007: Road to a Million is a reality competition show spin-off of the James Bond franchise. Hosted by Brian Cox, it features nine teams of two competing in a race to win £1 million each through a series of spy-themed challenges. The series was made by 72 Films and MGM Television in association with Eon Productions for release on Amazon Prime Video on 10 November 2023.
| 007: Road to a Million | |
|---|---|
| Genre | |
| Inspired by | James Bond by Ian Fleming |
| Directed by |
|
| Presented by | Brian Cox |
| Theme music composer | David Arnold |
| Composer | Sam Thompson |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 8 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Producer | Ben Allen |
| Cinematography |
|
| Editors |
|
| Camera setup | Multi-camera |
| Running time | 39–60 minutes |
| Production companies |
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| Original release | |
| Network | Amazon Prime Video |
| Release | 10 November 2023 – present |
On 13 September 2023, the show was renewed for a second series before the first series was even released on the service.[1] In May 2024, Cox confirmed he was returning as host as The Controller for season 2, which is set to start filming in Summer 2024; the broadcast schedule will be announced later in the year.
Format
editBrian Cox hosts the show as the "Controller", and nine teams of two people compete to win a worldwide race to win £1 million each. The Controller sets the rules of the game, hiding in a bunker and monitoring each team from afar as he tells them where they must go next, what challenges they must perform, and what questions they must try to answer. Cox portrays the Controller as a Bond-style villain of the race, delighting in the hardship of the contestants.[2][3]
Production
edit72 Films had been developing the show for about four years before Amazon Prime Video green-lit the series in March 2022.[4][5] By April, Brian Cox had signed on to host as the villain of the show.[6] Cox initially thought that the casting was for the next Bond film.[7]
Reception
editJoel Golby at The Guardian enjoyed the series, saying that even though it may not make sense on paper, it is "mega-fun" and Cox chewed up the scenes in his portrayal of a Bond villain, holding the series together.[8]
Lucy Mangan, also at The Guardian, gave the series a strongly negative review, calling it "shoddy, boring and soulless," and criticised its use of the Bond brand as "tenuous."[9]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Yossman, K. J. (13 September 2023). "James Bond Reality TV Series 007's Road to a Million Already Casting Second Season (Exclusive)". Variety.
- ^ Rantala, Hanna (8 November 2023). "New TV show 007: Road To A Million brings Bond-like tasks to screens". Reuters.
- ^ Hibberd, James (5 October 2023). "Amazon's James Bond Game Show Hosted by Brian Cox Releases Teaser Trailer". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ^ Ravindran, Manori (25 March 2022). "James Bond Competition Show Greenlit at Amazon's Prime Video With Producers Michael G. Wilson, Barbara Broccoli (Exclusive)". Variety. Penske Media Corporation.
- ^ Yossman, K. J. (3 November 2023). "Brian Cox Jumped at Starring in 007: Road to a Million: 'I've Always Wanted to Play a Bond Villain'". Variety. Penske Media Corporation.
- ^ Ravindran, Manori (24 April 2023). "Succession Star Brian Cox Joins Prime Video's James Bond Reality Show Road to a Million". Variety. Penske Media Corporation.
- ^ Thomas, Carly (2023-11-08). "Brian Cox Says He Joined '007: Road to a Million' Thinking It Was the Next James Bond Film". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
- ^ Golby, Joel (4 November 2023). "007: Road to a Million – Brian Cox is scene-chewingly villainous in Bond's mega-fun reality series". The Guardian.
- ^ Mangan, Lucy (2023-11-10). "007: Road to a Million review – Brian Cox is so bad it could ruin Succession for you". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-11-10.
