Bond 23 (201X)

Reza
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Post by Reza »

latimes.com



Next James Bond film in limbo



MGM's financial woes, star Daniel Craig's unavailability and the lack of a shooting script look to delay the lucrative franchise's return until 2012 at the earliest.
By Steven Zeitchik, Los Angeles Times

August 6, 2010

Problems. Many problems.

The obstacles littered in front of a new James Bond movie may be more devilish than anything one of the film franchises' many villains could have dreamed up. In addition to financing woes and increasingly crowded talent schedules, there's this niggling fact: The script isn't ready.

Last week a fresh speed-bump was laid on the road to the 23rd film in the Bond franchise when "Quantum of Solace" and "Casino Royale" star Daniel Craig formally committed to "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo." David Fincher's remake of the Swedish-language bestseller won't begin shooting until later this year, meaning that Craig wouldn't be free until later in 2011 at the earliest. Even then, he'd need to navigate around promoting Jon Favreau's "Cowboys & Aliens," which he's currently shooting (and which could also spawn a sequel, on which the actor has an option).

Craig's moves away from Bond, meanwhile, come as MGM sits in a state of financial limbo. The company has accrued nearly $4 billion in debt and has received a sixth debt forbearance on interest payments until Sept. 15 and is unable, in the meantime, to fund new movies. Legal agreements apparently prevent the Bond film from being extricated from the studio by Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson, the tight-lipped pair who control the franchise through their EON Productions company.

But while MGM's financial woes have been a focus of much of the news coverage ­ which alternately have had the movie "canceled" and "suspended" ­ sources say that those difficulties have not been the only hold-up. The secrecy valued by EON scares off most public comment on the film's status, but sources familiar with the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity say that creative discussions among the writers and producers have also hampered the process.

Oscar-winning director Sam Mendes worked on the script last spring, the sources said, polishing the contributions of "Frost/Nixon" screenwriter Peter Morgan. Morgan, in turn, had rewritten parts of an earlier screenplay by Bond veterans Neal Purvis and Robert Wade.

EON has typically developed a script to a point of their satisfaction before sending it to the studio that will finance and distribute the given film (a pairing of MGM and Sony Pictures for the past two films). That has yet to happen with the new Bond, which is to be financed and distributed by MGM.

The creative issues around the new Bond are notable because it means that even if MGM's financial wrinkles were ironed out ­ in the form of a potential Time Warner acquisition of MGM, a corporate link-up with Spyglass or Summit Entertainment or, perhaps, the arrival of a white-knight outside financier for Bond ­ it would mean the movie would still not be ready to go. And by the time it was, it could run into actor scheduling issues, extending an already long layoff.

Switching Bond actors is not believed to be on the table ­ though as the delay wears on, it's not lost on some observers that Craig will go deeper into his 40s before a new film is shot. (He turned 42 in March.)

The exact script issues on the new Bond remain shrouded in mystery, but the difficulties aren't entirely surprising given the abundance of top creators and a franchise with ever-more complex mythology. Moreover, the new Bond film has always been framed as the third in the trilogy that began with "Casino Royale." And with the need to wrap up many dangling plot lines ­ in this case, Bond's quest for resolution after the death of romantic interest Vesper Lynd, among others ­ the third movie in a trilogy is typically hardest to lock down.

MGM declined comment. A call to EON's office in London was not returned, and the Santa Monica office of EON holding company Danjaq also yielded no comment.

The stakes are high for numerous players with Bond, which was given a jolt with "Casino" and "Solace," which earned more than $1.1 billion around the globe. And it heartened fans, who found in Craig's Bond a darker, subtler take that moved away from some of the spy-movie clichés and over-the-top special effects associated with earlier versions.

Even with MGM's difficulties looming, it wasn't supposed to turn out like this. When Mendes and Morgan came on to the film early in the year, MGM officials were quietly hoping the movie would be in production in the summer, for a release in 2011.

Now the parties have scattered, including the man who was supposed to lead it out of the wilderness: While his camp has not ruled out a return to Bond, Mendes has begun preparing a new movie, the Ian McEwan adaptation "On Chesil Beach," which could begin shooting this fall.

steve.zeitchik@latimes.com
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Post by MovieWes »

Sabin wrote:They're all about people sitting at tables.
Maybe he should've directed Casino Royale then! They sure sat around that Texas Hold 'Em table a lot! :p
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Post by Zahveed »

Now that you mention it, there were a ton of tables in Away We Go.
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Post by Sabin »

Sam Mendes did direct Jarhead and Road to Perdition, so he does have some experience with pyrotechnics and action/suspense sequences. Plus, he's worked with Daniel Craig in the past, so there might be some chemistry between them.

Yeah, but both Jarhead and Road to Perdition were about people angsting around! They were pretty but a Bond movie isn't supposed to be pretty! It's supposed to move! Mendes movies don't move! They're all about people sitting at tables.
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Post by MovieWes »

Sam Mendes did direct Jarhead and Road to Perdition, so he does have some experience with pyrotechnics and action/suspense sequences. Plus, he's worked with Daniel Craig in the past, so there might be some chemistry between them.
"Young men make wars and the virtues of war are the virtues of young men: courage and hope for the future. Then old men make the peace, and the vices of peace are the vices of old men: mistrust and caution." -- Alec Guinness (Lawrence of Arabia)
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Post by Sonic Youth »

I'll just watch The Incredibles again.
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Post by OscarGuy »

You know, DWS, that might actually make for an interesting start to a film. Undercover as a American Suburbite, action ensues when he foils the terrorist plot to blow up the Smithsonian or some such...

