Mendes' On Chesil Beach postponed – Updated

As MGM and Spyglass Entertainment continue hashing out a deal and prepare for a prepackaged bankruptcy soon, potential Bond 23 scheduling conflicts have opened up a little with news that director Sam Mendes’ next film, an adaptation of Ian McEwan’s novel On Chesil Beach has been postponed due to wary investors who fear the film may post lackluster box office results. Specifically, Mendes’ last three films have not performed well despite good reviews and critical acclaim. A spokesperson for Mendes’ company Neal Street Productions said, “It has been postponed. It all happened very quickly. Pre-production work over-ran. There need to be leaves on the trees.”

Sam Mendes Worldwide Box Office Performance

• 1999: American Beauty – Winner of 5 Academy Awards including Best Director – $356,296,601
• 2002: Road to Perdition – Won 1 Academy Award, starred Daniel Craig – $181,001,478
• 2005: Jarhead – $96,889,998
• 2008: Revolutionary Road – Nominated for 3 Academy Awards – $75,226,021
• 2009: Away We Go – $13,563,832

On Chesil Beach was set to star An Education’s Academy Award nominated Carey Mulligan.

James Bond fans shouldn’t view this as a good thing however because Mendes is still quite busy. He is still set to direct William Shakespeare’s Richard III for stage starring Kevin Spacey. The production will open at the Brooklyn Academy of Music’s Harvey Theater in early 2012. He’s also supposedly in the running to direct Suzanne Collins’ widely acclaimed science fiction novel The Hunger Games potentially starring Chloe Moretz of Kick-Ass fame (Hit-Girl). However all that said, it’s still unknown whether Mendes will direct the inevitable Bond 23 even once MGM clears it’s financial hurdles, and more important than Mendes is Daniel Craig’s schedule. Craig is currently filming Cowboys & Aliens for which he has an option for a sequel and will soon star in the English adaptation of Stieg Larsson’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, which will begin filming later this year.

September 14th – Update

According to Deadline Mendes last Friday took himself out of the running to direct The Hunger Games because of MGM’s recent progress. They further speculate that Bond 23 could potentially start shooting in late summer or fall 2011.

Report: Bond 23 development also hampered by creative differences

Another week, another media report questioning the future of James Bond. Today, it’s the Los Angeles Times, which claims MGM’s massive debt is not the only complication facing Bond 23.

According to the paper’s unnamed source, the picture’s script remains unfinished and continues to be the source of creative differences between James Bond writers and producers.

The script for Bond 23 was penned by regular 007 collaborators Neal Purvis and Robert Wade (The World is not Enough, Die Another Day, Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace) and polished by newcomer Peter Morgan (The Queen). The LA Times also claims Sam Mendes, who is unofficially attached to direct the film, worked on the script last spring.

The paper’s source claims “creative discussions among the writers and producers” have hampered the film’s development. The LA Times doesn’t elaborate on the specific nature of the alleged scripting issues, but speculates that it may owe to the lofty expectations placed upon a film which it claims will be framed as a trilogy-closer to Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace.

The report notes that a completed script has not been delivered to the studio; however, this is likely owing to MGM struggling under the weight of almost $4 billion of debt, rather than a stalemate among the film’s creative team. Studio executives were reportedly hoping Bond 23 development would proceed on schedule for a 2011 release date when Sam Mendes boarded the film earlier this year.

With an uncertain timeframe for Bond 23, Sam Mendes is prepping a screen adaptation of Ian McEwan’s novel On Chesil Beach. Daniel Craig, meanwhile, was recently signed to star in the anticipated adaptation of Stieg Larsson’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, which will begin filming later this year. Craig is also currently shooting Cowboys & Aliens, for which he has an option for a sequel.

The LA Times notes that switching Bond actors for Bond 23 “is not believed to be on the table”.

MGM and Danjaq declined to comment to the LA Times, while the paper’s call to the offices of Eon Productions was not returned.

