Cleese To Return, But As R or Q? – Updated!

We’ve known since January 2000 that John Cleese would return for three more Bond films, atleast. And now we’re the first James Bond site to confirm that Cleese’s character will be known as… Q!

It’s been a long debated idea. Should Cleese replace Llwellyn as Q or should that title be reserved simply as a sign of respect? Q of course is should for Quartermaster, both Cleese’s and Llwellyn’s role. R was none other than a joke name created by Bond in The World Is Not Enough.

Cleese has confirmed that his promotion to Q comes only after the car accident which killed Llwellyn late in 1999. Cleese explains that he “always assumed that he [Llwellyn] would do the next two or three because he had no trouble with his lines and then there was this terrible car accident”.

Moving on Cleese has confirmed that despite being invovled in the next three films he only spends four days on set for each film. All this information comes from an interview that Cleese had with About.Com.

With this knowledge it can be assumed that some tribute will be pay to Llwellyn in Bond 20. But how will his character be dealt with remains a mystery. Will Major Boothroyd retire? We’ll find out, and as soon as we do we’ll be the first to let you know.

If you’d like to discuss the notion of Q, R and Major Boothroyd then you should head over to the Bond 20 Forums, the best and only place on the web to discuss Bond 20! This thread has already begun in relation to what Cleese has revealed, see you there! And at the end of it all remeber, you heard it first from Bond 20 @ Blue Haze Movies!!

Whitney Houston Poll Wrap Up

The official results for the Bond 20 @ Blue Haze Movies Whitney Houston Poll were finalised today – and the results definetly reflected what was being said in the forums.

To begin with, let’s recap. Back in March 2001 British Tabloid ‘The Sun’ reported that pop diva Whitney Houston was lining up to star in Bond 20. A few days later Amanda Lundberg, a spokesperson for MGM, confirmed that Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson would be talking with the singer in the near future, although Ms Lundberg described the talks as “general in nature.” Even later still we revealed that Wilson and Broccoli would meet with Houston, but the idea was floated from MGM and not EON.

To date there has been no further official word on Houston in the series. But here’s how you, the viewer, reacted:

A total of 822 people voted on the question, If Whitney Houston Had To Be Involved In Bond 20 She Should:

Sing The Title Song, 259 people voted making it 31%

Act A Minor Role, only 33 people voted making it a minor 4%

Act A Major Role yielded the most surprising results with only 41 people thinking Houston should take a lead role. Again it totalled to 4%

Not Be Invovled At All won the day with a staggering 489 votes! That’s 59% of the total vote!

Voters could also leave some comments. Here are some of the more prominent ones:

I’d like to see Kylie sing the title song, and be involved as a minor love interest!

She should have been in a bond film a few years ago, she doesn’t have the “New, hip” look of today. Plus I think Robbie or Sting should sing the title

Houston is a piece. But, she did o.k. (o.k. ONLY!) In the Bodyguard movie!

whitney houston ,you must be jocking!Has the director gone mad to think of her at all!

I think she could sing a very dramatic title song quite well

Thats because about 99% of singers and models cant act

You can still view the poll online here and the comments here. The Bond 20 Forums are still discussing Whitney Houston here so it would be great to hear what you have to say!! And thanks for voting!

New Director Under Consideration?

A new name has been thrown into the ring today in the consideration for a director for Bond 20.

Fans of this site will recall May the 2nd‘s exclusive news that no director had been hired for Bond 20.

Brett Ratner, director of only 5 major films (one yet to me made), is the latest director under considerations according to DarkHorizons. Ratner has previously directed 1998’s Rush Hour and 2000’s The Family Man starring Nicholas Cage. He’s also begun work on Rush Hour 2, due for release sometime in 2001. DarkHorizons do comment that the rumour is from the “left field”.

Come and join us in the Bond 20 Forums where this thread opened sometime ago for the discussion of Bond 20’s Director! So come in and tell us who you’d like to see direct Bond 20!

Thanks to Hallalla´s Bondseiten and our anonymous submitter for the tip about this article! It’s great to have people help run this site. If you have any news or information you’d like to submit e-mail me, Daniel Dykes, at either [email protected] or [email protected]

Kevin McClory Fights For Bond Rights

A ruling last year in a United States Court ruled that Kevin McClory had no rights to the James Bond series. However, McClory’s Company SPECTRE Organisation has issued this Press Release Statement to CommanderBond.net that reveals he is organising an appeal against the decision. Should he be successful he would launch a rival James Bond series and would also consider launching a James Bond vs. Spectre TV Series. Here’s the press release:

Dublin, Ireland, May 5, 2001 – The Battle of the Bonds continues with “Thunderball” producer and co-writer Kevin McClory against film giants MGM/UA/Danjaq, all scheduled to appear in the Federal Court of Appeals in Pasadena, California, on Friday May 11th, 2001. “Thunderball” is the most financially successful of the 007 series, (allowing for inflation), to the present day.

