When Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was first released as a film in 1968, the tagline promised the ‘most fantasmagorical musical entertainment in the history of everything’.

And according an article posted last week in the Sunday Express, Bond fans may start hearing a lot more about it in the upcoming year.

The article states that the film is reportedly set to soar on the big screen once more as a remake with ‘big-name stars, a multi-million pound budget and cutting-edge special effects’; backed by Bond production company Eon Productions, who are said to be in possession of the necessary rights.

‘It will probably go into production next year after we’ve finished with the latest James Bond film,’ said one Eon executive.’

The popular tale of a magical flying car, one of the few non-Bond novels originally penned by Fleming, first debuted in theatres in 1968 with Dick Van Dyke, Sally Ann Howes and Lionel Jeffries in the main roles.

The film, produced by Albert R. Broccoli, also featured an array of 007 series cast and crew members, including actors Gert Fröbe, Desmond Llewelyn, a screenwriters Richard Maibaum and Roald Dahl, associate producer Stanley Sopel, production designer Ken Adam, art director Harry Pottle, and many others.

The Sunday Express article adds that Johnny Depp is reportedly being courted to star in the remake. ‘We’re hopeful that he’ll say yes,’ added the Eon executive.

In recent years, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang became very well known as a popular stage perfomance. The musical ran at the London Palladium from 2002 to 2005 and became a massive hit, earning over £70 million.

As a word of warning, the above information from the Sunday Express is yet to be confirmed and should be treated as such. In it’s 40+ year history of producing the official 007 films, Eon Productions has only been behind one non-Bond film, 1963’s Call Me Bwana.

We’ll just have to wait and see…

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