Sam Mendes to direct Bond 23

[katied]

IMO Bond needs less of the "ripped from the headlines" stuff ala the Bolivian water crisis

The Bond franchise turning into Law And Order?I'll pass, thanks!

[Kristatos]

Or(god forbid!) Woody Allen directing a Bond film.

LOL. Would any dancing naked ladies be allowed to intrude upon the familiar white-on-black opening credits in Windsor Light Condensed font, with Dixieland jazz playing in the background?

[oscartheman]

But a Bond movie is a Bond movie. There's really no way to put a personal stamp on a series whose fans demand all sorts of familiar fare, from buxom vixens to high-powered action scenes. It's almost by definition hack work

Screw this guy!Some out of luck talentless director is too good for Bond.f**k off then!

[Mazer Rackham]

Mendes is not signed and probably can not be singed before all this mess is over and done with. Word is our boy Danny is pushing hard for Mendes too.

The MGM situation is a mess there are problems with their NDA, also harboring of some small flicker of hope they can restructure successfully. "Leaks" like these are partly intended to bolster MGM's position. A Bond franchise with a project in the works is worth more than one on another indefinite hiatus.

I've read a few accounts discussed online of a June production date and Sony being involved, all of which are unfounded. The facts we know solidly rebuff this. Mikey was absolutely honest, as was the "beard" hired for their script rewrite.

Jan. 15 is approaching fast so we will have to wait to see what comes after.

[katied]

It make sense that Craig would push for someone he's worked with. Anyone else think that this might be a ruse to keep people from noticing all of the financial trouble surrounding the Bond films? .

[The Sweeney]

Mendes is not signed and probably can not be singed before all this mess is over and done with. Word is our boy Danny is pushing hard for Mendes too.

The MGM situation is a mess there are problems with their NDA, also harboring of some small flicker of hope they can restructure successfully. "Leaks" like these are partly intended to bolster MGM's position. A Bond franchise with a project in the works is worth more than one on another indefinite hiatus.

I've read a few rediscussed accounts online of a June production date and Sony being involved, all of which are unfounded. The facts we know solidly rebuff this. Mikey was absolutely honest, as was the "beard" hired for their script rewrite.

Jan. 15 is approaching fast so we will have to wait to see what comes after.

What happens on Jan 15th?

[Kristatos]

What happens on Jan 15th?

Korean Alphabet Day. No, really.

[Mazer Rackham]

Jan 15th is the end of the first round of bids solicited by MGM.

As we've seen before they have an inflated estimate of the worth of the franchise. We'll see what comes of the first round and what kind of money is being offered. If a studio is smart, like a WB (who has enough money to be in a good position), they will make a offer too good to turn down. But whatever the offer is they have to keep the 4 billion in debt they might be taking on in mind.

[katied]

As we've seen before they have an inflated estimate of the worth of the franchise

Boy is that ever the truth!

[Omega]

I don't think I have liked any of his movies.

[Mazer Rackham]

Here is a more recent rundown that is pretty accurate.

About the fanboy jubilation of June production date, what Craig and Dame Dench said is pretty accurate if things were on track without the MGM woes. Besides Craig and the rest have a schedule of their own which probably was already booked for 2010.

MGM needs a carrot to keep things in line, if they can promise a quick payday based on their half of the Bond franchise they have to assume things might break more their way.

#1 MR. KATE WINSLET MIGHT BE THE NEXT 007 DIRECTOR OR "CONSULTANT" ON JAMES BOND 23

With MGM currently having financial problems and facing a possible sale, all of the studio's projects are in a state of flux, and are proceeding either very carefully or in some cases, not at all. The biggest of them all is definitely James Bond 23, which is controlled by EON Productions and the Broccoli family estate. Because of the situation with MGM, EON is making a cautious move; they're not hiring a director yet (which would move the project into the next stage of finances), but are instead in talks with Sam Mendes (Away We Go, I) to come aboard as a "consultant." That's a sort of wink-wink-nudge-nudge way of saying they want him to be the director, but can't call him that just yet. Sam Mendes is one of the most critically acclaimed directors working today, and he's already worked with Daniel Craig before, on 2002's Road to Perdition. If Mendes does eventually sign on to direct James Bond 23, he will be one of the most high-profile directors to ever direct a Bond movie.

