Producers "panicked" about Bond future

[Mazer Rackham]

I shouldn't have to hint very hard that this should be headlining. This should be your front page headline!

http://www.digitalspy.com/movies/news/a ... uture.html

James Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson are reportedly "panicked" about the future of their spy series.

The 23rd 007 outing has been put on hold indefinitely due to the financial uncertainty surrounding MGM, the studio that owns the rights to the Bond franchise and is up for sale with £4 billion worth of debt.

An MGM insider told The Hollywood Reporter: "They're completely panicked that if they go five, six years without a Bond movie, it'll be over. They don't want to kill the golden goose."

Broccoli allegedly wants Sony or Time Warner to buy MGM, but is concerned about a potential Lionsgate takeover because the studio's entire 12-month production budget is less than the cost of a Bond movie.

Star Daniel Craig has insisted that he will return to play Bond a third time when the studio's financial woes have been resolved, with the MGM source adding that executives admired Broccoli and Wilson for making the "bold strokes" move of casting him.

"Barbara said, 'I really like this guy, Daniel Craig'," the source commented. "We were horrified. We liked Eric Bana, Hugh Jackman. To her credit, she thought Craig was a great actor, had this magnetism. We wanted to do one more with Pierce Brosnan... [the producers] are generally cautious, but they are capable of doing bold strokes."

Former Bond screenwriter Bruce Feirstein, who penned the latest 007 video game Blood Stone, said that he is certain the character will be back for more movies.

"I'm not worried about 007," he said. "There's a line at the end of every movie which we used in the video game: It's that James Bond will return... It's been true for 50 years. A hiccup like what's going on at MGM is not going to change that."

[Blowfeld]

Bond movies have cost too much since GoldenEye. She should take it as sign to tighten their belts and get going with next movie.
My how circumstances have changed Daniel was soooo cheap they bragged about how they were cutting back on the budget. Today it is consternation about how their budget is bigger than the studios annual income!

[Blowfeld]

James Bond's on Hold, But Will Anyone Miss Him?
The future of the Bond franchise is up in the air, but is there any hurry to get him back on screen?

Posted 07/27/2010 1220 PM by Alison Willmore
IFC NEWS

In the end, it's neither maniacal billionaires nor razorblade-hatted henchmen nor SPECTRE itself that's poised to bring down James Bond -- it's the true archvillain of the 21st century, crushing debt. Three months ago, the 23rd Bond film, set to be directed by Sam Mendes, was put on indefinite hold while MGM, who own the rights to the character, has attempted to deal with financial struggles to the tune of $4 billion.

Checking in from the London launch party for the video game "James Bond 007: Blood Stone," the Hollywood Reporter noted the unease EON Productions' Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson seemed to feel about a delay in the franchise so soon after it was successfully rebooted, quoting a "former MGM insider" as saying "They're completely panicked that if they go five, six years without a Bond movie, it'll be over. They don't want to kill the golden goose."

But does anyone ever really feel a sense of urgency over James Bond? The recasting of the role and the reboot only reinforce the static nature of the character -- he may come in jokier (Roger Moore) or tougher (Daniel Craig) variations, but he's still the unmovable axis around which an ever-changing, ever-in-need-of-saving world periodically revolves. That steadiness is both his foremost asset and his weakness. There's no doubt that, even with delays, there will eventually be another Bond film, because Bond's a safe bet for a diverting few hours at the movies (and a few hundred million at the box office).

At the same time, no one quivers with anticipation over the developments to come in the next installment, because there's only so much room for variation -- there will be Bond girls, there will be a bad guy and a lesser bad guy or two, there will be a complicated plot to be uncovered and foiled. It's the nature of Bond, even in his newest, angstiest incarnation, to avoid permanent attachments and, though the last handful of films have subjected him to the threats of aging, grief and obsolescence, significant character growth.

