Bond 24 - SPECTRE

[MacGuffin]

Dark Knight to rise for next James Bond? Christopher Nolan approached to direct next 007 film
By BAZ BAMIGBOYE; The Daily Mail

Christopher Nolan has been approached to direct the next 007 movie.

It's early days, but informal talks have begun between Nolan, his representatives and the powers behind the James Bond pictures, Barbara Broccoli and Michael G .Wilson.

Nolan, who made the Batman trilogy Batman Begins, The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises — and had time for Inception in between — would be a cool choice after Sam Mendes decided not to shoot Bond 24.

Following the amazing box-office and critical success of Skyfall, Mendes was close to saying 'yes' to the next instalment, but had to withdraw because of his theatre commitments Charlie And The Chocolate Factory and King Lear with Simon Russell Beale at the National Theatre.

Also, a lot of unconfirmed chatter has started about Mendes running the National Theatre once Sir Nicholas Hytner steps down in March 2015 after a glorious decade at the helm of the theatrical powerhouse on the South Bank.

There are all sorts of reasons why Nolan might not want to do the next Bond film, though he is known to be an admirer of Bond star Daniel Craig.

For starters, he's in pre-production of his own next big film, Interstellar, with Anne Hathaway and Jessica Chastain, and he might prefer not to go straight from one huge production into another.

But as one of my Bond experts commented: 'It does no harm for Broccoli and Wilson to talk with Nolan, even if nothing happens this time round.'

Mendes told me that there would be at least a year to 18 months of pre-production preparation and then six months of filming involved in Bond 24, and the producers want to shoot the follow-up soon after.

That would be a heavy workload for anyone.

But it would be fascinating to see a film-maker of Nolan's standing build on what Mendes and the 007 gang has already done with Bond.

[MacGuffin]

Who Will Sony Tap to Direct Next 'Bond' Movie?
Eon has met with directors including Ang Lee, Tom Hooper and Shane Black
Source: Variety

With Eon and Sony Pictures planning two more James Bond pics with star Daniel Craig, the studio is currently on the hunt for the helmer to helm the next installment.

As of now, no choice has been made, though Firstshowing.net has reported that Nicolas Winding Refn is being considered to take the job after the site interviewed him at the Cannes Film Festival.

Though he is in the running, Refn is just one of the directors who Eon has shown interest in. The shingle has also considered helmers including Ang Lee, Tom Hooper, David Yates and Shane Black.

Sources tell Variety it could still be some time until a decision is made — not only because they are still meeting with helmers, but also because the details of Craig's deal are still being worked out. Given how successful the franchise has been with Craig as the star, especially the last pic, the star's deal is expected to be very lucrative and probably also involves director approval.

As of now, John Logan, who wrote "Skyfall," is on board to write the screenplay, with plans to get a film released by 2016. Sam Mendes was originally asked to return but passed on the offer to focus on other commitments.

[MacGuffin]

Sam Mendes Back In The Picture To Direct Next James Bond Film
BY MIKE FLEMING JR | Deadline

EXCLUSIVE: Sony Pictures and MGM have started talks for Sam Mendes to return and direct Daniel Craig in the next installment of the James Bond franchise. Mendes helmed the last installment, Skyfall, an audience-pleasing film that grossed over $1.1 billion worldwide to become the biggest Bond film and the eighth-highest-grossing film of all time. John Logan is writing the next film.

There has been much speculation on whether Mendes would come back — right now he's knee-deep preparing for the West End launch of the stage musical Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, which will then move to Broadway. That happened because Mendes bowed out, claiming that musical and King Lear were his new priorities and producers Michael Wilson and Barbra Broccoli seemed resigned and they moved on. Recently, he and the producers got back in touch. While Mendes' first love is theater, it became clear that the producers wanted him and he wanted to return, and the only thing standing in the way were these stage commitments that Mendes felt obligated to do. So, they've decided to wait for him to work through those other commitments, and he's now making a deal to start production probably next year. What's the hurry? Craig doesn't seem to have aged since he took the Bond role; he's always in rocking shape.

