Sony takes the lead to distribute Bond 23

We’ve known for quite awhile that MGM wouldn’t be distributing Bond 23 itself. Recent reports linked MGM’s golden egg to Paramount and another to 20th Century Fox. According to Deadline, Paramount has dropped out because they were unwilling to go any lower for the distribution fee and because apparently MGM wanted a piece of another franchise that Paramount didn’t want to give up.

Taking the top spot again is Sony Pictures who is said to be on the verge of sealing the deal. Sony has long sought 007 going back to at least the 90s when they teamed up with Kevin McClory for an attempt at yet another Thunderball remake. They got what they wanted when they teamed up to distribute Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace. According to Deadline, Sony’s strategy to win Bond 23 was described at one point as “pleading” and thus have agreed to most of MGM’s demands.

The new deal will likely be a big one. Not only will Sony distribute Bond 23, but they could also get worldwide theatrical rights to other upcoming MGM films and home distribution rights to Bond as well as to other MGM properties. Those home video rights are currently in the hands of 20th Century Fox. Also expect a deal to be announced where MGM will be co-financing a number of Columbia films which should bring MGM some much needed cash flow. The first movie that will likely fall under this deal is David Fincher’s upcoming English adaptation of Stieg Larsson’s novel The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo which also stars Daniel Craig.

One final note is that Freida Pinto from Slumdog Millionaire is mentioned in the article as a potential Bond girl. It’s another rumor anyway.

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.

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Rumor: Ralph Fiennes linked to Bond 23

There’s good reason why the CBn forums have a “tabloid trash bin” thread. We see tons of these casting rumors all the time and almost all of them are nothing more than trash. The latest one comes from The Daily Mail and links Ralph Fiennes to Bond 23. Yeah, Lord Voldemort himself. Could it happen? Maybe? Javier Bardem has already been approached by Eon Productions to play a villain so already this sounds suspect. If true it would mean Bond 23 possibly has more than one villain. Not unheard of. From Russia with Love, Thunderball, and The World Is Not Enough all had multiple main villains. Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace questionably do too as do a number of others. It could be the same villain with just multiple prospects for the job, though the report says ‘no’ to that. This role is described as “darkly complex” – sort of similar to what Bardem was saying.

So why Ralph Fiennes? The sources says:

“the part is one of extreme complexity and only an actor of great ability and dexterity can take it on — and Ralph’s name is top of our list.“

Sounds suspect.

“I’m told a couple of other major names are being courted for roles in the picture.”

For a Bond movie? You don’t say!

At one point Kevin Spacey was spoken to about doing Bond 23, but he was already gearing up to play Richard III, which Mendes is directing at the Old Vic from June 18.

Wait, what? Now, Kevin Spacey. If that doesn’t reek of tabloid trash. Was Fiennes really at the top of the list? And, wait a minute, how does him playing Richard III in 2011 make him ineligible for a movie that doesn’t really start shooting till 2012. Mendes is even directing this so it’s not like there’s a conflict there…. Whatever.

Although everyone is reporting on this, I think we should have waited for a better source. It could happen. Who knows, but this is why we have that tabloid trash bin.

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.

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Javier Bardem talks Bond 23 villain

It’s been only a couple days since we last posted about Javier Bardem being offered a role for Bond 23, but today the LA Times got a chance to speak with him about this offer. Turns out the role is indeed for the villain of the film. Bardem sat down with director Sam Mendes to talk it over and came away “intrigued” though he wants to read the script first to ensure the material holds up.

“They’re changing the whole thing, the whole dynamic. I’d be playing Bond’s nemesis, yes, but it’s not that obvious. Everything is more nuanced. It’s very intriguing.”
– Javier Bardem

Bardem also talked about being a fan of the Bond series. “I’m a huge fan of the James Bond saga,” he says, “When I was little, I went watching Mr. Connery doing James Bond with my father. Who in the world would think I’d be in one of those movies?”

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.

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John Barry 1933-2011

Legendary James Bond composer John Barry died today from a heart attack. He was 77. Barry was instrumental in giving James Bond his iconic sound mainly beginning with From Russia with Love in 1963 though Barry also contributed to Dr. No including an unknown amount of work on the “James Bond Theme” which Barry has claimed at least partial ownership of in a number of public interviews (note: Monty Norman received sole credit for the “James Bond Theme”).

