New James Bond producer is exec famed for Angelina Jolie insult

March 25, 2025

A longtime Hollywood exec best known for leaked emails that slammed Angelina Jolie as a ‘minimally talented spoiled brat’ has been named producer of the next James Bond movie.

Amy Pascal will bring the next 007 film to the screen alongside Harry Potter producer David Heyman, Amazon MGM Studios announced Tuesday.

Pascal was mired in a huge scandal in 2014, after emails leaked in that year’s Sony hack revealed some scathing thoughts on Jolie from a fellow producer.

Pascal, at the time, was Sony’s co-chairwoman. The leak saw her fired, after other emails penned by her were deemed racist by big brass – including jokes aimed at then-President Barack Obama.

A famous and excruciatingly awkward photo showed Jolie giving Pascal a death stare at an event weeks after the insult against her – actually uttered by fellow Sony producer Scott Rudin – was leaked.  

Amazon, meanwhile, recently doled out roughly a billion dollars to take control of the iconic franchise, as its founder continues to cozy up to the president.

Earlier this year, the tech giant announced it had licensed the rights to an exclusive documentary surrounding Melania Trump – paying an astonishing $40million to do so.

The most recent Bond film, 2021’s No Time To Die, saw Daniel Craig‘s rendition of the suave spy meet his untimely end, after some 60 years of service for Her Majesty. A new king and president later, creative control of the franchise will go to some fresh faces.

Amy Pascal, a Hollywood executive best known for leaked emails that slammed Angelina Jolie a 'minimally talented spoiled brat' in private emails, has been named producer of the next James Bond movie, the company has confirmed. The pair are seen together after the leak
Pascal, at the time, had been Sony’s co-chairwoman. The leak saw her fired, after other emails penned by her were deemed racist by brass - including jokes aimed at then-President Obama

‘James Bond is one of the most iconic characters in the history of cinema,’ the pair said in a joint statement.

Naming the film’s previous producers, the two added: ‘We are humbled to follow in the footsteps of Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson who made so many extraordinary films.

‘[We are] honored and excited to keep the spirit of Bond very much alive as he embarks on his next adventure.’

The move, coming less than a month removed from the deal between the two parties, indicates it has been finalized.

That said, a release date and new actor for the role have yet to be specified – suggesting the 28th Bond film is still a ways away.

‘We are approaching every creative decision with James Bond, which Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson have so masterfully steered, with the greatest sense of responsibility,’ added Amazon MGM Studios Head of Film, Courtenay Valenti.

‘Part of an elite group of producers who have developed and managed massive film franchises to box office success and critical acclaim, [Pascal] and [Heyman] are two of the most accomplished, experienced, and respected film producers in our industry.’

After leaving Sony, Pascal started her own production company, fueled by four years of funding from her old company as part of her contract, which was set to expire in March 2015. The month before, she announced she would be stepping down in May.

Harry Potter producer David Heyman will join Pascal as the film franchise's new producers, Amazon MGM Studios said Tuesday
The most recent Bond film, 2021's No Time To Die , saw Daniel Craig 's rendition of the suave spy meet his untimely end, after some 60 years of service for Her Majesty

A few days later, she admitted that she had been ‘fired’ – just months after the massive breach. 

The December before, Buzzfeed published a story containing personal emails from Pascal sent to ‘The Social Network’ producer Rudin joked about Obama’s favorite movies.

She was caught suggesting he would prefer those about African Americans.

‘Would he like to finance some movies,’ responded Rudin, after Pascal sought his advice on what she should say to the President at a then looming Hollywood fundraiser.

‘I doubt it. Should I ask him if he liked DJANGO?’ said Pascal, with Rudin replying ’12 YEARS.’

‘Or the butler. Or think like a man?’ answered Pascal, whom at the time had been a major donor for the Democratic party and Obama.

‘Ride-along. I bet he likes Kevin Hart,’ Rudin replied, as other unveiled emails showed more insensitive comments surrounding stars like Jolie/

Rudin called her ‘minimally talented spoiled brat’, as the two spoke about the star being displeased that David Fincher was going to be directing the upcoming Jobs biopic as opposed to a re-make of Cleopatra that she would star in.

She was pressuring Sony to get him to direct her film – sparking some off-color correspondence.  

Pascal was previously caught making racist comments about Barack Obama to the same staffer who slammed Jolie

‘[Jolie] is upset about us giving david jobs she wants to talk,’ Pascal, 66, reportedly told Rudin in the leaked e-mail dated February 27, 2014.

‘She’ll survive it,’ Rudin responded. ‘I don’t want to waste my time on this.’

Later that day, he sent another e-mail to Pascal, which read, ‘YOU BETTER SHUT ANGIE DOWN BEFORE SHE MAKES IT VERY HARD FOR DAVID TO DO JOBS.’ 

‘Do not f**king threaten me,’ Pascal sniped.

She and Jolie would meet months later, not long before her firing, at a women in entertainment breakfast in LA.

A year removed from the emails involving Jolie, Pascal spoke on the scandal – telling Vanity Fair: ‘Angie didn’t care.’

‘Everybody understood because we all live in this weird thing called Hollywood,’ she said. ‘If we were all actually were nice, it wouldn’t work.’

He being poached as a producer comes after Amazon enlisted long-cancelled director Brett Ratner, after the Rush Hour maker was hit with allegations of sexual conduct in 2018.

He has not worked in Hollywood since 2018.

 

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