While Mendes looked doubtful, a bunch of names have been floated in the press, from Ang Lee to Nicolas Winding Refn and Christopher Nolan. I'm not sure there is much validity to any of them, but now it is a moot point, because Mendes will be the director of the next Bond. A Mendes return should tickle the 007 crowd. Like Craig's first outing Casino Royale, Skyfall scratched beneath the stone killer/lover Bond facade with an intelligent spy story that provided a sense of how the agent became that cold ruthless agent. Audiences responded in both cases. Neither MGM nor Sony would comment.

[MacGuffin]

Penelope Cruz to Play Bond Girl in JAMES BOND 24
Source: Collider

Skyfall set high expectations for James Bond 24, but the right pieces are falling into place in order to meet the challenge.  Last week, we learned that Sam Mendes would likely return to direct Bond 24 (and possibly James Bond 25), and now Bond has his girl.  According to Yahoo! Movies UK, Oscar-winning actress Penelope Cruz will play the Bond girl in Bond 24.  Yahoo!'s story notes that when she turns 40 next year, Cruz will be the oldest Bond girl to date (and therefore charmingly age appropriate to the 45-year-old Daniel Craig).  Her age is a fun bit of a trivia, but getting to the actual casting, Cruz is a fantastic choice.  She's sharp, she's sexy, and she can easily hold her own against Craig.  Producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson reportedly tried to get Cruz in the past, but were unable to do so due to scheduling conflicts.

Filming on Bond 24 is set to begin next summer.  While a 2016 release had been mentioned, if the film shoots in summer 2014, then a 2015 release could be a serious possibility.

[Lottery]

It would have been cool if she played Severine.

[Pubrick]

it would have been cool 15 years ago when she was actually hot.

[polkablues]

it would have been cool 15 years ago when she was actually hot.

Oh, totally. I mean, what is this, some sort of deformed goblin? NOBODY WANTS TO FUCK YOU, GOBLIN WOMAN.

[Pubrick]

if i wasn't already retching after forcing myself to watch another episode of Enlightened, i would be vomiting in my mouf a little.

[MacGuffin]

Sam Mendes To Direct Bond 24
BY THE DEADLINE TEAM

Deadline reported in May that Sony Pictures and MGM were in talks for Skyfall helmer Sam Mendes to return behind the camera for the next installment of the James Bond franchise. The studios, along with producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, today confirmed Mendes will direct, with Daniel Craig reprising his role as Bond for the fourth time. There was a lot of speculation about Mendes returning. In March, he said he had made the "very difficult decision" not to return, citing theater and TV commitments. Wilson and Broccoli seemed resigned and they moved on, but they ultimately circled back and decided to wait for Mendes to work through the other commitments. Those include a musical version of Charlie And The Chocolate Factory which bowed on London's West End last month. At the premiere, he told Deadline that Bond was indeed a possibility. It's good news for Skyfall fans. The Mendes-helmed pic grossed over $1.1B worldwide to become the biggest 007 film and the eighth-highest-grossing film of all time. John Logan is writing the next, as-yet untitled movie, which will bow in the UK on October 23, 2015 and in the U.S. on November 6, 2015. Here's today's official release:

CULVER CITY, Calif., July 11, 2013 – Producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, EON Productions; Gary Barber, Chairman & CEO, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer; Michael Lynton, CEO, Sony Entertainment, Inc, and Amy Pascal, Co-Chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment today announced that Daniel Craig will once again return as the legendary British secret agent in the 24th James Bond film and Sam Mendes will also return to direct the screenplay written by John Logan. The film is set for release in UK theaters on October 23, 2015 and in US theaters on November 6, 2015.

SKYFALL™, the 23rd James Bond film, took in $1.1 billion worldwide and set a new mark as the highest-grossing film of all time in the UK; it was the best-selling Bond film on DVD/Blu-ray and was the most critically acclaimed film in the history of the longest-running film franchise.

