Sam Mendes to direct Bond 23

[Blowfeld]

Are we sure there actually are "Bond bosses"? So far they seem to be combing beaches and the tabloids and fan sites are working on the next movie.

'James Bond' bosses deny Peter Morgan exit

Tuesday, April 13 2010, 3:20pm EDT

By Oli Simpson
'James Bond' bosses deny Peter Morgan exit

Rex Features

Bosses working on the new James Bond film have dismissed rumors that screenwriter Peter Morgan has quit the project.

The Frost/Nixon scribe was expected to pen the script for the 23rd Bond movie, but speculation over the weekend suggested that he had walked away from the film.

Morgan's alleged departure was linked to the recent appointment of director Sam Mendes, who apparently planned to replace him with Closer writer Patrick Marber.

However, a spokesman for MGM has now dismissed the reports, telling The Daily Telegraph: "The filmmakers say the Morgan/Marber switch is just speculation."

[Kristatos]

Spielberg should have sent the last Indiana Jones movie out for a little script rewrite!

He did. Both Stoppard (again!) and M Night Shangalang worked on drafts of the script, in addition to the credited writer, David Koepp. Probably any of those writers could have come up with a top-notch script individually, but thanks to the Hollywood way of working, they ended up with a "camel" (horse designed by a committee). Of course the good Indy (and Star Wars and Bond and...) films were written in this way too, so it doesn't always guarantee disaster. But I don't think it helps.

[katied]

The last Indy movie got rewrites? The words Must, Try, and Harder come right to mind!

[Dr. No]

LASt weeks Castle made a similar point about Indy 4. The coolest part was Nathan Fillion (Rick Castle, Cpt Reynolds on firefly) but on a Indiana Jones style hat and played around with a ancient tomb in the NY City Museum. Nathan in my book would be avery good Indian Jones, if they had decided to keep Indy where he belongs in the 30-40s. May have ruined his chances by mentioning how bad teh last movie was.

[Kristatos]

The last Indy movie got rewrites? The words Must, Try, and Harder come right to mind!

You seem to think that multiple rewrites improve a script. Have you ever seen The Flintstones (the live-action movie with John Goodman that had more rewrites than any other movie in history)? Or CR67 for that matter?

[katied]

You seem to think that multiple rewrites improve a script

Not necessarily.

[Mazer Rackham]

The Hollywood mindset is insane. It used limited to script rewrites to "polish" a story, sadly it moved on to reboots, remakes, and multiple rewrites. Once upon a time there were talented people at the studios who understood the visions of story they were making, that Hollywood died out. The truth Hollywood faces is one where most actors are at remedial reading levels, directors and writers are sometime so clueless as to be harmful to the movie making process. There is so much money involved and so many tricks to manipulate the flow of money nobody on the outside understand how the industry works and most on the inside are easily confused.

Small and independent movies are where the ideas and innovation in story telling are. I have a great deal of respect for James Cameron who wrote directed and then invented the technology to tell his stories. He also put his own money on the line. Although he did recycle a majority of Avatars story to me he embodies the old Hollywood mindset. He controls his story not leaving it to the wisdom of a committee.

[Goldeneye]

Mendes may still direct Bond 23 according to Deadline.com

But Mendes remains committed to the Bond film and intends to direct it once the MGM ownership situation gets sorted out

[Blowfeld]

I do not think he did himself any favours.

Deadline has confirmed that Mendes will not be leaving his contract and still plans to direct the next 007 film. According to the site, Mendes is confident enough that he has taken himself out of the running to direct Disney's The Wizard of Oz
prequel The Great and Powerful Oz. While he waits for production to begin on Bond 23, the director plans on bringing a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory musical to the stage in London and to make an adaptation of On Chesil Beach, based on the novella by Ian McEwan. Negotiations are ongoing with Carey Mulligan for the feature, which centers on two virgins living in the UK during the 60s whose "attempt to consummate ends badly."

This story can be found at http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Sam-Mend ... 18847.html

So confided that he took himself out of the running of OZ prequel? That may be over confidence, since everything from Eon's side of things is dead, when they get back to it they may not be using Daniel or his the reboot. Either he is trying to portray him self as confident because he knew the Oz job wouldn't happen or he is arrogant beyond what we are used to.

[bjmdds]

Oz prequel? Are they nuts?

[katied]

Oz prequel? Are they nuts?

It would be hard to improve on The Wizard Of Oz. Prequels=lazy filmmaking and exposition that isn't needed.

[Captain Nash]

Oz prequel? Are they nuts?

It may not happen very often, but I fully a agree with you on this one bj.
ARE THEY NUTS???

A classic that needs no prequel. What's the matter with Hollywood today. Have they no ideas left. If it's not a prequel or a sequel. It's a reboot, or a remake.
Only once has a sequel been better than the original, Star Wars TESB over Star Wars ANH. Possibly The Godfather part 2 over part 1.

[Kristatos]

Oz prequel? Are they nuts?

It may not happen very often, but I fully a agree with you on this one bj.
ARE THEY NUTS???

A classic that needs no prequel. What's the matter with Hollywood today. Have they no ideas left. If it's not a prequel or a sequel. It's a reboot, or a remake.
Only once has a sequel been better than the original, Star Wars TESB over Star Wars ANH. Possibly The Godfather part 2 over part 1.

Well, to be fair, L Frank Baum did write a whole bunch of Oz novels, so there's plenty of material that hasn't been filmed. But I agree that there's major suckage potential here.

[katied]

Interesting bit of trivia: L. Frank Baum wrote at the Hotel Del Coronado here is San Diego a lot; he also based the design of the Emerald City on the hotel!

[bjmdds]

You don't touch The Wizard Of Oz. Just let it be.

[FormerBondFan]

There was a sequel to Oz released in the '80s.

[katied]

There was a sequel to Oz released in the '80s.

Wasn't that a TV movie? There was also a TV movie about L. Frank Baum way back when, IIRC.

[Blowfeld]

Are you talking about the Syfy series?