The LA Times’ report coincides with Entertainment Weekly’s cover story this week, which claims the Bond series is “falling apart”. However, the magazine offers no new information to back up its sensationalist claims.

Development on the latest James Bond film has been suspended since April 2010.

Keep watching CommanderBond.net for all the latest Bond 23 developments.

James Bond producers concerned by film delay, says Hollywood Reporter

James Bond’s state of suspended animation hasn’t kept the superspy out of the news. Today, in the wake of Activision launching its next original 007 adventure Blood Stone, the Hollywood Reporter leads with the latest on Bond 23‘s inertia.

According to the trade paper’s source, a former MGM insider, James Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson are “deeply concerned” about the effect the delay will have on the picture when it finally moves forward.

“They’re completely panicked that if they go five, six years without a Bond movie, it’ll be over,” a former MGM insider told the paper. “They don’t want to kill the golden goose.”

The source claims Broccoli is hoping MGM will be sold to Time Warner, whose bid for the studio is the highest that has so far been offered. The producer is said to have doubts about whether other interested studios, including Spyglass Entertainment, Summit Entertainment and Lionsgate, could handle the scale of a Bond production. However, at $1.5 billion, Time Warner’s offer is well below the amount sought by MGM’s creditors. MGM is currently buckling under $4 billion of debt.

“They want to continue with Sony since Sony spends.” – Former MGM insider

The former MGM insider told the Hollywood Reporter, “Bond’s the entire yearly production budget for Lionsgate, and you’ve got Carl Icahn [the US investor currently seeking to acquire Lionsgate] saying they’re spending too much money. These [prospective MGM buyers] freak them out. [But] all they can do is work behind the scenes to get what they want.”

Eon were previously reported to be interested in MGM being bought by Time Warner last month.

Broccoli and Wilson are also keen to continue their relationship with Sony Pictures, which began with 2006’s Casino Royale. “They want to continue with Sony since Sony spends,” the Hollywood Reporter’s source said.

The Bond producers are clearly protective of their family’s legacy. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Broccoli was quizzed by Sony’s top brass early in their relationship about what they like to see in studio executives. According to the paper’s source, “Barbara said, ‘We generally like studio executives, but we don’t like assholes like John Calley.’ [Sony chairman, president and CEO] Howard Stringer finally cut her off. It was the most awkward moment. [But] it was her way of firing a shot across the bow.”

Eon’s influence over the studio is evident in their successful hiring of Daniel Craig for Casino Royale. Broccoli took note of Craig after MGM requested she watch Matthew Vaughan’s Layer Cake, who was under consideration to direct Casino Royale.

“Barbara said, ‘I really like this guy, Daniel Craig,’ ” the Hollywood Reporter’s former MGM insider said. “We were horrified. We liked Eric Bana, Hugh Jackman. To her credit, she thought [Craig] was a great actor, had this magnetism. We wanted to do one more with Pierce [Brosnan]. [The producers] are generally cautious, but they are capable of doing bold strokes.”

“James Bond will return. It’s been true for 50 years.” – Bruce Feirstein

Meanwhile, past 007 alumni were quick to dispel fears the franchise would lose steam should Bond 23 not move ahead in the near future.

“I’m not worried about 007,” said James Bond screenwriter Bruce Feirstein, who most recently penned the scripts for Activision’s GoldenEye and Blood Stone. “There’s a line at the end of every movie which we used in the video game: It’s that James Bond will return. It’s been true for 50 years. A hiccup like what’s going on at MGM is not going to change that.”

Feirstein also noted that interest in James Bond didn’t wane during the six-year gap between 1989’s Licence to Kill and 1995’s GoldenEye.

GoldenEye‘s casting director Pam Dixon agreed. “The long break was a plus in that instance,” she said.

Broccoli and Wilson declined to comment to the Hollywood Reporter. However, there’s no doubting the sentiments behind behind Michael G. Wilson’s opening quip at the Blood Stone launch: “I wish we were launching a movie.”

