;million). The company hopes the move will allow more British writers to establish themselves in the United States.<ref>{{cite news|first=Dalya|last=Alberge|title=Bond moves over for Hollywood deal|work=[[The Times]]|date=10 April 2008|url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/bond-moves-over-for-hollywood-deal-mrcpg8psz6z|access-date=13 November 2021| location=London}}</ref>

Eon Productions produced the adaptation of Mark Burnell's first book in the ''Stephanie Patrick'' series, titled ''The Rhythm Section''. Starring [[Blake Lively]] and directed by [[Reed Morano]], and distributed by [[Paramount Pictures]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/blake-lively-spy-thriller-rhythm-section-picked-up-by-paramount-1030289|title= Blake Lively Spy Thriller 'The Rhythm Section' Picked Up by Paramount|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=16 August 2017|access-date=19 August 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/blake-lively-star-spy-thriller-bond-producers-1020546|title= Blake Lively to Star in Spy Thriller From Bond Producers|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=12 July 2017|access-date=19 August 2017}}</ref> The film was released on 31 January 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/blake-lively-rhythm-section-moved-back-2020-1203312903/|title=Blake Lively's 'Rhythm Section' Moved Back to 2020|last=McNary|first=Dave|date=24 August 2019|website=Variety|language=en|access-date=24 August 2019}}</ref>

The non-Bond films produced by Eon Productions are:
# ''[[Call Me Bwana]]'' (1963)
# ''[[The Silent Storm]]'' (2014)
# ''[[Radiator (film)|Radiator]]'' (2014)
# ''[[Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool]]'' (2017)
# ''[[Nancy (film)|Nancy]]'' (2018)
# ''[[The Rhythm Section]]'' (2020)
# ''[[Ear for Eye]]'' (2021)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/12/lashana-lynch-ear-for-eye-hit-play-1234635578/|title=Lashana Lynch Wraps UK Indie Feature 'Ear For Eye' Based On Hit Play|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|first=Tom|last=Grater|date=1 December 2020|access-date=23 January 2021}}</ref>
# ''[[Till (film)|Till]]'' (2022)
# Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (TBA) In Development
# The Fighter (TBA) In Development

==Theatre==
Eon has made several theatre productions,<ref>{{cite web |title=Theatre Archives |url=https://www.eon.co.uk/theatre/ |website=EON Productions|access-date=November 13, 2021}}</ref> including ''[[Chitty Chitty Bang Bang]]'', based on a book by [[Ian Fleming]], and ''[[Othello]]'', starring [[Daniel Craig]].
# ''[[Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (musical)|Chitty Chitty Bang Bang]]'' (2002)
# ''[[Chariots of Fire]]'' (2012–2013)
# ''[[Once (musical)|Once]]'' (2012–2016)
# ''[[Othello]]'' (2016–2017)
# ''[[The Band's Visit (musical)|The Band's Visit]]'' (2017)
# ''[[The Country Girls]]'' (2017)
# ''[[Love Letters (play)|Love Letters]]'' (2017)
# ''[[The Kid Stays in the Picture]]'' (2017)
# ''[[Strangers on a Train (play)|Strangers on a Train]]'' (2018)
# ''[[Macbeth]]'' (2022)

==See also==
* [[James Bond in video games|''James Bond'' in video games]] – list of games authorised by Eon Productions and MGM Interactive
* [[Ian Fleming Publications]] – administers all of Ian Fleming's literary oeuvre as well as continuation novels by other authors
* [[Outline of James Bond|Outline of ''James Bond'']]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{official website}}

{{Bond movies}}
{{Cinema of the United Kingdom}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:EON Productions}}
[[Category:British companies established in 1962]]
[[Category:James Bond]]
[[Category:Film production companies of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Mass media companies established in 1961]]
[[Category:1962 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Mass media companies based in London]]
[[Category:1960s English-language films]]
[[Category:1970s English-language films]]
[[Category:1980s English-language films]]
[[Category:1990s English-language films]]
[[Category:2000s English-language films]]
[[Category:2010s English-language films]]
[[Category:2020s English-language films]]