McClory is also the co-author and executive producer of “Never Say Never Again”, the movie that enticed Sean Connery back to the role of James Bond to the delight of millions of Bond fans worldwide. Unfortunately, this would be the last time Connery played 007 because the Fleming trustees, together with MGM/UA/Danjaq, used every method possible to block the making of the McClory production “Warhead” in which Connery agreed to play James Bond. Sean Connery had also co-written the screenplay for “Warhead” with Len Deighton and Kevin McClory.

McClory will argue his case to protect his James Bond film rights and finally halt nearly 40 years of continuing infringements of his work.

McClory’s rights to make more James Bond films have been consistently upheld by the United Kingdom High Courts including the Court of Appeals.

McClory will appear before three judges of the Federal Court of Appeals of the Ninth Circuit in the controversial case of Danjaq, LLC et al V. McClory ( No. 00-55781).

Ninth Circuit judges joined by a Nevada District Court judge will determine whether the Federal District Court erroneously discharged the case on April 4th, 2000 based on MGM/UA/Danjaq’s defense of Laches in McClory’s absence.

McClory and his company Spectre are suing MGM/UA/Danjaq for their infringement of various McClory owned James Bond properties, including the film rights of the novel Thunderball, in many of their James Bond films. These include the original nuclear blackmail formula created exclusively for “Thunderball” in 1960 (which Bond fans will recognise in countless films made by MGM/UA/Danjaq); the organisation Spectre and other important elements, all of which McClory has and does own to MGM/UA/Danjaq’s full knowledge.

The case was last heard during McClory’s unavoidable absence in the Federal District Court on April 4th, 2000 and dismissed when it was ruled that McClory and Spectre Associates Inc. had failed to bring their copyright infringement claim against MGM/UA/Danjaq in a timely fashion.

McClory’s absence was due to the death of his sister in law, wife of his disabled brother for fifty years. McClory’s request for a one-week continuance of the trial, enabling him to attend the funeral in Europe and comfort his only brother, was denied even though the same judge had granted MGM/UA/Danjaq a three month continuance to attend premieres of a James Bond film. During McClory’s absence, the judge decided to bifocate (divide into two) the case, despite having twice denied requests for bifocation from MGM/UA/Danjaq. As a result, the hearing on Laches unexpectedly commenced and the jury trial was cancelled.

Assistant Producer and Danjaq executive, Michael Wilson, was MGM/UA/Danjaq’s sole witness.

Under oath, he claimed that there were no live witnesses to assist the Danjaq/MGM/UA parties defence against McClory’s claims declaring “…except for Mr. McClory, the people involved are all dead.”

Contrary to Wilson’s deliberately misleading evidence, there are many witnesses alive and well today including his mother, Mrs Albert (Dana) Broccoli. Wilson’s mother publicly claimed, after the district court hearing, that she had helped write some of the screenplays involved in McClory’s infringement claims.

Many witnesses are still alive, most of whom worked on the infringing films and their respective film deals. These include MGM/UA/Danjaq executives who appear in documentaries made on behalf of MGM/UA and included on the DVD’s of the various infringing James Bond films they released after the Laches hearing.

The copyright infringement claim was dismissed on MGM/UA/Danjaq’s defence of Laches and the evidence of their only witness. As a result of McClory’s denial for a continuance and a last minute visa problem, McClory was not present as a witness to refute the false evidence presented by MGM/UA/Danjaq and his other listed witnesses were not called.

Subsequently, the case was dismissed without McClory being allowed a jury trial or the opportunity to have his evidence properly examined to establish whether MGM/UA/Danjaq had infringed McClory’s copyrighted James Bond properties. McClory’s rights to make more James Bond films, based on the McClory owned scripts and/or the film rights of the novel Thunderball, have been consistently upheld by the courts of the United Kingdom. These include an appeal before three Lord Justices sitting in the High Court of Appeal in London, England.

This is sure to create quite a stir I’m sure, so feel free to discuss it in the CommanderBond.net Forums, see you there!

Bond 20, Who Will Direct?

Well I’ve (Daniel ‘Blue Eyes’ Dykes) have been sitting on this one for quite some time now, unsure whether to publish it.

Fans of this glorious site will recall news from April the 2nd in which Pierce Brosnan voiced his own opinion that he wouldn’t mind seeing Ang Lee direct Bond 20. But how could that be? After all, isn’t Michael Apted returning?

Well it seems Apted may not be. You’ll recall from the news that I mentioned a source who spoke of Bond 20 being directorless. Well I contacted a spokesperson at EON Productions and they confirmed that no director is currently assigned to Bond 20!

So there you have it! Bond 20 is currently directorless and producers are searching for a director! Don’t forget to visit the exclusive Bond 20 Forums great for discussing Bond 20! And also don’t forget that you heard it here, first from Bond 20 @ Blue Haze Movies. The Best and Only James Bond 20 Source!

Exclusive: Debunking Bond 20 For EON

Daniel ‘Blue Eyes’ Dykes here with some news that lets us clear up a few recent rumours. This news comes to us thank to a spokesperson for EON Productions with whom I spoke recently.

Some of you may recall the recent news from the British tabloid, ‘The Mirror’. It concerned ‘The Eastenders’ Steve McFadden being lined up to play a James Bond villian. We can now confirm that this news is false and that Steve McFadded is not currently under consideration for any role in James Bond 20.