Recent spy movies and TV shows -- even the otherwise delightfully silly Cold War-throwback "Salt" -- have made a point of emphasizing the terrible personal costs of espionage, with trust issues and the imperiling of one's friends and lovers at the heart of everything from "Duplicity" and the Bourne films to the shows "Covert Affairs" and "Chuck." But we know that Bond's going to have to get over his own formative heartache, to grin, get a martini and go on. What's the rush? It's not like audiences are going to forget him.

In the meantime, Daniel Craig's certainly not hurting for work. He's just signed a deal to take part in a newer, hipper franchise -- he'll play crusading journalist Mikael Blomkvist in the David Fincher-directed American adaptation of "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo."

More conversation fodder

[Blowfeld]

At the recent launch of the newest James Bond videogame, Blood Stone, Bond film producer Michael G. Wilson told the crowd, “I wish we were launching a movie,” according to The Hollywood Reporter.

It’s been two years since Sony released Quantum of Solace, the second Bond film starring Daniel Craig. The film was a hit bringing in $586 million but it marked the end of Sony’s right to produce and release Bond films. The franchise is now in the hands of MGM.

Which are not good hands to be in. The studio has struggled mightily in the past few years. After being sold to a consortium of investors, including Sony, for $5 billion in 2005, the studio has sunk under $4 billion in debt. Film production has narrowed to a trickle. The proud studio that once put out films like Gone With the Wind and Doctor Zhivago has been reduced to middling hits like Hot Tub Time Machine and outright failures like the recent Fame remake.

The studio is now up for sale but the bids are so low (under $3 billion) that it’s not clear if MGM will be sold or head straight for bankruptcy.

In the meantime, valuable franchises are being left by the wayside. MGM has the rights to the film version of The Hobbit, the prequel to the successful Lord of the Rings trilogy that brought in $3 billion for New Line and Warner Bros. But because the company has to spend almost all of its money to service debt, the film has been postponed. Director Guillermo del Toro, the man behind such movies as Pan’s Labyrinth and Hellboy, was slated to direct the film but because of uncertainties at MGM, he dropped out. Instead he announced at Comic-Con that he will be directing Disney’s newest movie-based-on-a-ride, The Haunted Mansion.

It looks like Bond could suffer a similar fate. In April, Wilson and co producer Barbara Broccoli announced they were putting the latest film, Bond 23, on hold indefinitely because of MGM’s woes. For a while star Daniel Craig was unattached to any new movies leaving fans to hold out hope that something would change and the new Bond would go into production.

But earlier this week Sony announced that Craig had been cast as the lead in the upcoming movie The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. Based on the successful trilogy of novels by author Stieg Larrson, the first film is scheduled for release Christmas of 2011 with the next two films sure to follow close on its heels. Combine that with the fact that the movie Craig is currently filming, Cowboys & Aliens, could spawn a sequel and it looks like Craig’s dance card is filled for the next few years.

So how can Bond survive? Easily. Sony had great success reviving the series with Craig starting with 2006’s Casino Royale, which grossed $594 million at the global box office. That was an improvement on the performance of the previous Bond film, Die Another Day starring Pierce Bronson as 007, which brought in $430 million in 2002 for MGM. Add in the box office from Quantum of Solace and the Bond films have earned $1.2 billion for Sony.

So it’s unlikely Sony will let the franchise just fade away. The studio had no comment but it’s well known that Sony would love to be in the Bond business. The companies that are currently bidding for MGM (Lionsgate, Spyglass, and Summit Entertainment) would likely be happy to get help from Sony on a big budget film like Bond.

And if Craig is too busy, Bond has always benefited from reinvention. Craig was the sixth actor to play Bond. An up-and-coming director could take the spy in yet another direction and bring in a new actor who could bring fresh buzz to the almost 50-year-old franchise.

The bottom line is that in Hollywood, successful franchises like Bond are too valuable to let slip away. And audiences still have a taste for spy movies. The recent film Salt, where Angelina Jolie plays a Bond-like CIA agent, grossed an impressive $36 million its opening weekend.

This story can be found at Reports of the Death of James Bond are Greatly Exaggerated

[Blowfeld]

Today’s announcement that Daniel Craig is to star in a Hollywood film of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo is great news for fans of Stieg Larsson. But it represents a rather less exciting development for those who prefer Craig’s other alter ego, James Bond.