Barry worked on 12 James Bond films in all, performing, composing and or writing the main themes:

• Dr. No (1962)
• From Russia with Love (1963)
• Goldfinger (1964)
• Thunderball (1965)
• You Only Live Twice (1967)
• On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969)
• Diamonds Are Forever (1971)
• The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)
• Moonraker (1979)
• Octopussy (1983)
• A View to a Kill (1985)
• The Living Daylights (1987)

Over the years Barry racked up seven Academy Award nominations and won five for his work on the films Dances with Wolves, Out of Africa, and Born Free. Barry also won four Grammy Awards, two BAFTAs, and one Golden Globe in addition to several other nominations.

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Javier Bardem offered Bond 23 role

Oscar-winning actor Javier Bardem has been offered a key role in the upcoming 23rd James Bond film, Deadline reports.

Details about the character remain unknown, but Deadline speculates it’s likely to be the role of the film’s villain.

The 41-year-old Spanish actor received the offer from 007 producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson last week, around the same time the actor received his third Oscar nomination for his role in the film Biutiful.

However, Bardem is a highly sought-after actor; last week he was also offered the lead role in Ron Howard’s three-film adaptation of Stephen King’s The Dark Tower series. Deadline also notes that the actor turned down the villain role in Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps.

Bardem is most well-known as the star of No Country for Old Men. He has also appeared in Collateral, Love in the Time of Cholera, Vicky Cristina Barcelona and Eat Pray Love.

In other Bond 23 news, Deadline also reports that MGM are using the film to leverage more cash flow for the embattled studio. According to the site, MGM are seeking a studio to co-finance a number of films as part of a deal to distribute the next James Bond outing.

An insider told Deadline, “The quick cash flow allows MGM to have revenue which it hasn’t had in a long time. Thereby their books look better, and therefore the possibility of getting more funds for production is increased. So expect whichever studio lands Bond to also announce it is several co-financing deals allowing MGM into other pics that are already shooting.”

But this stipulation isn’t sitting well with executives at studios seeking to land the distribution deal. Top brass at Sony, Warner Bros, Fox and Paramount “are growing increasingly frustrated with the way [MGM’s co-chairmen] are playing one studio off another – and enjoying it,” said one executive. One studio said its strategy to land the deal has been reduced to “pleading”.

Meanwhile, Dame Judi Dench has confirmed in an interview with BBC News that she’ll be back as “M” in Bond 23. The appearance will mark Dench’s seventh turn in the role; the Oscar-winning actress first appeared in 1995’s GoldenEye.

“I’m looking forward hugely to working with Daniel again and with Sam, who I’ve only ever worked with in the theatre,” the actress enthused to the BBC. “That’ll be all good fun to do. I’m so glad it’s coming back. It’s wonderful.”

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. Details are being kept under wraps, but the film will follow on from the events of Quantum of Solace.

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20th Century Fox makes pitch to MGM for Bond 23

I think it is obvious now that MGM will likely not be distributing Bond 23. It was only a few days ago that The Hollywood Reporter reported on Paramount Pictures making a pitch to distribute. Today they report that 20th Century Fox made a pitch to MGM last Friday for James Bond’s 23rd cinematic mission. Columbia Pictures is also for sure in the mix as a possible distributor of the series. Previously Columbia distributed Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace. It makes sense that these aren’t the only studios clawing for 007. Practically every studio out there wants Bond. Why wouldn’t they? The question is whether they’re willing to accept MGM’s deal, and according to the previous report this deal could be huge, possibly one of the biggest the industry has ever seen since it likely doesn’t just factor Bond 23, but also a number of sequels.

20th Century Fox already has an in with MGM as well as the Bond world. They’re currently responsible for distributing MGM’s films overseas as well as MGM’s library on DVD which includes James Bond. Of course that doesn’t necessarily give them a leg up on the competition. Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson are said to favor Columbia Pictures due to their already established relationship on the previous two films, and Paramount has a good working relationship with MGM’s new CEOs’ Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum based on their past collaborations (namely Star Trek).

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MGM planning year-long 007 celebration in 2012

In their report on the official announcement of Bond 23, trade paper Variety notes that MGM aren’t going to let the James Bond series’ fiftieth anniversary slip by.

The studio have already begun preparing a year-long celebration to mark 50 years since the release of the very first 007 film, Dr No.

Specifics remain unknown, but fans should expect a celebration to top the series’ fortieth birthday held in the lead-up to the release of 2002’s Die Another Day.

