Will Martin Campbell Return For 'Bond 22'?

With the Bond 22 rumours and news now in full swing, many James Bond fans have been hoping that Martin Campbell (GoldenEye, Casino Royale) would return for Daniel Craig’s second 007 outing.

Variety reports that Campbell is in negotiations to direct Unstoppable, a 20th Century Fox drama about a runaway train carrying a cargo of toxic chemicals. As a result, the likelihood of his return for Bond 22 is very slim.

Written by Live Free or Die Hard scribe Mark Bomback, the drama pits an engineer and his conductor in a race against time. They’re chasing the runaway train in a separate locomotive and need to bring it under control before it derails on a curve and causes a toxic spill that will decimate a town.

Back in March 2007, CBn reported that Campbell had left the field open, saying: ‘After GoldenEye, I was asked to do subsequent Bonds, but I declined because it felt as if I’d be repeating myself. But this one is based on a Bond that’s more interesting. To be honest, I would just say I’d never say never.’

CBn will keep you updated with all the latest news, rumours and details regarding Bond 22.

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Roger Michell Discusses Turning Down 'Bond 22'

‘I didn’t feel comfortable with the Bond process…’

CBn reported previously in March that Roger Michell had turned down the chance to direct Daniel Craig’s second James Bond film because there was not a possible way to make all parties involved happy with the script.

In a new interview posted in The Times, Mitchell further explains why he walked away from Bond 22.

‘Well, I did give up directing the Bond film. And it wasn’t quite $8 million but it was a lot of money. It was because in the end I didn’t feel comfortable with the Bond process, and I was very nervous that there was a start date but really no script at all. And I like to be very well prepared as a director.’

The Bond people–who are lovely–are used to going into these massive productions in quite a chaotic way: ‘Oh, we’ll fix that later.’ I panicked about this. And it was starting to make me feel very, very unhappy about what I was doing and who I was. The more the money went up, the worse it made me feel,’ he says.

‘I felt a bit like the character in Landscape with Weapon [a weapons designer who pulls out of a massive payday after he gets cold feet about his work] and a little bit like Doctor Faustus, and just decided eventually that I’d be doing it for the wrong reasons. I’d be doing it for my friendship with Daniel Craig. I’d be doing it for the money. And not really because I yearned to do it.’

Previously, Michell commented that the director’s chair for Bond 22 was ‘absolutely up for grabs.’

CBn will keep you updated with all the latest news, rumours and details regarding Bond 22.

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Paul Haggis Returns

Paul Haggis

The Los Angeles Times is reporting the that screenwriter Paul Haggis is returning for a second go at Bond. Haggis who penned the final script of the widely heralded Casino Royale will now take script duties from Neal Purvis and Robert Wade for much to the delight of waiting Casino Royale.

Haggis is currently finishing work on In the Valley of Elah, a film based on a true story of a career officer searching for his soldier son after he returns from Iraq. The LA Times speculates that Sony must have made Haggis a quite lucrative offer in order to take his time from the multitude of other projects Haggis has in the works.

Many Bond fans who have been praying for Haggis return have now had those prayers answered with this announced return of the Oscar winning writer.

'Bond 22' Script Not Finished, Says Craig

In an article posted at STL Today, Daniel Craig revealed that the script for his upcoming second James Bond film has not yet been finalized.

Screenwriters Neal Purvis and Robert Wade previously turned in their draft of the Bond 22 script in mid-April, so this new comment from Craig brings up the question of whether Purvis and Wade are working on a new draft or if someone else has been brought in to do a revision. When Paul Haggis (who did the revision on the Casino Royale script) was previously asked if he was involved with Bond 22, he said ‘with a peculiar smile that he was not involved with the film… yet.’

‘Casino Royale was very successful,’ Craig said. ‘But I know it’s only as good as the next one’s going to be. We have to make the next one, I think, better than the last one to keep people happy.’

He also mentioned that he is working out once again in preparation for Bond 22. ‘I had some down time. I got to enjoy myself a bit. I’m getting back into shape now, I’m kind of building myself up again.’

CBn will keep you updated with all the latest news, rumours and details regarding Bond 22.

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'Bond 22' Director Rumours

With Casino Royale‘s phenomenal run at the box office finally coming to an end a few weeks ago, the stage is set for a brand new flood of rumours and news regarding Daniel Craig’s second James Bond film, Bond 22, due out in November 2008.

According to a recent report from Latino Review, Marc Forster is supposedly the top candidate to direct this next 007 film. His recent films include Monster’s Ball, Finding Neverland and last year’s Stranger Than Fiction, starring Will Ferrell.

The other names reportedly in contention for the job are Tony Scott, Alex Proyas, and Jonathan Mostow–but keep in mind that this is still classified as a rumour and is not confirmed.

CBn will keep you updated with all the latest news, rumours and details regarding Bond 22.

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Neal Purvis And Robert Wade Discuss 'Bond 22' & Ian Fleming Story Elements

In a new interview posted at HMSS, screenwriters Neal Purvis and Robert Wade reflect on the success of 2006’s Casino Royale, what worked and what didn’t in 2002’s Die Another Day, and also briefly discuss the upcoming Bond 22…

‘There’s a few morsels but you’d have to say the carcass has been pretty stripped. There are still a few details from the short stories that it would be nice to use. At one point Fidel Barbey was in Casino Royale but sadly he got killed off,’ they answered when asked if Bond 22 would be featuring any further elements from the Ian Fleming novels.

