admitted he was "shocked" after learning the film franchise is now under Amazon's control.

On Thursday (February 20), longtime 007 producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson announced their intention to to manage the intellectual property rights.

For over 60 years, the British-American Broccoli family has maintained a non-compromising oversight over the beloved movies, which they treated like a luxury brand.

Broccoli and Wilson have guided the film series together since the death of original Bond producer Albert R 'Cubby' Broccoli in 1996. It marks the end of an era for the Bond Films, which had remained a family business since the first film in the franchise, Dr. No, was released in 1962.

Dalton, 78, who played the iconic secret agent in two films in 1987 and 1989, said news of Broccoli and Wilson's departure surprised him.

Speaking to , he said: "I was very, very surprised and shocked. 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."

Dalton added: "He was well in charge of the show and that's not so anymore."

The actor's portrayals of the British spy in The Living Daylights (1987) and Licence to Kill (1989) are celebrated for being closer to Ian Fleming's original 007 novels.

These films marked a shift towards a darker tone, contrasting sharply with the lighter approach of the preceding Roger Moore era.

Looking ahead to where the franchise might go next, Dalton suggested Amazon should not stray too far from the character who has been a staple in British cinema since the '60s.

He said: "It's a wonderful franchise. The movies have taken different courses over the years, but there is something very good about the original and I hope Amazon latch onto that and give us the kind of film that's brought so much excitement and fun to so many people.

"Anyway, good luck to them, I say. I do wish them all the very, very best. They'll be doing their best to make a lot of money, so hopefully they will make good movies."