{"id":892,"date":"2025-02-25T10:27:36","date_gmt":"2025-02-25T11:27:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.pilotshopworld.com\/?p=892"},"modified":"2025-02-26T18:37:46","modified_gmt":"2025-02-26T18:37:46","slug":"james-bond-star-85-uses-walking-frame-on-outing-after-bombshell-007-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.pilotshopworld.com\/index.php\/2025\/02\/25\/james-bond-star-85-uses-walking-frame-on-outing-after-bombshell-007-news\/","title":{"rendered":"James Bond star, 85, uses walking frame on outing after bombshell 007 news"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\t\t\"Former\t<\/div>
Former James Bond actor George Lazenby was spotted the day the shock Amazon takeover news broke (Picture: Splash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Former James Bond<\/a> actor George Lazenby<\/a> was pictured out in California<\/a> the same day the bombshell news<\/a> dropped that Amazon had taken creative control<\/a> of the 007 franchise.<\/p>\n

The Australian star, 85, was seen going for a careful stroll<\/a> in Santa Monica in the sunshine while using his walking frame on Thursday.<\/p>\n

Lazenby \u2013 who announced his retirement<\/a> in an emotional statement in July \u2013 was dressed casually in a red fleece-lined hoodie over a blue polo shirt and grey jogging bottoms and dark trainers.<\/p>\n

He also wore a navy baseball cap from the 2024 Wimbledon tennis championship to shield himself from the sun, as he walked alongside a companion, his strapping 6\u2019 2\u2019\u2019 height still a giveaway as to his identity, over 55 years on from his career-defining role.<\/p>\n

The Universal Soldier actor was a model and former car salesman before becoming the second person to portray James Bond onscreen after Sir Sean Connery left the role in 1968.<\/p>\n

Lazenby appeared in On Her Majesty\u2019s Secret Service the following year, his only movie as 007, after his then-agent reportedly convinced him that Bond would fall out of fashion in the 1970s.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"EXCLUSIVE:\t<\/div>
The Australian-born star used a walking frame after announcing his retirement last year (Picture: Splash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\n\t\t\"EXCLUSIVE:\t<\/div>
Lazenby kept it casual for the outing, which came as fellow former 007s shared their reactions to the announcement (Picture: Splash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

That same franchise, which has only gone from strength to strength, is now under exclusive new creative control after longtime producers Barbara Broccoli and her half-brother Michael G. Wilson announced they were \u2018stepping back\u2019<\/a> after being its driving and guiding forces since 1995.<\/p>\n

As the children of famed producer Albert \u2018Cubby\u2019 Broccoli, it was the two of them who cast Daniel Craig<\/a> as the suave spy in 2005, who followed in the footsteps of Pierce Brosnan, Timothy Dalton, Sir Roger Moore, Sir Sean and Lazenby.<\/p>\n