Be sure to check out the Hollywood Reporter’s full coverage.

Development on the latest James Bond film has been suspended since April 2010.

Keep watching CommanderBond.net for all the latest Bond 23 developments.

"I want to get going on it as quickly as possible."

A brief update on the 23rd James Bond film today courtesy of Empire magazine.

The Empire team shared the following tweet an hour ago from San Diego Comic-Con…

“Bond is on hold, but all I can say is I want to get going on it as quickly as possible.” – Daniel Craig. Ten seconds ago. @empiremagazine

Craig appeared with Harrison Ford at San Diego Comic-Con to promote Jon Favreau’s Cowboys & Aliens, in which the pair star.

Last week at the launch of Activision’s Blood Stone, producer Michael G. Wilson also shared his commitment to making Bond 23. “[We’re] convinced that we’ll be bringing you another Bond film soon.”

Craig has lent his voice and likeness to two James Bond video games to be released this year: GoldenEye and Blood Stone.

Development on the latest James Bond film has been suspended since April 2010.

Keep watching CommanderBond.net for all the latest Bond 23 developments.

007 producers confident Bond 23 will move ahead soon

James Bond film producer Michael G. Wilson quashed rumours that the 23rd 007 film has been cancelled at the London launch of Activision’s Blood Stone this week.

While Wilson refused to be drawn on MGM’s financial woes – the reason behind production on Bond 23 stalling – the long-time producer told IGN UK, “Both Barbara [Broccoli, Wilson’s producing partner] and I are convinced that we’ll be bringing you another Bond film soon.”

Speculation that Bond 23 had been outright cancelled moved through the press earlier this month when the Daily Mirror published an article claiming production staff on the film had been given their marching orders.

However, the trade press were quick to dismiss the report, with a number of outlets claiming Daniel Craig and director Sam Mendes remain committed to making Bond 23.

Development on the latest James Bond film has been suspended since April 2010.

Keep watching CommanderBond.net for all the latest Bond 23 developments.

Bond 23 tabloid reports false, claim trade press

Last week’s report in the Daily Mirror claiming production staff on the 23rd James Bond film were told the film was “canned” prompted tabloid press around the world to forecast the death of the cinematic 007. This claim has now been discounted by several trade publications.

According to the Hollywood Reporter’s Risky Business blog, nothing has changed since Eon Productions’ April announcement that Bond 23 is “delayed indefinitely”.

Deadline is making similar sounds. According to the site’s source, “There is no new news. Development will resume once MGM is viable again, as Danjaq can’t go anywhere without them. So all bets are off. No idea when this will get resolved.”

Deadline claims both Daniel Craig and Sam Mendes remain committed to the next James Bond film.

Rumour site Gossip Cop also claims the report was false. According to sources apparently close to Daniel Craig, “The situation remains exactly the same as for the last many months. The filmmakers formally announced then that the current production of Bond 23 was being postponed due to the issues relating to the sale of MGM. Nothing has changed and production is only postponed, not cancelled.”

Keep watching CommanderBond.net for the latest James Bond news.

Tabloid report: Bond 23 production "canned"

Reports that the 23rd James Bond film is in development purgatory have flared up again in the UK press this week after the Daily Mirror ran a story claiming the film’s production staff have been notified its development is suspended.

Eon Productions announced in April that Bond 23 had been “delayed indefinitely” thanks to MGM’s ongoing financial woes.

This week, the Daily Mirror quoted an alleged insider on the production who told the paper, “Members of the production crew have been told the Bond film has been canned. There is a lot of bad feeling as a lot of time, money and hard work has already gone into this.”

An Eon spokesperson told the paper, “We do not know when development will resume and cannot comment further at this stage.”

Last June, it was reported that director Sam Mendes – whose involvement in Bond 23 has not been officially announced – remains committed to helming the next 007 picture.

The report has prompted other media outlets – including guardian.co.uk – to speculate over the future of the Bond film franchise. Given the unreliability of British tabloids, the Daily Mirror’s report ought to be taken with a grain of salt.

