Sam Mendes to direct next Bond pic

maquiladora

It's Mendes. Sam Mendes.

The British helmer is in negotiations to direct the 23rd installment of the venerable James Bond franchise.

Production is being fast-tracked and could begin as early as June with an eye toward a 2011 release. Plans for the film are moving forward despite a possible sale of MGM. Sony co-produced and distributed the most recent installment of the 007 series with MGM.

Bond regulars Neal Purvis and Robert Wade are writing, along with "Frost/Nixon" scribe Peter Morgan. Michael Wilson and Barbara Broccoli are producing. Daniel Craig will reprise his role as 007.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3i856fd022b069b3fe4b8d2be322d5c07c

rednik

Interesting decision if it comes off. He has already directed one of my favourites in Road to Perdition.

The current financial woes of MGM mean that a Bond film won't be in production till MGM finds a new owner. I wouldn't hold your breath for any movement on this for a long time.

Duggy747

Interesting choice, Quantum Of Solace was okay but it suffered from too much action, too little character development and a not so menacing plot.

I'd say they will fast track this one considering the lucritiveness of the Bond franchise, especially the reboots. If MGM need money fast, this is probably one of their safer bets.

MisterAnarchy

I dont believe this story at all.
Only yesterday Michael Wilson said that there were no plans for the next Bond film.

James Bond producer Michael G. Wilson has revealed that production on the new 007 movie is "up in the air" while studio MGM is up for sale.

The 23rd film outing for the British spy is expected to begin shooting at the end of this year, but Wilson suggested that he and fellow producer Barbara Broccoli will have to wait until MGM's sale before they move forward with Daniel Craig's third Bond movie.

"Our timeline's a little up in the air what with the situation at MGM, so we have to be flexible," website MI6 quotes Wilson as saying. "We just don't know enough about the situation to comment, but we know it's uncertain."

He added of the movie's current status: "We've hired the writers and we've been working with them but it's just too early to say anything. You know, often at this stage, I find myself saying, 'Oh, we're gonna do this and that', then six months from now you'll say, 'That isn't in the film at all - you told me it was...'

"I think we're at the stage where a lot of ideas are floating around that sound very good, but whether they make the final cut, who knows?"

Suspiria79

Deleted User wrote: »

The current financial woes of MGM mean that a Bond film won't be in production till MGM finds a new owner. I wouldn't hold your breath for any movement on this for a long time.

Because you said it, now it won't happen.
MGM keeping ya up to date?

Suspiria79

Suspiria79 wrote: »

Because you said it, now it won't happen.
MGM keeping ya up to date?

No but the fact that they're practically bankrupt and have announced in recent weeks that there would be no activity on the next Bond film till the company found a new home. MGM are keeping people up to date through various press releases.

LETHAL LADY

WHO GIVES A CRAP

Basq

LADY_LETHAL wrote:

WHO GIVES A CRAP

Oh.. I don't know.. fans of films who come to a forum to discuss their interests in movies and various genres (etc). You'll fit in well here with the attitude and caps-lock constantly on! :rolleyes:

Back on subject - can't see Mendes doing it. Mendes has been quite quiet - he only directed 4 films in the 00's. And although he has been fairly consistent as of late ('Away We Go' was very good), I've a feeling he's happy doing original movies, and taking on a 'Bond' would be a risky step in a quite renowned (albeit not exactly flourishing) career.

bnt

The story I'm hearing is that Mendes is on board as a "consultant" at this point, for contractual reasons. The appointment of a director will trigger a payment from MGM to the producers, but MGM currently can't do that because of its financial situation. Some news outlets are already going "nooooooo!"

JJ

If Sam Mendes is going to direct, does this mean we're going to see James Bond having a **** in the shower?

maquiladora

JJ wrote: »

If Sam Mendes is going to direct, does this mean we're going to see James Bond having a **** in the shower?

Shaken not stirred?

Agricola

Im in no hurry for another Bond film anyway. I think the worst thing they could do would be to release one every 2 years. Its just too formulaic for that. Watched the last two installments over christmas and........just ......meh.

Every film is just 'Bond goes in search of meglomanical villian. Bond meets hot bird during his mission. Bond may or not sleep with this hot bird. If he doesnt, he will sleep with some other hot bird who has a smaller part in the film. Intersperce this with lots of fighting, shooting and car chases'

The sad thing is they will never be allowed to deviate even slightly from this tired scenario because the Broccoli family have such an iron-clad grip on proceedings that the director of a Bond film is basically dancing to their tune. I suppose if you want meatier spy films they are out there though.

Vic Vinegar

LETHAL LADY wrote: »

WHO GIVES A CRAP

mike65

Agricola wrote: »

Im in no hurry for another Bond film anyway. I think the worst thing they could do would be to release one every 2 years. Its just too formulaic for that

Sleazus

bnt wrote: »

Some news outlets are already going "nooooooo!"

This is the same sort of crap we heard when indie favourite Christopher Nolan signed on to Batman and it certainly hasn't represented any sort of decline for him (in fact the opposite, he now has the studio to clout to get big budgets on his own original projects - not withstanding the two awesome Batman movies we got out of it).

To be fair, there is the other side of the coin. This could by the James Bond equivalent of Ang Lee's Hulk. But I've always found Mendes to be typically far more accessible than Lee.

Bottom line, let's wait an see, but I think it's a great idea.

JP Liz

no doubt Winslet is being touted as a bond girl now :rolleyes:

Galvasean

bnt wrote: »

Some news outlets are already going "nooooooo!"

The same ones that thought Daniel Craig would ruin the Bond franchise forever?

indough

some people are still maintaining that point of view, i think its a bit ridiculous personally