While they execute their exhaustive and long-winded construction of restructure, MGM will be working on the new James Bond movie.
The studio announced today that the next Bond film, the 23rd in the series, will hit theaters November 2012. Sequels will follow each year from then on.
Daniel Craig is still attached to reprise his role as MI6′s most famous agent but it’s unknown whether Sam Mendes, who had been (not sure if that’s still the case) eyeing the director’s chair, and Peter Morgan (“Frost/Nixon”), who has been working on the script, are still involved. The delay may have deterred their interest.
In a recent interview, former 007 Timothy Dalton (one of the most underrated Bonds in my opinion, “The Living Daylights” is terrific and “License to Kill” definitely has it’s moments too) said that there’s no way on earth MGM would scrap the James Bond franchise because it’s too lucrative a series.
“I’m not speaking as a spokesman for them, of course, but I have to believe that Bond, a big moneymaker for so many years, will get back on its feet. Someone will give it a platform, a foundation on which it can be made again, because it will be in everybody’s interest.
“It will make money, they do make money, they always make money, and of course, they provide tremendous entertainment for so many people. It’s a horrible situation for everybody. … It brings a big hole into that universe. It’s sad that there’s another hiatus, because I thought the first 25 minutes of Daniel (Craig)’s first (Bond) movie was the best 25 minutes I’ve seen in any Bond movie. I thought it was a fantastic opening.”