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Comment now<\/title><span class=\"metro-comment-cta__text\">Who is your favourite James Bond actor?<\/span><\/span><a class=\"metro-comment-cta__button\" href=\"#metro-comments-container\">Comment Now<\/a><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>Tech giant Amazon acquired the rights to the 007 franchise through its parent studio Eon, founded in 1961, <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2021\/05\/26\/amazon-buys-mgm-for-8-45billion-in-blockbuster-hollywood-deal-14649884\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>when it bought MGM in 2022<\/strong><\/a> for $8.45billion (\u00a36.69bn), duly forming its own studio \u2013 Amazon MGM Studios.<\/p>\n<p>As part of the deal, Broccoli and Wilson were to remain the ultimate decisionmakers, having final say over crucial Bond components such as casting and the script.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"962\" src=\"http:\/\/www.pilotshopworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/SEI_241375688-47b0.jpg\" class=\"article-image wp-image-22620133\" alt=\"Editorial use only Mandatory Credit: Photo by Snap\/REX\/Shutterstock (390894jo) FILM STILLS OF 'ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE' WITH 1969, PETER HUNT, JAMES BOND, GEORGE LAZENBY IN 1969 VARIOUS\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t<\/div><figcaption>He played 007 for one film, 1969’s On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (Picture: Snap\/Rex\/Shutterstock)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"496\" src=\"http:\/\/www.pilotshopworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/SEI_241375663-d902.jpg\" class=\"article-image wp-image-22620129\" alt=\"Mandatory Credit: Photo by Harry Myers\/REX\/Shutterstock (728599l) George Lazenby at the Dorchester Hotel unveiled as the new James Bond Various\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t<\/div><figcaption>Pictured at the Dorchester Hotel as his casting was unveiled (Picture: Harry Myers\/Rex\/Shutterstock)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>However, they\u2019ve <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2025\/02\/21\/im-shaken-not-stirred-amazon-taking-creative-control-bond-22599910\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">now ceded that control to Amazon<\/a> in an unexpected move, thought to have cost the corporation an additional $1billion (\u00a3792.3m).<\/p>\n<p>Former Bond Dalton admitted he was ‘very, very surprised and shocked’ over the news of their departure.<\/p>\n<p>‘Barbara is I think a fabulous woman and a wonderful producer, as was her father Cubby Broccoli, who I got on with very well and liked a lot. He was a very powerful and strong anchor for the project. Nothing went on that he didn’t want and it’s sad that he’s not with us anymore, that’s all I can say.<\/p>\n<p>‘He was well in charge of the show and that’s not so anymore,’ he told <a href=\"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/movies\/timothy-dalton-shocked-bond-producer-exit-exclusive-newsupdate\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">RadioTimes.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The star – who appeared in 1987’s The Living Daylights and 1989’s Licence to Kill – also said he hoped Amazon ‘give us the kind of film that’s brought so much excitement and fun to so many people’ as he wished the new controllers luck with the franchise.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"593\" height=\"594\" src=\"http:\/\/www.pilotshopworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/GettyImages-126264978.jpg\" class=\"article-image wp-image-22621306\" alt=\"Dalton As Bond\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t<\/div><figcaption>Ex-Bond Timothy Dalton admitted he was ‘very, very surprised and shocked’ that longtime producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson were ‘stepping back’ (Picture: Keith Hamshere\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Craig was equally complimentary to the producers as he reacted to the news, telling <a href=\"https:\/\/variety.com\/2025\/film\/news\/daniel-craig-amazon-james-bond-takeover-1236314500\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Variety<\/a>: \u2018My respect, admiration and love for Barbara and Michael remain constant and undiminished.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018I wish Michael a long, relaxing (and well deserved) retirement and whatever ventures Barbara goes on to do, I know they will be spectacular and I hope I can be part of them.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Sharing the news on Thursday, producer Wilson, 83, said in a statement to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/articles\/c1mn9gz5x3mo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the BBC<\/a>: \u2018With my 007 career spanning nearly 60 incredible years, I am stepping back from producing the James Bond films to focus on art and charitable projects.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018Therefore, Barbara and I agree, it is time for our trusted partner, Amazon MGM Studios, to lead James Bond into the future.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Broccoli, 64, added: \u2018My life has been dedicated to maintaining and building upon the extraordinary legacy that was handed to Michael and me by our father, producer Cubby Broccoli.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"431\" src=\"http:\/\/www.pilotshopworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/SEI_241294683-47a9.jpg\" class=\"article-image wp-image-22616923\" alt=\"Editorial use only. No book cover usage. Mandatory Credit: Photo by Mgm\/Columbia\/Eon\/Kobal\/REX\/Shutterstock (5886228ci) Daniel Craig Quantum Of Solace - 2008 Director: Marc Forster MGM\/Columbia\/EON UK Scene Still James Bond Action\/Adventure\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t<\/div><figcaption>Daniel Craig shared his ‘respect, admiration and love’ for his former producers (Picture: MGM\/Columbia\/Eon\/Kobal\/Rex\/Shutterstock)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u2018I have had the honour of working closely with four of the tremendously talented actors who have played 007 and thousands of wonderful artists within the industry.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018With the conclusion of <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2021\/09\/29\/no-time-to-die-review-our-take-on-daniel-craigs-new-james-bond-film-15330794\/\">No Time to Die <\/a>and Michael retiring from the films, I feel it is time to focus on my other projects.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Fans and industry insiders have already began <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2025\/02\/23\/rising-star-28-sees-007-odds-slashed-most-significant-moment-bond-history-22611532\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">speculating over the future of James Bond<\/a> and how it – and he – may look.<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Got a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">If you\u2019ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\">Metro.co.uk<\/a> entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/submit-stuff\/\">Submit Stuff<\/a> page – we\u2019d love to hear from you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Former James Bond actor George Lazenby was spotted the day the shock Amazon takeover news broke (Picture: Splash) Former James Bond actor George Lazenby was pictured out in California the<\/p>\n<p class=\"more-link\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.pilotshopworld.com\/index.php\/2025\/02\/25\/james-bond-star-85-uses-walking-frame-on-outing-after-bombshell-007-news\/\" class=\"readmore\">Continue reading<svg class=\"icon icon-arrow-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"img\"> <use href=\"#icon-arrow-right\" xlink:href=\"#icon-arrow-right\"><\/use> <\/svg><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">James Bond star, 85, uses walking frame on outing after bombshell 007 news<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":777,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[11],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.pilotshopworld.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/892"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.pilotshopworld.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.pilotshopworld.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.pilotshopworld.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.pilotshopworld.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=892"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/www.pilotshopworld.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/892\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":901,"href":"http:\/\/www.pilotshopworld.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/892\/revisions\/901"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.pilotshopworld.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/777"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.pilotshopworld.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=892"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.pilotshopworld.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=892"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.pilotshopworld.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=892"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}