Commenting on the announcement, Wilson and Broccoli said, "Following the extraordinary success of SKYFALL, we're really excited to be working once again with Daniel Craig, Sam Mendes and John Logan."

"I am very pleased that by giving me the time I need to honour all my theatre commitments, the producers have made it possible for me to direct Bond 24. I very much look forward to taking up the reins again, and to working with Daniel Craig, Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli for a second time," said Mendes.

Barber added, "We are thrilled to reunite the extraordinary talents of director Sam Mendes with our star Daniel Craig for the next great Bond adventure." He added, "As evidenced by the phenomenal success of our last collaboration with EON Productions and Sony, the incredible legacy of this 51-year-old franchise continues to amaze."

Lynton and Pascal said, "It's a privilege to work on the Bond films. EON, John Logan and Sam Mendes have come up with an extraordinary follow up to SKYFALL and we, along with our partners at MGM, can't wait to share this new chapter with audiences all over the world."

[MacGuffin]

Bond 24 Is 'Spectre'; Christoph Waltz, Andrew Scott, Monica Bellucci Join Cast
by Deadline

Director Sam Mendes has revealed the title for Bond 24 which will be Spectre. Mendes made the announcement this morning from the 007 stage at Pinewood Studios where the film will shoot along with London, Rome, Mexico City, Tangier, Erfoud and the Austrian Alps. The newest cast members are confirmed as Christoph Waltz, Andrew Scott, Dave Bautista, Monica Bellucci and Léa Seydoux. Daniel Craig will of course return as Bond along with Rory Kinnear as Tanner, Ben Whishaw as Q, Naomie Harris as Miss Moneypenny and Ralph Fiennes as the new M. Oscar winner Waltz will play Oberhauser, while Blue Is The Warmest Color's Seydoux is Madeleine Swann and Bellucci is Lucia Sciarra. (Bellucci is a nice get for the Bond folks who I hear have been eyeing her for a role for a long time.) Guardians Of The Galaxy's Bautista is playing Mr Hinx and Sherlock's Scott is Denbigh. Interstellar cinematograther Hoyte Van Hoytema will shoot the film with Mendes. And that same film's Lee Smith is joining as editor. Also rolling in is the Aston Martin DB10 which was designed specially for Spectre.

The logline for the new film is: "A cryptic message from Bond's past sends him on a trail to uncover a sinister organization. While M battles political forces to keep the secret service alive, Bond peels back the layers of deceit to reveal the terrible truth behind SPECTRE."

Bond aficionados may recognize the title from the 007 canon. It's an acronym for "Special Executive for Counter-intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge and Extortion." A global crime organization, it's previously been led by evil genius Ernst Stavro Blofeld in the Ian Fleming novels, who also appears in the films From Russia With Love, Thunderball, You Only Live Twice, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, Diamonds Are Forever and For Your Eyes Only. There had been speculation that Waltz would play him in this 24th Bond movie, but his character name would seem to dispel that — unless it's a ruse. Bond lore has it that Hannes Oberhauser was an Austrian climbing and skiing instructor who taught a young James while he was on breaks from Fettes College. They formed a strong father-son relationship, but Oberhauser mysteriously disappeared. The Daily Mail has reported that Waltz will be introduced as Franz Oberhauser, Hannes' son, but later be revealed as Blofeld. (A long-running legal battle was settled last year between the producers and the estate of Kevin McClory which involved rights to the character and other elements of the 007 franchise.)

Spectre hails from EON Productions, MGM, and Sony Pictures Entertainment with Mendes directing his second Bond film after global blockbuster Skyfall. Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson are producers. John Logan, Neal Purvis and Robert Wade are writers. Spectre releases on November 6, 2015.

[polkablues]

I have no great affection for the James Bond franchise, but I'm loving this cast. Andrew Scott's performance on Sherlock is brilliantly bonkers.