Skyfall Follow-Up Gets a Writer and Release Window

by SuperHeroHype

October 26, 2012

Skyfall is now open in many international markets and doesn't open in the US for another two weeks, but that isn't stopping the producers from getting the ball rolling on Bond 24.

The Daily Mail reports that the plan is for the untitled movie to start shooting next fall at Pinewood Studios with a target release date of fall 2014. They also note that writer John Logan has been hired to write the 24th film in the series. Logan was brought onto Skyfall to rework the script written by Neal Purvis and Robert Wade.

Daniel Craig will reprise his role as 007 in the film, making it his fourth feature appearance as the character.

UPDATE: Deadline is now reporting that Logan is contracted to write the next two films in the franchise. A tentative release date for the 25th entry has not yet been announced.

Purvis and Wade Confirm Their 007 Departure

by SuperHeroHype

November 19, 2012

With the 23rd James Bond film Skyfall setting all sorts of box office records for the franchise, MGM, Sony and EON Productions are already in the planning stages for the next installment with Skyfall co-writer John Logan taking on the scripting duties. While giving a master class at the fourth Doha Tribeca Film Festival in Qatar, five-time Bond writers Neal Purvis and Robert Wade confirmed that they won't be involved with the next movie, having been involved with the writing of all three Daniel Craig films and the two Pierce Brosnan movies before that.

They said they were going to leave after Quantum of Solace but were happy to be able to leave on a high with Skyfall and Wade added:

"I know that John Logan and Sam Mendes have come up with a plot for another one, which takes the pressure off because these films take up a lot of time.”

What's interesting about the above is that when asked about directing another Bond movie, Mendes has said that he used up all his ideas with Skyfall, so if he is indeed involved with plot ideas for the next movie, maybe he'll be convinced to continue on, which should make many James Bond fans happy.

Here is the full press release with quotes from Purvis and Wade on Bond and other things:

As Skyfall becomes the most successful Bond film in its 23 film history, British screenwriting duo Neal Purvis and Robert Wade took part in a master class at the fourth Doha Tribeca Film Festival (DTFF) to lift the lid on writing for one of the iconic film franchises of all time.

“When we were originally asked to come in to meet the Bond people, we weren’t expecting to be walking straight into a meeting with Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson” said Neal Purvis, describing the moment they first started collaborating with franchise’s producers. “Usually there are many other layers of people that stop you getting to the head honchos and we certainly were not expecting to be kept around for 15 years”

“When we met Eon Productions, only two of our screenplays had been made into films. It just seemed preposterous to us that they wouldn’t have other writers on the project” added Robert Wade. “But they’d read a few of our other scripts and liked our sense of character and action. If there’s action without a story or a character angle, then it’s just boring.”

Meeting at 22, the pair who has been writing together for 28 years wrote their first script during the Los Angeles Olympic Games.

“The British Film industry in 1984 was not in a great shape. We’d write pop video’s to make extra money,” said Purvis. ”The tragedy is we were getting paid in the 80’s what screenwriters are still being paid today”

Since then, they’ve written a total of 41 scripts, with ten being made into films. Wade said “We were told don’t expect anymore than one in ten of your screen plays to be made. She was right. We thought yes, that’s probably true, however that won’t apply to us.”

“Now were on our 41st script and have have ten films made. You wouldn’t write each day if you didn’t believer that your scripts were going to be made,” added Purvis.

Addressing the production delays this latest outing, the duo shed light on how important this additional time was “We benefited from the delays as we hadn’t gotten the story right. The film would not have been made without them,” explained Wade.

“The third act wasn’t right. We gave ourselves a few weeks to come up with a new concept, which ultimately became a metaphor for our journey working on these movies – our own Skyfall” added Purvis.

When pushed on if the partners were intending to write more Bond films Wade said “We’re very happy to have done five Bond movies, I think we’ve gotten it to a good place. I know that John Logan and Sam Mendes have come up with a plot for another one, which takes the pressure off because these films take up a lot of time.”

Purvis added, “We were going to stop with Quantum of Solace, but it’s good to go out on a high with Skyfall.”

Asked about other projects outside of Bond, Wade divulged “We did get hired to write a script about Elton John stealing 11 of the best footballers in the world, to play against a team of robots on another planet. “That was our second paid job,” explained Purvis.

And what’s the only thing as a bond writer you can’t do? “Time Travel” says Purvis. “And killing him off” said Wade, before adding “although we have been tempted."

Sam Mendes Returning for James Bond 24?

by SuperHeroHype

February 15, 2013

It's long been rumored that Skyfall director Sam Mendes would return behind the camera for the 24th James Bond film. Now the Daily Mail is reporting that Mendes is "75 per cent of the way towards doing it." This is by no means a confirmation of his return for the film, so treat it strictly as a rumor.

Mendes was at first reluctant to return because screenwriter John Logan was planning a two-part story that would have been shot back-to-back. The site says that is no longer the case and that Bond 24 and 25 will now be stand-alone movies.

Mendes' involvement with the film was confirmed a few months ago when Skyfall co-writer Robert Wade mentioned that Mendes and Logan have already come up with a story for the next film. Check back for possible confirmation of his return in the coming weeks.

Skyfall is the highest-grossing James Bond film to date and the seventh highest-grossing film of all time. It is currently available for DVD, Blu-ray, and digital download.

Christopher Nolan Approached for Bond 24?

by SuperHeroHype

May 17, 2013

The Daily Mail is reporting that The Dark Knight director Christopher Nolan has been approached to helm the next James Bond film. They say that talks are still in the early/informal stages with Nolan and his representatives but that Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson have started courting him for the job.

Previous reports on "Bond 24" indicate that the screenplay is currently being worked on, with MGM eyeing a release for the project within the next three years. Should Nolan sign on, this timetable might need to be altered to accommodate his schedule (he is currently working on Interstellar, which is scheduled to hit theaters on November 7, 2014).Nolan's track record, however, shows he is capable of churning out big projects in less than two years, so a 2016 release date isn't out of the question. Chris is an outspoken fan of James Bond and has expressed interest in directing one of the films in the past, so don't be surprised if this ends up happening, but for now it's just a rumor.

Do you want to see Christopher Nolan direct a James Bond Film? Why or why not? Sound off below!

Ang Lee, Tom Hooper, Shane Black and More on Short List for Bond 24

by SuperHeroHype

May 28, 2013

Variety is reporting that Eon Productions and Sony Pictures have crafted a short list of directors for the next James Bond film that includes Nicolas Winding Refn (Drive) (via FirstShowing.net), Ang Lee (Life of Pi), Tom Hooper (The King's Speech), David Yates (Harry Potter films) and Shane Black (Iron Man 3). Though they have assembled a list of potential helmers, the studio says it could still be some time before a decision is made as details in Daniel Craig's contract are still being hammered out.

Two weeks ago came the rumor that The Dark Knight trilogy director Christopher Nolan was in discussions to helm the film, but there is no mention of him in this new report.

Previous reports on "Bond 24" indicate that the screenplay is currently being worked on by Skyfall screenwriter John Logan. MGM is reportedly eyeing a release for the project within the next three years.

Update: Now Deadline is reporting that Skyfall director Sam Mendes will be back in the director's chair for the film. He initially turned down the job to focus on other projects, but they now claim the studio is willing to wait on Mendes. Check back here for future confirmation on the film's director.