In other news related to MGM's financial woes, another project that is on hold is the planned Robocop reboot. It's also the center of a dispute between MGM (who want a 3D movie with fancy CGI) and director Darren Aronofsky, who (an unsourced claim says) wants to keep "everything as real (organic) as possible, just like The Fountain." In the meantime, Aronofsky is busy filming the psychological thriller Black Swan with Natalie Portman, so if MGM can recover enough to continue on with Robocop, that may also give the studio enough of a reason to move on with a different director. Although fan support for a Robocop reboot from anyone else might not be as strong as it was with Aronofsky fans.

[James]

Apparently Mendes was interviewed briefly for the Wall Street Journal today and when asked about directing Bond simply calls it 'speculation'.

[katied]

This will be good news for some Bond fans, who didn't exactly seem excited about Mendes directing a Bond film!

[007]

They should hire an action/adventure director and remember that Bond is supposed to be fun.

[Kristatos]

They should hire an action/adventure director and remember that Bond is supposed to be fun.

Where do you get these crazy ideas?

[Mazer Rackham]

Apparently Mendes was interviewed briefly for the Wall Street Journal today and when asked about directing Bond simply calls it 'speculation'.

[fanboy response]He is only saying that because he and Daniel Craig have a blood pack not to talk about it and double super secret hand shake to go with it.[/fanboy responce]

It is not hard to provide the fact in these cases but the rumors are so much more fun at speculate about and for the fanboys daydream/wetdream about. This and the 3d thing have been illuminating

[Kristatos]

Apparently Mendes was interviewed briefly for the Wall Street Journal today and when asked about directing Bond simply calls it 'speculation'.

[fanboy response]He is only saying that because he and Daniel Craig have a blood pack not to talk about it and double super secret hand shake to go with it.[/fanboy responce]

Well, that may not be far from the truth, leaving aside the obvious exaggeration for comic effect. It's likely he's still in talks and doesn't want to say anything on the record until the official announcement is made. Personally, I hope the rumours aren't true, much as I like Mendes's previous work, but if there was no truth to them whatsoever, then don't you think Mendes would have said so more explicitly?

[Mazer Rackham]

Apparently Mendes was interviewed briefly for the Wall Street Journal today and when asked about directing Bond simply calls it 'speculation'.

[fanboy response]He is only saying that because he and Daniel Craig have a blood pack not to talk about it and double super secret hand shake to go with it.[/fanboy responce]

Well, that may not be far from the truth, leaving aside the obvious exaggeration for comic effect. It's likely he's still in talks and doesn't want to say anything on the record until the official announcement is made. Personally, I hope the rumours aren't true, much as I like Mendes's previous work, but if there was no truth to them whatsoever, then don't you think Mendes would have said so more explicitly?

No, I know they are looking at him, but because of MGM it can't be inked. My exaggeration is over all the exaggeration going on in the press and fanboy over-exuberance. It's a sick game, rumor and innuendo get pumped out and hyped up, Eon behind a majority of it. It is how they think they should run a franchise. Maybe it is when it truth their hype never ever matches their final product.

[katied]

My exaggeration is over all the exaggeration going on in the press and fanboy over-exuberance. It's a sick game, rumor and innuendo get pumped out and hyped up, Eon behind a majority of it. It is how they think they should run a franchise. Maybe it is when it truth their hype never ever matches their final product.

Overexuberance is right.Well, not over the 3D thing.But people sure weren't happy about Mendes directing a Bond film(that's putting it mildly).

[Mazer Rackham]

Overexuberance is right.Well, not over the 3D thing.But people sure weren't happy about Mendes directing a Bond film(that's putting it mildly).

In the end Mendes may pass on it, with the leak there wasn't the universal praise he might expect. Also might piss Craig off too. His own opinion of his work is much too great. Look at how he reacted at BAFTA.