Reuters: Bond 21 in 2006
WQ
me, at this delaying rate, I wouldn't be surprised if
Sony/MGM/EON/whoever decides to wait till 2007 to capitalize on the
marketing strategy of using 007 in that year. In any case, this could
very well mean the end of Brosnan's Bond careeer.
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - It looks like super-spy James Bond can keep
his tuxedo in the closet for at least another year.
It looks like super-spy James Bond can keep his tuxedo in the closet
for at least another year. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc., on the verge of
being sold to a group of companies led by Sony Corp., has pushed back
its target release date from November 2005 until sometime in 2006, a
spokesman for the film studio said Sept. 30, 2004. Pierce Brosnan
starred in the last Bond movie, 'Die Another Day.' Photo by
Mgm/Reuters
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc., on the verge of being sold to a group of
companies led by Sony Corp., has pushed back its target release date
from November 2005 until sometime in 2006, a spokesman for the film
studio said on Thursday.
He cited the failure so far to line up a director for the movie, which
would mark the 21st installment of MGM's venerable film franchise.
MGM, which together with EON Productions owns the Bond movie rights
and distributes the films, had insisted as recently as late July that
a script was finished and the next film was on track to arrive in
theaters in November 2005.
But without a director on board by summer's end, producers were not
sure they could begin shooting as planned in January or February in
order to make a November deadline for release, the spokesman said.
"We're not going to be the slave to a release date or shoe-horn it in
so we can make a date," he said, adding, "We're still in the
development process."
One factor in the delay has been MGM executives' preoccupation with
negotiations leading to the recent deal for a Sony-led consortium to
acquire the studio for about $2.85 billion plus debt, one insider told
Reuters.
"We had plenty on our plates in the last few months," the source said.
"Moving forward on Bond is always a process of agreement between us
and EON, and that requires 50-50 agreement, and that's never a simple
thing."
Another question mark is whether Irish-born actor Pierce Brosnan would
return to star as the suave secret agent.
Brosnan, 51, who has portrayed agent 007 in four films starting with
"GoldenEye" in 1995, told Entertainment Weekly magazine this summer he
was through with the Bond franchise.
The MGM spokesman acknowledged that no one has been cast to play Bond
and that Brosnan fulfilled his MGM contract with his appearance in the
last Bond film, 2002's "Die Another Day," but has not been ruled out
for a fifth picture.
All casting decisions will await the signing of a director. Among the
filmmakers being discussed for the job are Paul McGuigan, who directed
MGM's recent "Wicker Park," and Matthew Vaughn, Guy Ritchie's
producing partner for "Snatch" and "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking
Barrels."
The James Bond series, which began in 1962 with "Dr. No," starring
Sean Connery as the fictional British spy first popularized in Ian
Fleming's novels, is one of MGM's biggest assets. "Die Another Day"
alone generated more than $425 million in worldwide ticket sales.
Phil7101
>me, at this delaying rate, I wouldn't be surprised if
>Sony/MGM/EON/whoever decides to wait till 2007 to capitalize on the
>marketing strategy of using 007 in that year. In any case, this could
>very well mean the end of Brosnan's Bond careeer.
It's not impossible to have Bond films in 06 and 07, especially if they do
summer 06 and then Christmas 07. But they would have to be filmed more or less
back-to-back. They could be really daring and make it a 2-part epic. It'll be
interesting to see what Sony's input will be into this situation.
WQ
--- Fully agree, and it would be a great way to kick off a new Bond
actor and have audiences get used to him within a relatively short
timeframe, too.
Cappy Morgan
"Phil7101" <phil...@aol.comMI6> wrote in message
news:20041001160837...@mb-m19.aol.com...
Wow, that would be a very unique and fantastic idea. I love it. It worked
for Kill Bill and I'd like to see that type of involved storyline.
CM
Cappy Morgan
"WQ" <ri...@email.com> wrote in message
news:1096663664....@k26g2000oda.googlegroups.com...
I'd rather see a two part epic featuring Brosnan. Go out with a storyline
worthy of the second best Bond, IMO.
