I guess everyone has heard by now that production on the next James Bond movie has been suspended indefinitely. A statement from producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson said “Due to the continuing uncertainty surrounding the future of MGM and the failure to close a sale of the studio, we have suspended development on Bond 23 indefinitely”
It is no secret that MGM have had their problems in recent years. Last August the daily telegraph reported that a $250m credit payment would be due around now. The total debt was quoted at $3.7bn and is due for repayment in just over two years. The same article explained that Stephen Cooper had taken over as CEO and vice-chairman and was “tasked with improving the health of the company’s balance sheet”. They described Mr Cooper as a “well-known restructuring expert”. Variety called him “a turnaround specialist” and suggested company could auction of some of its assets including the James Bond franchise and the upcoming Hobbit movies.
The franchise has always made money with Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace combined grossing over a billion dollars and making around $850million profit. The four Pierce Brosnan movies combined made over a billion dollars profit. Making Bond something of a double edged sword for a studio in trouble; if sold such a profitable franchise could be help the studios finances but if they are still seeking a buyer the company will be far more attractive with Bond onboard.
What will this mean for star Daniel Craig and potential director Sam Mendes? The last time a Bond movie was postponed was back in 1990 due to legal issues between UA/MGM and EON; the dispute lasted nearly five years and Timothy Dalton’s contract to appear in a third film expired. Although talks were held an agreement was never reached and Pierce Brosnan was hired. It is unlikely there will be a six year gap as there was between Licence to Kill and GoldenEye meaning the retention of Daniel Craig shouldn’t be a problem but Sam Mendes is sure to have other projects he wants to work on (IMDB have four listed). Whatever happens they need to wind up the “Quantum” storyline in the next movie before it becomes a millstone around the companies neck. What next for James Bond? Who knows but one thing is certain, as it always used to say at the end of the credits (do the new films say it? I have never looked):
James Bond Will Return
Fandango Groovers Movie Blog 
Quite the bummer of an update, but then again, Quantum of Solace did suck.
Although the overall film didn’t work it was a risk they had to take following Casino Royale.
It is a pity, but I agree with Aiden, wasn’t too keen on Quantum of Solace. Although, I think Daniel Craig is great, I also preferred the good, old-fashioned James Bond type…
“old-fashioned James Bond type” the old-fashioned James Bond type for me that means Sean Connery but for others that may be Roger Moore or Pierce Brosnan.
I’m afraid that Bond has had his day. Daniel Craig is NOT Bond. He may be a great action hero but he is a million miles away from the hero we loved. The franchise needs to end. It’s become boring ie. Quantum and where do they go from here? – back where they started. Most people would be happy to see the gadgets and the humour back. If they want dark reality they can watch Bourne.
That dark reality is Bond, the Bond of the books was a cold hard killer without the humour that was introduced in the Roger Moore era. The gadgets got ridicules and they really “jumped the shark” with the invisible car. Casino Royale proved there is still life in the franchise but it also proved that it needs to change with the times to survive. I still like the idea of a 50’s set period movie but that would never happen.
No Bond movies for a while? thats great news.
You must be the only one disappointed Fands
You love them really. Everyone knows you are a closet fan.
Craig makes a great Bond (despite being the love child of Sid James) but both Casino Royale and The Something of Boris were utterly dire.
I think The Daily Mash sums this story up best…
http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/arts-%26-entertainment/bond-films-to-be-renamed-again-201004202658/
Casino Royale was brilliant. I would place it in the top three or for Bond films ever. The Daily Mash is very funny and not too far from the truth!
I haven’t read the article more closely yet, but just had to comment upon seeing my hero TD on your post! 🙂 Maybe they should listen to you Andy, and do the Bond version with Dalton as the older mentor to Colin Farrell (or some other Brit worthy of the Bond role). If I had all the money in the world I’ll buy MGM and make that dream Bond movie!!
They would never take such a big risk with the francise!
MGM’s debts are about the same as Apple’s profits, maybe they will buy them and make a movie abut how Bond saves the world with his iPhone. It will be like one of the Orange adds (that will mean nothing to everyone outside the UK).
I doubt we’ve seen the end of Bond, but MGM is taking its dying breath. http://bit.ly/alfDCq This is the same studio that brought us “Gone With the Wind!” Now their only theatrical release this year was “Hot Tub Time Machine.”
That is tragic.
That’s half the problem with MGM, they relied too much on too much on its classics and not enough on creating the classics of the future. Last year the released three crappy remakes The Pink Panther 2, The Taking of Pelham 123 and Fame. Asside from the Bond films I can’t think of a significant film they have made since Thelma & Louise nearly twenty years ago.
Bond is DEAD. It has succumbed to “preqelitis” (all the more ludicrous, given Craig has the same “M” as Brosnan) and lost ALL of what made Bond Bond – “Q” gadgets, fags, style, foreign locations, glamour, a suave super-villain, sexy titles, LOADS of birds, a great song, the titles of Maurice Binder, the stories of Ian Fleming, the sets of Ken Adam (with the descending circle, which made ’em appear bigger) and the scores of John Barry.
I’m sure another piece of tat like “Quantum” will break more box-office records – but they won’t include MY $5.
p.s. – please correct my “preqelitis” – it should be “prequelitis” – with a “U”!
Ta!
Mike <:={)