As I noted last month, when I reported on growing rumours that Craig, left, was to play Mikael Blomkvist in the eagerly anticipated literary adaptation, the British actor would normally have been expected to spend the coming months working on a new 007 flick.

However ongoing troubles at the storied Hollywood studio MGM, whose finances have been mismanaged into a $4 billion black hole (regarding which a definitive account appeared in Saturday’s FT) have meant that work on the new Bond film was recently put on ice.

Now we learn that Craig has agreed to take the lead role in a film which is expected to become a major franchise, and could – if everything goes according to plan – span a total of three major summer blockbusters.

This suggests that the British star may very well not be expecting to be called up for Bond duty any time soon. So 007’s most recent outing, in 2008’s underwhelming Quantum of Solace, is likely to be his last for several more years to come.

Today’s Hollywood Reporter looks at the fate of the Bond franchise, and concludes that it: “hangs in the balance.” (link here) Reuters meanwhile says the makers of the film are “panicked” (link here) by the failure to get a new 007 title off the ground.

All of which also represents terrible news for Sam Mendes, who badly needs a commercial hit to counterbalance a series of recent box office disappointments. Having been lined-up to direct the next Bond movie, the former Mr Kate Winslet is also now left out in the cold.

This story can be found at Daniel Craig’s new job leaves James Bond in limbo

[Omega]

Good news is the Robcop remake is now dead! Aronofsky walked off!!

Those of you hoping to see RoboCop upgraded with software from the future might be in for some major disappointment. The Financial Times is reporting that Darren Aronofsky (The Wrestler, Black Swan) has officially turned in his secret access card as the studio sits on the brink of bankruptcy. With the studio sitting on a massive $3.7bn of debt, and struggling to make interest repayments, it looks like RoboCop is just the first of many projects that'll hit the bin. It's hard to be a hardcore movie fan and not feel a little pain in watching MGM suffer as it's been around since Goldwyn Pictures Corporation back in 1917.

[Capt. Sir Dominic Flandry]

Craig has moved on and the reboot is dead. It's time to resume the Cubby series with a new actor when the studio issues are solved.

[FormerBondFan]

Capt......what do you think of the Robocop sequels?

[Captain Nash]

Craig has moved on and the reboot is dead. It's time to resume the Cubby series with a new actor when the studio issues are solved.

Don't get to carried away with yourself just yet young domster.
Craig IS still Bond
Resuming the so called Cubby series is just nonsense. Many fail to remember both Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson have both worked their way up through the ranks. Neither were given the series to run on a silver platter. The series that Cubby ran was not devoid of problems. After the split with Harry Saltzman the Bond series was having issues.
TSWLM had numerous re-writes and story drafts.
MR came to be after the success of Star Wars
TLD and LTK were neither box office winners, the latter putting Bond into hiatus for six years. All of which were made during Cubbys sole role as producer.
Bond is certainly not dead. And though it's possible Craig wont return. I'd say you'd be a wise gambler to say he's likely to return. Never say never. Afterall, I think he likes annoying you guys. After being told he'd fail with CR and proving you all wrong he's probably this sites biggest fan. Even when there's no Bond film being made, he's still getting some Bond press.

[Kristatos]

And though it's possible Craig won't return. I'd say you'd be a wise gambler to say he's likely to return.

"No need for lifeboats, the RMS Craig is unsinkable". I think after a turkey like QOS and a 6-year hiatus, EON are going to need a new Bond in order to get people interested in a new Bond film. But if Craig is still able to make Babs do her famous imitation of a pair of chapel hat pegs, it's possible that might override any business sense she may have.

[katied]

Craig(wisely, I will say that about him) has work lined up. IMO the longer the hiatus goes on, I think he's more likely to say "screw it!" and just keep going and not go back to the Bond films. He knows it's going to be a while.That's probably why he's doing the Fincher movie(s). I think Fincher would be smart to take it movie by movie.

