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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Merry Xmas 2010 from Commanderbond.net

MGM roars back to life

MGM announced today that its restructuring plan is now in effect and has secured $500 million as part of its bankruptcy exit financing to fund new films and television series. MGM announced on 2 December that it’s pre-packaged plan for bankruptcy had been approved. Spyglass Entertainment executives Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum have also taken over as co-CEOs of the new MGM.

MGM Press Release

MGM is emerging from one of the most challenging periods of its storied history. We are honored and inspired at the opportunity of leading one of Hollywood’s most iconic studios into its next generation of unforgettable filmmaking, global television production and distribution, and aggressively pursuing, developing and exploiting new digital entertainment platforms,” said Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum, Co-Chairmen and Chief Executive Officers of MGM. “Beginning today, MGM is a stronger, more competitive company, with a solid financial foundation and a bright future. We look forward to working with MGM’s dedicated employees to build upon this company’s legacy.

MGM recently announced that new James Bond films starting with Bond 23 may be released every second year starting in November 2012. They also recently forged ahead on Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit by making payments to fund production of its two films.

BBC Archive launches collection exploring the enduring appeal of 007

Today BBC Archive released a collection of television and radio items examining the James Bond phenomenon through the eyes of those who shaped the character of the world’s most popular secret agent, both in print and on film. Items in the collection reveal the origins, development, and more recent literary iterations of 007 from a 1958 discussion between authors Ian Fleming and Raymond Chandler to interviews and discussions with Raymond Benson, Kingsley Amis, Charlie Higson and Sebastian Faulks.

On the film side, there are numerous broadcasts that include contributions by Albert R. Broccoli, Harry Saltzman, Sean Connery, Ken Adam, Roald Dahl, Lewis Gilbert, Guy Hamilton, Geoffrey Boothroyd, Lois Maxwell, Roger Moore, Richard Kiel, Timothy Dalton, Paul McCartney, John Barry, David Arnold, John Glen, Michael G. Wilson, and Barbara Broccoli among many many others.

Additionally there is a behind-the-scenes gallery on the set of The Spy Who Loved Me. All-in-all a fantastic collection for Bond fans to go through. James Bond Archive

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2010 Awards: GoldenEye wins 1 nominated for 5 at IGN

So for the bad news, over the weekend GoldenEye 007 and Blood Stone lost in their respective categories at Spike’s Video Game Awards. Daniel Craig and Judi Dench were both nominated for Blood Stone in the categories: Best Performance by a Human Male / Female. Neil Patrick Harris as Spider-Man won for Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions and Tricia Helfer took the other for her work in StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. Nicole Scherzinger’s rendition of “GoldenEye” was also beat out by José González and his song “Far Away” from Red Dead Redemption

For the good news, GoldenEye 007 pulled off a win today with IGN’s Editors in the category Best Competitive Multiplayer. It was nominated for five awards including:

• Best Story
• Best Competitive Multiplayer
• Most Addictive Game
• Best Blockbuster Game
• Wii Game of the Year

Separate from IGN Editor’s Awards, are the IGN Reader’s Choice Awards. If you feel compelled to vote for GoldenEye 007 in those categories you can find the voting at the bottom of each of the linked pages above.

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Raven Software's Bond game leaks

It’s only been a month since the launch of both GoldenEye 007 and Blood Stone, but information on the next James Bond video game is leaking out onto the net. Back in May we reported that Raven Software was working on a “stealth-centric” James Bond game, and that it was put on hold so they could focus on a number of maps for the recently released Call of Duty: Black Ops.

A demo reel used to show off an animator’s work has leaked out showing various animation and scenes from games developed by Raven Software (e.g., Singularity). The Bond game in the video is in the same style as Blood Stone. Some of the footage shows an un-textured James Bond hiding behind cover and popping out to put down a few enemies. Other parts of the video show a fully textured Daniel Craig in actual sequences. At one point Craig’s Bond is seen slamming a baddie into a toilet and later in a chase sequence that has him sliding under a truck, riding a zip-line while crashing through a billboard and chasing a man across a rooftop reminiscent of the film Quantum of Solace.

It’s unknown when this game may hit store shelves. Recently Deadline mentioned that the next game was given the go-ahead. It should be noted that while GoldenEye 007‘s sales have been decent (approximately half a million copies sold to date), Blood Stone was practically dead on arrival. To date Blood Stone has sold approximately 200,000 copies across 4 platforms.

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Bond 23 inches forward

Yesterday Bankruptcy Court in the Southern District of New York approved MGM’s pre-packaged plan of reorganization, which clears the way for MGM and its subsidiaries to emerge from Chapter 11 (i.e., bankruptcy). MGM expects their plan to go into effect by mid-December which will place Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum as co-CEOs of MGM and essentially wipe away nearly $5 billion in debt in exchange for majority equity in the new MGM.

“We only just got the news that we’re back on.” –David Arnold

MGM recently announced that new James Bond films starting with Bond 23 may be released every second year starting in November 2012. They also recently forged ahead on Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit by paying out (at least) $20 million to fund production of its two films.

Long-time Bond composer, David Arnold, recently commented to Film Music Magazine about the status of Bond 23 and what ideas he may have for the film saying, “I haven’t thought about it yet. We only just got the news that we’re back on. But ‘there’s many a slip twixt cup and lip’ So I will keep quiet until I get a script and then start writing ideas. I just hope the next one is as good as my favorites, as I think everyone does. And I’m always interested in what Daniel Craig brings to the part. But like most things with movies, if it ain’t on the page etc… All I can say is that I’m looking forward to a great script for it, alongside every other Bond fan in the world!”

Also Kate Winslet confirmed to The Daily Mail that Mendes is still on for Bond 23. “Sam is doing the next Bond film, all being well, and we’ll all be in England if that happens. It’s such a massive commitment for him and it’s not fair for him to commute backwards and ­forwards to New York from ­London. It would be impossible. The children will be there with me.” The Daily Mail also stated that Mendes and Bond producer Barbara Broccoli have already had meetings over casting. It should be taken with a pinch of salt, but it claims Broccoli saw the play Deathtrap twice to see Simon Russell Beale.

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Irvin Kershner (1923-2010)

Irvin Kershner, best known for directing Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, RoboCop 2 and the James Bond film Never Say Never Again died on November 27 in Los Angeles. Recently Kershner did audio commentary for the 2009 Collector’s Edition re-release of Never Say Never Again on DVD and Blu-ray. He was 87 years old.