EXCLUSIVE: Barbara Broccoli began making the calls Thursday, London time, to her most frequent and trusted collaborators to tell them news would soon ricochet around the world like a bullet fired from a Walter PPK,

The studio will take the reins for the 60-year-old movie property, while Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli will remain co-owners as they move to the sidelines as part of a joint venture transaction.

Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson have signed creative control over the James Bond franchise to Amazon MGM Studios.