On the subject of the return of Felix Leiter and Casino Royale‘s introduction of Rene Mathis, Purvis and Wade ‘were pleased to see those characters appear,’ but couldn’t comment further on whether or not Bond fans would see more of Fleming’s characters (such as Sir James Molony or Moonraker‘s Gala Brand) in the next film. ‘Things can change even after this interview so we’d hate to get anyone’s hopes up.’

And what about the rumours regarding the unused Fleming short stories such as Risico and The Property Of A Lady for Bond 22‘s title? ‘Currently those titles and stories are not under consideration.’

There is much more. Visit HMSS for the entire interview. Bond 22 is set for release on 7 November 2008.

Stay tuned to CBn for all the latest news on Bond 22.

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Neal Purvis And Robert Wade Turn In 'Bond 22' Script

According to a report from Variety, screenwriters Neal Purvis and Robert Wade have just completed and turned in their draft of the Bond 22 script.

This news comes as the two James Bond screenwriters (The World Is Not Enough, Die Another Day, Casino Royale) prepare for their next project: Barbarella.

The two will be penning the script for a reinvention of the fantasy adventure. Producers Dino and Martha De Laurentiis, best known for Hannibal, Red Dragon, and the recent Hannibal Rising, hired Purvis and Wade ‘because of the way they used Ian Fleming’s early Bond novel Casino Royale as the basis for their script but updated it into a Daniel Craig vehicle that reinvigorated the franchise.’

Presumably, this is one of the early drafts for Bond 22 (and possibly the first) since the script was previously described as being unfinished as of 23 March, according to Jeff Blake, Vice Chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment and Chairman of Marketing and Distribution for the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group.

In addition, Paul Haggis, who joined the Casino Royale production in mid-2005 to do a revision on the Purvis and Wade script, has recently been rumoured to return for Craig’s second 007 film. He said ‘with a peculiar smile that he was not involved with the film… yet,’ according to Cinematical.

Bond 22 is set for release on 7 November 2008.

Stay tuned to CBn for all the latest news on Bond 22.

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Paul Haggis To Return For 'Bond 22'?

Paul Haggis To Return For Bond 22?

One question many 007 fans have been asking regarding Bond 22 is whether or not Paul Haggis will be returning to work on the screenplay.

For those unaware, Haggis, who directed the Academy Award-winning Crash, was one of Casino Royale‘s screenwriters. He was brought on to the production in mid-2005 to do a revision on the script originally penned by Neal Purvis and Robert Wade.

In an interview on Cinematical, when asked whether or not he was involved with Daniel Craig’s second James Bond film, Haggis said ‘with a peculiar smile that he was not involved with the film… yet.’ Time will tell…

Bond 22 is set for release on 7 November 2008.

Stay tuned to CBn for all the latest news on Bond 22.

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007 Stage Rebuilt And Ready For Bond

Damage caused as a result of the July 2006 fire

According to reports from the BBC and Screen Daily, the 007 Stage at Pinewood Studios is rebuilt and ready for James Bond.

Earlier today, CBn reported that Pinewood was fighting to keep the production of Daniel Craig’s second film, Bond 22 in the UK.

The new 007 Stage has increased the usable area inside from 45,424 square feet to 59,000 square feet. ‘They are using the existing footprint from the original 007 stage but have cleverly engineered the building to create additional space and more user-friendly facilities,’ said a Pinewood spokesperson.

Former Bond star Pierce Brosnan will be the first user of the new stage along with Meryl Streep in Universal’s screen version of Abba-themed stage hit Mamma Mia.

The BBC also points out that Pinewood will be launching a 007 Stage website with information about current productions and images from the rebuilt set early next week.

At this point, the cause of the July 2006 fire is still unknown. Bond 22 is set for release on 7 November 2008.

Stay tuned to CBn for all the latest news on Bond 22.

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Pinewood Fighting To Keep 'Bond 22'

The Guardian reports that Pinewood Studios are fighting to keep the next James Bond shoot in the UK.

Reports earlier in the week indicated that Daniel Craig’s second 007 film, Bond 22, may go back to Prague’s Barrandov Studios, where portions of Casino Royale were shot. ‘Representatives of the Czech facility have reportedly already been in talks with Sony Pictures and MGM,’ but neither the studios or Eon Productions would comment.

According to Screen Daily, Barrandov spokesman Tomas Zelazko told the Czech press this week that Bond producers said they were ‘very satisfied’ with the Prague portion of the Casino Royale shoot.

One of Pinewood’s main attractions is the newly rebuilt ‘007 Stage,’ which was burned down by a fire in July 2006. The new stage has increased the usable area inside from 45,424 square feet to 59,000 square feet. For pictures of the brand new ‘007 Stage,’ click here.

Bond 22 is set for release on 7 November 2008.

Stay tuned to CBn for all the latest news on Bond 22.

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