Spy blog Double O Section speculates that the celebrations could include anything from theatrical re-releases of classic 007 films, books, toys and the release of the remaining Bond films on Blu-ray Disc.

Bond 23, to be directed by Sam Mendes from a script by Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and John Logan, will be released on 9 November 2012. The film will feature Daniel Craig reprising the role of James Bond for the third time.

Keep watching CommanderBond.net for more details on the Bond films’ fiftieth anniversary as they come to hand.

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Paramount reportedly is in talks for Bond 23

According to a recent report by The Hollywood Reporter, Bond 23’s distributor may end up being Paramount Pictures. This was first mentioned as one possibility here on CBn back in September. Also in the running is Columbia Pictures (Sony) who released the last two Bond films. The report states that Sony is on good terms with producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, but the family has also apparently approved of Paramount as a prospective distributor. Paramount also has a good relationship with MGM CEO’s Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum having teamed up with them in the past on a number of Spyglass Entertainment’s films including 2009’s Star Trek.

Given how lucrative the James Bond franchise is, MGM is apparently looking for what the article calls “a potentially precedent-shattering distribution fee” not just for Bond 23, but future Bond films as well. Something that Paramount may not be too comfortable with and may balk at.

The report also (perhaps guesses) at Bond 23’s budget. Apparently less than $150 million, which is a sizable drop from 2008’s Quantum of Solace and even 2006’s Casino Royale.

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Bond 23 set for Nov 9, 2012

Officially now, Bond 23 is back on. Production for the 23rd outing in the James Bond franchise will commence in late 2011 for a worldwide release on November 9, 2012 according to a recent report by Deadline. Last month MGM roared back to life after exiting bankruptcy by securing $500 million in financing to fund new films and television series. Spyglass Entertainment executives Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum also took over as co-CEOs of the new MGM.

Bond 23 will be directed by Academy Award winner Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Road to Perdition) with a script by Bond veterans Neal Purvis and Robert Wade as well as Academy Award nominee John Logan (Gladiator). Bond 23’s previous screenwriter Peter Morgan apparently dropped out sometime midway through 2010 when MGM’s financial problems forced the company to halt all productions. Morgan himself stated that he only ever wrote a treatment and never a full script or first draft.

Daniel Craig will be back as James Bond for a third time and casting for the film is likely already underway. The most recent rumor is that Sam Mendes will be teaming up with his friend Simon Russell Beale again. Although it’s unknown which role Beale will play, the latest rumor is that he will be a “good guy”. Sam Mendes and Daniel Craig previously worked together on Road to Perdition.

MGM Press Release

BOND 23 RELEASE DATE ANNOUNCED

LOS ANGELES, CA (JANUARY 11, 2011) – Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli of EON Productions, together with Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum, Co-Chairmen and Chief Executive Officers of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc., today announced that the 23rd James Bond film will commence production in late 2011 for a worldwide release on November 9, 2012.

Daniel Craig will be returning as the legendary British secret agent, with Sam Mendes directing a screenplay written by Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and John Logan.

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Rumor: Simon Russell Beale to be good guy

There was talk a month ago from The Daily Mail that Bond 23 director Sam Mendes and producer Barbara Broccoli had already had meetings on casting for James Bond’s next mission including a specific mention of Broccoli going to see the play Deathtrap twice to see Simon Russell Beale. At the time it was thought that Beale (if cast) would be playing a villain mainly due to comments he’s made in the past.

“Every actor wants to be in Bond. I’d love to be a baddie. I saw Sam just before Christmas and dropped a hint – and he just looked wearily at me.” – Simon Russell Beale (referring to Christmas 2009)

The Telegraph jumps in with a story today saying that Simon is in detailed talks to play “a good guy” and that he reached out to Mendes to plead his case. Simon Russell Beale and Sam Mendes are good friends and have worked together several times, most recently in 2009 on The Winter’s Tale. They are schedule to work together again on King Lear sometime in 2012.

If this rumor is true, then what good guy could Beale play? If this character is an established one, then don’t think too hard about it. Messervy (aka M) is the obvious choice. That just leaves a question about Judi Dench. Or what about Q? Would be less comedic following than the later appearances of Desmond Llewelyn and obviously John Cleese. Maybe more of a Peter Burton armourer. Still possible. Also possible is another Rene Mathis character type. Worked well for both Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace.

Beale recently was the voice of George Smiley in a BBC Radio 4 adaptation of all the John Le Carré novels.

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