However, it remains clear that the uncertainty over MGM’s future is continuing keep Bond 23 from moving ahead. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the studio is set to seek a sixth extension on its debt and interest payments. The studio is expected to formally request the extension this week.

The trade paper reports that the studio is being pressured to sell its share of the rights to The Hobbit films. Studio executives are keen to retain the rights, but some lenders are pushing for them to be sold in a bid to raise capital.

The top bid for MGM – Warner Bros. with $1.5 billion – was rejected as being too low, but according to the Hollywood Reporter, the offer still stands.

Keep watching CommanderBond.net for the latest James Bond news.

Sam Mendes remains committed to Bond 23

The never-ending MGM studio sale may have put the production of Bond 23 on hold, but it won’t keep Sam Mendes away forever.

Citing an update on Deadline, IGN reports that the Oscar-winning director plans to reassociate with the James Bond film once it gets back on track.

Mendes has been associated with the 23rd Bond film since January of this year, when it was reported that he was in talks with the producers to direct. Since then, he has reportedly been attached to the project as a ‘consultant’ as no director announcements have come from Eon Productions.

As the MGM sale has put Bond 23 on ice for now, Mendes is moving ahead on other projects, including a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory stage musical and the Focus Features drama On Chesil Beach.

However, the Deadline report then adds: ‘But Mendes remains committed to the Bond film and intends to direct it once the MGM ownership situation gets sorted out.’

Whether or not Mendes actually does end up directing Bond 23 remains to be seen…

As always, CommanderBond.net will keep you updated with all the latest news circling Bond 23.

Gemma Arterton: James Bond will survive

News Release – Gemma Arterton is sure James Bond will bounce back from its financial troubles, putting the legendary film franchise on hold.

The 24-year-old actress played Bond girl Strawberry Fields opposite current 007 Daniel Craig in Quantum Of Solace in 2008.

Gemma said: ‘It shows the state of the film industry at the moment, especially the British film industry. Fingers crossed—it’s James Bond so it has to continue and it will. It’s just a minor blip.’

EON Productions have blamed the financial difficulties of MGM studios, which is reported to have a 3.7 billion-dollar (£2.4 billion) debt.

J Blakeson, who directs Gemma in their latest film The Disappearance Of Alice Creed, feels British film is thriving.

He said: ‘James Bond is funded by an American studio anyway. Obviously it’s very good for the technicians, it’s made by British people. But most of the money that gets made from James Bond films doesn’t stay in Britain so it doesn’t fuel our industry very much.

‘I think there’s a real good wave of up and coming filmmakers at the moment, it’s quite exciting.’

As always, CommanderBond.net will keep you updated with all the latest news circling Bond 23.

Speculation mounts over Bond 23 delay

Today’s announcement that development of Bond 23 has been suspended has left the 007 fan community in shock.

With news of the film’s postponement spreading throughout the world, MGM have so far declined to comment, leaving speculation to mount over what this means for the future of the franchise – and the studio.

On industry blog Deadline Hollywood, Nikki Fenke and Mike Fleming speculate that the announcement was made to signal to MGM that Eon will not proceed to develop the film while the studio remains beset with financial difficulties.

A source told the site, “It feels like Eon is sending a message to MGM. If they try to continue as a standalone studio, don’t expect to be making any Bond films.”

The speculation is in line with previous reports suggesting Eon won’t proceed with development of Bond 23 while MGM’s future remains in question.

Elsewhere, The Hollywood Reporter claims some parties have been suggesting MGM may sell off its rights to co-produce the Bond films in order to raise more capital.

Meanwhile, Daniel Craig is reportedly backing Eon’s decision to halt development of the latest James Bond film. BBC News quotes the actor as saying, “I have every confidence in Barbara [Broccoli] and Michael [G. Wilson]’s decision and look forward to production resuming as quickly as possible.”

Keep watching CommanderBond.net for more on this story as it breaks.