[oscartheman]

Keep the faith Nash.Keep the faith."those who do not remember history are doomed to repeat it" one day not in the not too distant futures Nash is going to be back here screaming how could they do this!Production stopped.No new movies coming out in the next couple of years.Staring in new video games.Hold the phone Brosnan and Dalton would like to tell you how it all plays out.

[Omega]

IMDB had Bond 23 listed as 2014 release date after the delay was announced now they still have it as a 2014 release but they removed Craig's name from it. Tells us everything we need to know.

[Kristatos]

IMDB had Bond 23 listed as 2014 release date after the delay was announced now they still have it as a 2014 release but they removed Craig's name from it. Tells us everything we need to know.

IMDb is not a reliable source, particularly for movies that are still in development.

[Dr. No]

If he gets plenty of work and moves on it 'swonderful. It's what everybody wants including the Sweeney, Nash and Stocks. I wish him the best well away from Bond, the attitude he brought with him to it I didn't like. maybe it wasn't the attitude he brought but it was there in the movies. Funny DAlton talked about how he liked the 3 first movies the best but he didn't try to copy that attitude and style. Reading what he thought of bond he didnt like him much beyond a study in character, I think Lazenby, Brosnan got why people liked Bond, Dalton and Craig don't like the careless fun of it all and changed it to suit how they saw themselves. I enjoy Dalton movies, eh I enjoy TLD, ltk not as much, he made a effort ot change it looking at his movies after bond I think he had the chops to do a lighter hearted bond but he was set on being darker and diggin in to teh darkness instead of looking at what had worked.

Sorry to run on, anyway best of luck to craig should he move on

[katied]

I'm actually kinda interested to see what kind of Blomkvist Craig will be(though the name will probably be Americanized,and I'll be interested to see how certain aspects from the books(and movies)are translated. )

[Kristatos]

I'm actually kinda interested to see what kind of Blomkvist Craig will be(though the name will probably be Americanized,and I'll be interested to see how certain aspects from the books(and movies)are translated. )

They could do it like Fargo and set it among the Scandinavian communities of Minnesota. Yah.

[Capt. Sir Dominic Flandry]

They always seem to do better when they have a long break and come back with a reboot so with any luck they'll go down this path again. Bond 23 in a couple of years with a new Bond actor sounds like just the ticket.

[JackWade CIA]

There is a historic comfort zone recasting after delays. This is from today..showbizspy.com Maybe not the most reliable source every other related story was" Gay Craig" related

DANIEL Craig says he’s “chomping at the bit” to reprise his role as James Bond.

The actor, 42, is desperate to get back to the Bond franchise — which has been halted due to finance problems — as soon as possible, because he is missing his secret agent status.

“The new Bond movie is on hold but I am chomping at the bit to get going on it as quickly as possible,” he said.

“I love playing Bond — I don’t want to be away from it for too long.”

[Mazer Rackham]

The boy can stay on message I'll give him that.

He doesn't' love playing Bond, we know this from his actions and comments. Last round of press blitz he made a comment about getting to visit a historic site before the tourist being his favorite part of Bond. He doesn't like the character thus he changed it, he doesn't like the stories also why he changes them to be more political and art housey. He is a man who loves perks and adulation not so much the down side. At the premiere of CR he bitched and moaned when his gift bag was missing something others got.

His terms are "quickly", I take him on face value on this, I think he quickly wants to make another, but going any further down the road he wants his schedule clear. If he were to outright quit Bond now he would be a pariah around town, every actor instinctively knows they do not damage a franchise important the studios by direct action. The studios take it personal and will not forget it.
His contract going to be letting him out pretty soon meaning he will be able to dictate his terms and priorities for returning.
Why demand returning quickly when he knows it is impossible? What it does is create a narrative allowing him an out for when he may want one in 2012. When he approaches for a role the producers pause, they are wondering is this guy going to kick us under the bus if we hire him, Craig can then quietly reassure them, no my contract was up after a three year gap I can make your movie my priority, while his public statements will keep his images as the good solider who wanted to be there but the studios and producers let him down.