Bond 22: Currently No Finished Script; Planned To Open Against 'Madagascar 2'
With the DVD release of Casino Royale having come and gone, the main focus of many upcoming James Bond-related articles will be on Daniel Craig’s next film: Bond 22.
Jeff Blake, Vice Chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment and Chairman of Marketing and Distribution for the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, recently spoke to the Los Angeles Times about securing the most desirable opening weekends for films. He also briefly mentioned the status of the 22nd 007 adventure: there is no official title yet or a finished script. But, ‘two things are definite: Daniel Craig is returning, and we’re going November 7. After that it gets complicated.’
Taking a look ahead at what is currently scheduled to hit theaters in November 2008, it’s possible we have an answer as to why Bond 22 will be out earlier in November (the three previous Bond films have been released in the second half of the month): Harry Potter. The sixth film in the hugely popular series, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, is planned to be released on 21 November.
However, that doesn’t mean Bond will be avoiding all competition. In the case of Casino Royale‘s US opening, Bond went up against Happy Feet‘s penguins at the box office. For Bond 22, it will be zoo animals this time, as the animated sequel Madagascar 2 is also planned for a 7 November release. The first film, released in mid-2005, eventually took in over $530 million worldwide.
Stay tuned to CBn for further coverage of Bond 22.