CM
scojo
One thing is certain - a Bond film in summer/winter 2006 or
summer/winter 2007 will definitely mean a new Bond actor. Regardless
of my claims over the last eight months, I cannot see Eon and Sony
rehiring Brosnan after a four or five year gap. The gap in films gives
them the ideal opportunity, or excuse, depending on how you wish to
see it, to introduce a new actor. And another thing to consider: Bond
21 in 2006 will make Hugh Jackman 38 years old. Closer to the age of
40, the ideal age he suggested to be play Bond. So the longer the
delay in the next film the more chance Jackman has of playing Bond,
and the more he can justify taking the role.
scojo
Philip Clapham
"WQ" <ri...@email.com> wrote in message
news:a6b5ab75.04100...@posting.google.com...
GSHATTERHAND
>From: "Philip Clapham" ph...@garforth78.freeserve.co.uk
>Date: 10/3/04 11:47 AM Eastern Daylight Time
>surely they owe us a 2006 and 2007 film
Very depressing, these long gaps between Bond films. And now I fear they will
become the rule rather than the exception.
Two films in two years would be great but I figure the chance of that happening
is zero!
Tom Zielinski
"GSHATTERHAND" <gshatt...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20041003230442...@mb-m18.aol.com...
I dunno, it makes a lot of sense. It could happen. I'm thinking the suits
must have at least considered it. The concept has been used to great
success in other film series, and would create huge buzz. 2007 is just too
perfect a marketing opportunity, but too long to wait, and 2006 is around
the corner.
Now if they would only re-sign Brosnan to do the two-filmer, use Fleming as
the blueprint, hire Tarantino to direct, eliminate (and I mean ELIMINATE)
any idea (or anyone who suggests the idea) of using CGI in place of good
stuntwork, it would be perfect. Check that, perfect if John Barry also
scored the picture.
But I figure the chance of all that happening, is less than zero.
Tom "Pessimist" Zielinski
scojo
If a new actor is signed as Bond, I think 'one film ever three years'
is what we'll be looking at. Something like that. Sony have got the
Spider-man franchise making them loads of cash so they don't have to
bring out a new Bond film every other year.
scojo
Lee Edward McIlmoyle
news:z4E7d.4670$gm.4617@okepread07:
> "Phil7101" <phil...@aol.comMI6> wrote in message
> news:20041001160837...@mb-m19.aol.com...
*snip*
>> It's not impossible to have Bond films in 06 and 07, especially if
>> they do summer 06 and then Christmas 07. But they would have to be
>> filmed more or
> less
>> back-to-back. They could be really daring and make it a 2-part epic.
>> It'll
> be
>> interesting to see what Sony's input will be into this situation.
>
> Wow, that would be a very unique and fantastic idea. I love it. It
> worked for Kill Bill and I'd like to see that type of involved
> storyline.
>
> CM
That WOULD be interesting. It would also be a challenge to Purvis and Wade,
having to rework their shooting script to work over a two-film format. It
wouldn't do to have a lot of useless padding.
Still, that would indeed be a chance for EON to hit a truly epic feel, like
OHMSS.
Lee Edward...
wondering if they could...
GSHATTERHAND
>Date: 10/4/04 8:20 AM Eastern
>I dunno, it makes a lot of sense. It could happen. > I'm thinking the
suits>must have at least considered it.
It DOES make sense! Listen up, you suits!
>Now if they would only re-sign Brosnan to do the two-filmer, use Fleming as
>the blueprint, hire Tarantino to direct, eliminate (and I mean ELIMINATE)
>any idea (or anyone who suggests the idea) of using CGI in place of good
>stuntwork, it would be perfect. Barry scores it.
Brosan, two-filmer, Fleming blueprint, Tatantino, Barry score.........Bond
Heaven!
(I don't mind flawless CGI. Runs.)
Cappy Morgan
"Lee Edward McIlmoyle" <leein...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:Xns957879AB6A51le...@207.35.177.135...
Absolutely, and it would give us something that the series needs more
of...characterization and development. Personally, I really wanted to see
Brosnan in a more "bare bones" adventure where he could stretch a bit more.
I liked the opening of DAD and I wish it had played more off that scenario.
CM