You’ll ask recall the news that Scottich actor Gerard Butler, star of Dracula 2000, was being considered to replace Brosnan once he retired from the role. We can also now confirm that this news is false and that Gerard Butler is not currently under consideration for the title role.

Of course, Bond 20 is still open to discussion, and there’s no greater place that our exclusive Bond 20 Discussion Forums! We’ll see you there!

Liz Hurley Turns Down Role Of Bond Girl

She was Vanessa Kensington in Austin Powers but it now seems that English Actress Elizabeth Hurley has turned down the chance to star in Bond 20.

That’s according to the IMDB who today have posted this short snippet about Hurley:

Elizabeth Hurley has turned down a part in the new James Bond movie. Her decision is a wise one — because so many women’s careers have flopped after appearing as a “Bond girl”.

Of course the IMDB is talking about the fact that few of the Bond girls from the Connery and Moore era went on to have a successful career. However, they’re plain wrong. You just have to look at Famke Janssen and Michelle Yeoh to prove it!

There’s little else news on this which I’m treating suspiciously. Being a Bond Girl is just the sort of thing that Hurley’s career needs. But anyway, if you know anything else please send it in to me, [email protected] A big thank you to Dave Ebersole for pointing out this news to me.

And for now just enjoy these pictures, both from Bedazzled.

Brosnan To Stay As Bond?

News has continued to move away from Bond 20 and to the future into Bond 21. This time the Chicago Sun-Times have reported that sources close to Pierce Brosnan have said that he hasn’t ruled out out making up to three more Bond films after Bond 20. That would take his total up to seven films.

This news comes of course after continuous rumours of who was being considered to replace Brosnan. Candidates apparently include Academy Award Winner Russel Crowe.

It had earlier been reported that Brosnan demanded a pay cheque of US$20 million to star in Bond 21 and any subsequent films. But the paper claims sources close to the negotiations say that number is not even close to what he will be paid, should he and the producers agree on a further deal.

Add your own fuel to the fire by speculation in the Bond 20 Forums, more importantly in Bond 21 and Beyond Forums where you’ll find plenty of threads about Brosnan’s replacement.

Moore Best Bond, Friction With Dalton Says Glen

Teletext UK have layed their hands on John Glen’s new book For My Eyes Only and he’s talked extensively about Bond – seeing he directed 5 of the 19 films and is best known for them you guess he would!

Glen directed For Your Eyes Only, Octopussy, A View To A Kill, The Living Daylights and Licence To Kill. Octopussy is his favourite.

He says: “Roger Moore will go down as the definitive Bond. He brought humour to the part and had made the role his own by the time of The Spy Who Loved Me.”

Both his favourite Bond and his favourite film could come as a shock to some fans. Though I’m not discrediting Moore – I love his Bond but by the time of Octopussy I found swinging from vine to vine a little rediculous.

In the book Glen has also revealed that there was on set friction between himself and Timothy Dalton.

“He wanted to play 007 with his hands in his pockets and slouching about. Bond wouldn’t do that – he’s not a slob,” Glen reveals. “We had at least one shouting match. Yet Tim’s Bond films stand up better now. Licence To Kill was the most violent of the 007 movies and suffered censorship, but we had to keep up with films like Rambo.”

Licence To Kill may be the reason why MGM/UA dumped Glen as director.

No matter how polite Glen is about Dalton, it’s clear that the two are not bosom buddies.

When Dalton learned that Glen would be directing Christopher Columbus: The Discovery, he walked off. He cited “creative differences” says Glen, “whatever that means”.

He adds: “I don’t know whether Tim thought appearing in another John Glen film would typecast him but I hope his departure wasn’t entirely due to me.”

The report on Teletext UK goes on to say:

As editor of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, John Glen says: “We must exclude George Lazenby from our appraisal of 007s – he was out of his depth.

“He had no acting experience and he lost interest after a while. And his relationship with Diana Rigg deteriorated as the movie went on.”

It’s well worth a read. If anyone lays their hands on the book please send us in a review!

Finally, it was revealed that Glen is working on a new film called “Skinning The Cat” and it will star none other than Roger Moore.

Roger Moore Reveals His Choice For Next Bond

Speaking with Popcorn former-007 Roger Moore has revealed his choice for the next Bond. And to quote Popcorn, “they’re as quirky as the seven-time Bond star.”

So who is it? You must we wondering that by now. Well I’ll give you a clue he was in ‘Jerry Maguire’ and will soon star opposite Ben Afflek in ‘Pearl Harbour’. Got it yet? Nope. Well it’s Cuba Gooding Jr.

Gooding Jr won a best supporting actor for his ace performance in ‘Jerry Maguire’. Moore, it seems, has been quote as saying “it’s about time film bosses cast a black actor in the role”.

Of course in recent days no one has talked about Bond 20 – only who will replace Bond. Despite Moore’s choices I doubt it will happen, I can’t see EON Productions making such a move anytime soon.

Feel free to discuss all this in the Bond 21 & Beyond Forums where this thread was established a short while back discussing a replacement for Pierce Brosnan, however, the whole forums is crowded with different opinions.