Sony Pictures Could Lose Rights to James Bond After SPECTRE

James Bond will return again after Spectre hits theaters this winter, but there's a chance it'll be with a studio other than Sony. Variety reported on Tuesday that MGM will explore taking 007 to a new studio, quite possibly Warner Bros.

Sony and MGM have worked together during the entire Daniel Craig Bond era, with Sony producing the movies through its Columbia Pictures banner. Variety reports that the close relationship between MGM CEO Gary Barber and Warner Bros. CEO Kevin Tsujihara could be what it takes for Warner Bros. to steal Bond away from Sony.

"The reality is that Sony's had a fantastic run with the Bonds," Sony Pictures Chairman Tom Rothman told Variety. "Sure we’re going to compete for (the rights), but let’s be honest, so is everybody in the business."

Sounds like Rothman isn't too confident in his studio retaining the rights to 007. If Sony were to lose James Bond to a rival studio, it would be another blow for them. Over the past year, Sony went through a massive email hack that exposed much of the studio's inner workings. Sony also wound up making a deal to share Spider-Man with Marvel Studios in order to save one of the few franchises they had.

Spectre is set to hit theaters on Nov. 6.