Although SPECTRE only just opened in the UK to great success (and is poised to debut in the $80 million range stateside November 6), the future of the James Bond film franchise is now poised to undergo a big change.

Sony Pictures Entertainment's distribution deal with Bond producers MGM and EON Productions expires with the release of SPECTRE, and it's widely understood that 007 will find a new studio home come James Bond 25.

The Wall Street Journal and Deadline report that, should MGM and EON not make a new deal with Sony, the contenders for the Bond distribution rights include Warner Bros., Universal, and Paramount. Deadline adds that Disney may also want to add another gem to its crown of franchise properties as well.

Warner Bros. is reportedly the front runner to land the rights, as the studio is starved for hits and Skyfall made over $1 billion.

Deadline claims EON and MGM "will wait until Spectre plays around the world and accumulates an ungodly global gross that will only strengthen their leverage. And then, early next year, they will make the best deal. If that means bidding farewell to Sony, so be it."

No one faults Sony's marketing and distribution of the Daniel Craig Bond films, but Hollywood studio execs reportedly think Sony gave up too much prospective money in their deal to land the Bond rights. Sony now has a new chairman than the one who made the Bond deal.

There is also some thought that the Sony hack last year ticked off EON and MGM when the script for SPECTRE leaked online.