James Bond franchise producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson announced today that development on the next installment in the James Bond series, under the working title Bond 23, has been delayed indefinitely due to the uncertainty of the sale of MGM.
The film, which was slated for a 2011/2012 release, hired writer Peter Morgan (The Queen, Frost/Nixon) to do a draft of the screenplay along with writers Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, who have written screenplays for the last four James Bond films. Earlier this year it had been reported that director Sam Mendes (American Beauty) had been tapped to direct.
Now that the film is on indefinite hold, it is unsure whether or not the producers or whoever becomes responsible of the franchise after the sale of MGM will continue with Morgan's script or keep Mendes as director. Furthermore, while Daniel Craig is contracted for more films, this seems to mirror the legal dispute that plagued the Timothy Dalton films almost identically. After License to Kill, Dalton was signed to appear in Property of a Lady, which would have been his third outing as 007, but prolonged time and legal disputes had Dalton eventually dropping out, and Pierce Brosnan signed on for 1995's GoldenEye.
It appears history might repeat itself unless something happens soon with the sale of MGM.
http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=65332
This is pretty unfortunate, since I'm a big fan of Craig's two Bond films and I would have liked to have seen him continue in the role for a third time. I certainly hope this issue can be resolved soon so production can resume on the next film.
The film, which was slated for a 2011/2012 release, hired writer Peter Morgan (The Queen, Frost/Nixon) to do a draft of the screenplay along with writers Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, who have written screenplays for the last four James Bond films. Earlier this year it had been reported that director Sam Mendes (American Beauty) had been tapped to direct.
Now that the film is on indefinite hold, it is unsure whether or not the producers or whoever becomes responsible of the franchise after the sale of MGM will continue with Morgan's script or keep Mendes as director. Furthermore, while Daniel Craig is contracted for more films, this seems to mirror the legal dispute that plagued the Timothy Dalton films almost identically. After License to Kill, Dalton was signed to appear in Property of a Lady, which would have been his third outing as 007, but prolonged time and legal disputes had Dalton eventually dropping out, and Pierce Brosnan signed on for 1995's GoldenEye.
It appears history might repeat itself unless something happens soon with the sale of MGM.
http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=65332
This is pretty unfortunate, since I'm a big fan of Craig's two Bond films and I would have liked to have seen him continue in the role for a third time. I certainly hope this issue can be resolved soon so production can resume on the next film.