Barbara Broccoli – “Bond is Not Ready for 3D”

‘Skyfall’ Co Producer Barbara Broccoli, has insisted that Bond is not ready for 3D. Speaking exclusively to ‘Screen Rant‘, Broccoli stated that Bond in IMAX should be the main focus point.  However, the idea of 3D hasn’t been completely dismissed. Whilst 3D is widely known as a gimmick, it would be interesting to see a 3D Bond film, even if it’s just for the brilliant opening credits animation which has the potential to work very well indeed.

Broccoli: “I think probably more in what you want to do. I think more in horror and science fiction, stuff like that. I think they’re more suited to 3D than these, really. We’re in IMAX, which we’re very excited about and I think that experience will be great. Not quite ready for 3D yet.”

BREAKING NEWS: DANIEL CRAIG CONFIRMED FOR BOND 24 AND BOND 25!

CommanderBond.net has refrained from posting the news that has been circulating the Internet since yesterday, until official confirmation. We are delighted to announce that Daniel Craig has indeed signed a deal to star in at least 2 more James Bond films, making him the 3rd longest running James Bond in the series’ history. Deadline have just reported that the ‘Casino Royale’, ‘Quantum of Solace’ and ‘Skyfall’ actor will continue to star in the 50 year old action franchise, and Sony Pictures will remain to co-finance Bond 24, and Bond 25. Full article is here.

Evening Standard – ‘Even the best 007s are not safe, Mr Bond’

Yesterday’s Evening Standard had one intriguing story on Michael G. Wilson speaking at a culture industry seminar during the Olympic Games in London. Wilson supposedly went on record with claims EON would have no problem to move onward and replace Craig, should the need arise.

From the article:

Recalling the decision to axe Craig’s predecessor, Wilson said: “Pierce [Brosnan] was well-liked and the grosses were going up. But we knew we had to change things before they started to taper off. Bond is the star. He is bigger than any actor that portrays him.”

Read the entire Evening Standard story here.

While emphasis should be placed on the fact this is in no way the first time EON (or its constituents) seem to contradict earlier statements, it could be speculated this tiny piece of publicly placed information might indicate negotiations about Craig’s future contract have entered a crucial phase.

However, chances are the public will not become much more aware of this beyond what the Standard piece implies.

You can discuss this news in this thread

Campbell backs Cavill for future Bond role.

‘GoldenEye’ and ‘Casino Royale’ director Martin Campbell has backed Superman star Henry Cavill to take over the role of James Bond, once Daniel Craig calls it a day. Cavill auditioned for Bond in 2005, losing out to Daniel Craig, who’s cutting edge performance in english gangster film ‘Layer Cake’, secured his part as the English agent in Casino Royale.

Speaking to ‘The Express’, Campbell said..

“Henry did a great screen test for Bond. So did Daniel, although he arrived for his looking really tired after a night flight from America where he was finishing up a movie called The Invasion, None of us making the casting decision were 100% sure. I needed a couple of days to think about it. Over that weekend I saw Daniel’s film Layer Cake and he showed such terrific charm in that that it convinced me he should get the part.Perhaps Henry Cavill was too young for it then, he was 22 at the time we auditioned for Casino Royale, but maybe he could still be James Bond in the future. After all, Pierce Brosnan did a great screen test only to eventually get the part years later.”

Future Bond script writers already on board?

An article on Variety’s page, posted last Monday, hints at a possible early setting of course for future Bond films.

Here is the snippet:

Kevin Marks
Partner
Gang, Tyre, Ramer & Brown
UC Berkeley, 1982
In representing the Broccoli family, which co-owns the James Bond movie franchise with MGM, Marks has been kept busy working on all the above-the-line deals for the upcoming “Skyfall” and setting up writing deals for the next two Bond pics. He notes that Bond’s long track record as a major performer in international markets has enhanced the films’ value as the overseas box office boom continues. Indeed, overseas B.O. plays a major role these days in many decisions. “I’ve been involved in projects where … if this person or co-financier is attached we think it will be exhibited in China,” he says. Other deals include setting up David O. Russell’s follow-up to “The Fighter,” “Silver Linings Playbook”; writer-helmer Richard Curtis on three projects set to go into production; and producer Stacey Sher’s deal on Quentin Tarantino’s “Django Unchained.”

The entire article can be found here

Note that it doesn’t concern itself exclusively with Bond films. Note also said piece doesn’t actually mention writers’ names or whether they have already started work.  Nonetheless such a move would tally with intentions to get Bond to theatres more frequently than was the case recently. Speculation has it this could also indicate more of a long-term strategy in EON’s series.

You can discuss this news in this thread

Thanks to CBn forum members thecasinoroyale and Shrublands for pointing to this.

Christopher Nolan keen to direct a Bond movie

Christopher Nolan has expressed a very serious interest in directing a future Bond installment. The Batman director recently told Empire Magazine that he has already met with the Bond producers, but stated that “It would have to be the right situation and the right time in their cycle of things.”

It is no secret that Nolan is a very big Bond fan, and has claimed at the 50 year old franchise has influenced his work on the Batman Begins trilogy, as well as Inception. (Nolan even mentioned that the finale of Inception owed a lot to ‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service’, the 6th Bond movie in the series, with one time Bond George Lazenby)

This hasn’t been the first time Nolan has expressed his desire to helm a Bond movie. The release of Inception in 2010 even sparked rumours that Nolan would be directing the then titled ‘Bond 23’, in which Nolan showed an interest. Will the Producers give Nolan a shot? This isn’t the first time that a director as big as Nolan has wanted a crack at Bond. Quentin Tarantino and Steven Spielberg have both expressed their interest in telling their own James Bond story. Would you like Nolan in the directors chair for a future Bond movie? Join the CBn forums today and tell us what you think.

To help you make up your mind, ‘The Dark Knight Rises’, the long awaited conclusion to Nolans Batman Trilogy will hit theatres July 20th.

MGM distribution deal includes Bond 24

More details about the Sony-MGM deal have come to light. Under the deal not only would Sony get the distribution rights to Bond 23, but Bond 24 as well according to the LA Times. Sony will fund half of Bond 23 and 25% of Bond 24. As suspected, the deal also includes theatrical distribution of other MGM films including Dan Bradley’s remake of the 80’s cult classic Red Dawn which has been completed.

Additionally, MGM’s huge library of 4,000 films will be taken over by Sony for home distribution which should include the entire James Bond franchise. Currently those rights are held by 20th Century Fox.

Bond 23 will be released on 9 November 2012. The film will be directed by Sam Mendes from a script written by Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and John Logan. So far Daniel Craig and Judi Dench are the only actors known to be cast. According to MGM’s Chapter 11 petition filed in November 2010, Bond 24 should see release in 2014.

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