The last part is a bit hokey and meant in jest, but there are possibilities to be had with a suburban setting as the start to a Bond adventure.
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Post by dws1982 »

After the surprisingly good Casino Royale, the producers seem intent on hiring directors who aren't even halfway worth a damn. But maybe Mendes can open the film with Bond trapped in a loveless marriage in American suburbia.
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Post by anonymous1980 »

Personally, I'd be more interested in a Kathryn Bigelow-helmed Bond movie.

But Sam Mendes is a very interesting choice.




Edited By anonymous on 1262768800
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Post by Sabin »

Get ready for action, America! Because Sam Mendes is coming to town!
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Post by Zahveed »

Looks like we'll be seeing a more dramatic Bond if this happens.
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Post by MovieWes »

Sam Mendes to Direct 23rd James Bond Movie!
Source:Heat Vision
January 5, 2010


Sam Mendes is in negotations to direct James Bond 23, reports Heat Vision.

The Hollywood Reporter Blog says that production is being fast-tracked and could begin as early as June with an eye toward a 2011 release.

Plans for the film, again starring Daniel Craig, are moving forward despite a possible sale of MGM.

Bond regulars Neal Purvis and Robert Wade are writing, along with Peter Morgan (Frost/Nixon). Michael Wilson and Barbara Broccoli are producing.
"Young men make wars and the virtues of war are the virtues of young men: courage and hope for the future. Then old men make the peace, and the vices of peace are the vices of old men: mistrust and caution." -- Alec Guinness (Lawrence of Arabia)
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From ComingSoon.net

James Bond 23 to Start Filming End of 2010

October 23, 2009

CommanderBond.net alerted us to a video in which Daniel Craig says that James Bond 23 will start filming at the end of 2010. The star was asked about the next film as he exited the stage door for "A Steady Rain," a Broadway play he is currently performing in with Hugh Jackman. As you can see in the video below right before the one-minute mark, Craig says "We start at the end of next year."

It will be the third 007 installment starring Craig. His previous two films, Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace, earned $594 million and $586 million, respectively, at the worldwide box office.

Peter Morgan, Neal Purvis and Robert Wade are writing the script for the 23rd film, which does not have a director attached yet.
"Young men make wars and the virtues of war are the virtues of young men: courage and hope for the future. Then old men make the peace, and the vices of peace are the vices of old men: mistrust and caution." -- Alec Guinness (Lawrence of Arabia)
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MovieWes wrote:Word on the street is that 72-year-old Shirley Bassey is working with current Bond composer David Arnold on something. Could she be recording a new Bond theme? Interesting.

Well, here's what came about with this story. It appears that their collaboration was an actual album, not a new Bond theme...

A James Bond reunion for Shirley Bassey’s new album

New studio album includes contributions from David Arnold, John Barry and Don Black

Earlier this year, CommanderBond.net reported that Welsh superstar and three-time 007 theme song performer Shirley Bassey had returned to the studio to work on her first full studio album in more than 20 years.

The album, which is now titled The Performance, has been produced by five-time James Bond composer David Arnold and according to a new report from the BBC News, includes contributions from a few other very notable 007 regulars.

Of particular notice is the album track Our Time Is Now, written by composer John Barry and lyricist Don Black. As endless 007 fans are well aware, Barry is best known for essentially creating the James Bond sound following his 11 scores for the films, beginning with 1963’s From Russia with Love and concluding in 1987 with The Living Daylights.

Black also has an extensive Bond career, working alongside both Barry and Arnold on songs such as Thunderball, Diamonds are Forever, Surrender and Only Myself to Blame.

This new song for Bassey marks the first time they have all collaborated together since 1971. Says Black: ‘It’s been quite a few years since Diamonds are Forever, but that lyric still applies to Dame Shirley. She lustres on.’

‘Whenever the great Terry Wogan plays a Dame Shirley Bassey record, he says “she doesn’t just sing songs, she bites lumps out of them”,’ he continued. I thought of Terry’s words as I sat down to write these new songs for her. In other words, you have to give her some meaty emotions to sing about.’

Other songs on The Performance come courtesy of the Manic Street Preachers, the Pet Shop Boys, Gary Barlow, KT Tunstall and Richard Hawley.

Talking about the new album, Arnold said: ‘All these songs were just songs, until Dame Shirley Bassey sang them.’

‘There’s something about a Bassey performance that can knock the wind out of your sails, make you laugh, make you cry, let you in on the joke or be led to a more exotic place.’

The Performance is due for release this November. It follows her 2007 covers and remix album Get The Party Started.




Edited By MovieWes on 1253735722
"Young men make wars and the virtues of war are the virtues of young men: courage and hope for the future. Then old men make the peace, and the vices of peace are the vices of old men: mistrust and caution." -- Alec Guinness (Lawrence of Arabia)
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Post by rain Bard »

As long as it's not Moonraker...
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