55 replies to this topic

[zencat]

Terrific story by Tim on our main page:

'SilverFin' To Be Turned Into Film? Miramax, Dreamworks and Eon Productions interested in film rights, according to Fleming estate

[Bondian]

But do EON have any rights over a young James Bond?.

Just a though.

[zencat]

[quote name='Bondian' date='19 March 2005 - 17:45']But do EON have any rights over a young James Bond?.

Just a though.

[Bondian]

Forgive my ignorance my friend, but does this mean that the name James Bond cannot be a character in any other movie?.

Just trying to establish how these punks could get away with it.

[zencat]

It was quite a deal Cubby made back in the day. I've often wondered how they own the rights to make the games as well (and not just the games based on their films). Are video games considered "films." Maybe so, because the Danjaq copyright is always right there on the games.

[Bondian]

I was just wondering if they could get away with doing a stop motion human foetus James Bond Jr. LOL

"James Bond is back...and he's more plastered than ever!".

OK, had a few Vodka's tonight.

Ciao Mein,


Ian

[zencat]

Another article (see, the fire is spreading).

At least this one correctly points out that Eon owns the film rights to Bond. Of course, they also say Jamelia is going to star in Casino Royale.

[Bondian]

Bondian reserves appointment with funny farm.

Good find my friend.

[Qwerty]

A movie? Nah. Just leave it as a book. I doubt this news will go very far.

[Bondian]

A movie? Nah. Just leave it as a book. I doubt this news will go very far.

A few years ago, the idea of a Young Bond book series was a silly idea.

I wouldn't put it past EON to cash-in with this idea, and in their minds, it'll be more of a money spinner than the failed Jinx movie.

EON are looking at changing what we're used to in the regular movies, so why not make more money by going even further into Bond past.

Maybe 'Silverfin The Movie' would be a follow-up to Casino Royale!.

[Qwerty]

If the movie was ever to be made, I'd expect it to run a seperate course completely from the regular Bond films, (Casino Royale for example).

[Bondian]

We'd hope so Qwerty.

[Righty007]

A film based on SilverFin would be awesome!

[zencat]

I could see the Young Bond series maybe being done on the BBC. Period. High quality. Being on TV would set it aside from the films... That could work. Eon could produce or co-produce. I think this would be great. But I suspect it would never happen.

[K1Bond007]

Young, old, male, female, space alien...it doesn't matter. As far as I understand, Eon has the exclusive cinematic rights to James Bond, period.

That was my understanding from a lawsuit between MGM vs Sony/McClory in I think 1999.

[[dark]]

I find it interesting that there are so many quotes amongst this.

No "unnamed sources" or "insiders", but credited sources. Are these media outlets reliable? Sure, there's everything Zencat raised, but I have an inkling there may be something more here.

Does anyone know if there is really a Zoe Watkins or a Corrine Turner at IFP?

[Loomis]

Are video games considered "films."

Well, the IMDb seems to treat them as such.

[Qwerty]

We'd hope so Qwerty. 

Hope and think in my case. It seems like it'd be too much to clash this together with the movies series we know of now with a new James Bond and all of that going on.

[zencat]

Does anyone know if there is really a Zoe Watkins or a Corrine Turner at IFP?

Yep, I exchanged emails with Zoe Watkins.

Great main page article on this, Tim. I'll swap out my post above with a link.

Maybe I'm just being cynical, but I sort of think this news is just part of the SilverFin marketing campaign. It's a great story, but at the end of the day, Eon holds the film rights automatically and they will be the ones to say whether a SilverFin movie is made and they won't make it.

But maybe I'm wrong. Maybe there is a loophole, or maybe the Fleming family will challenge Eon's film rights dominance over their literary property. It is a new crew over there, and as we can see with the very shrewd launch of the Young Bond series, they know how to play the game.

[Tim007]

There is some kind of antagonism in this story. On the one hand, as Matt pointed out, this is not the usual "sources say, claim, report..." blah, but we have names and we have facts. Which leads me to believe that there is a chance that this story may be true.

On the other hand I know that if John knows those people quoted, says that EON holds all rights and that this is part of the marketing campaign, I can believe him.

So actually - no idea, but I thought it was interesting enough to create a mainpager

[hrabb04]

In which episode does young Bond turn to the dark side?

[Tim007]

In which episode does young Bond turn to the dark side?

Three.

[zencat]

There is some kind of antagonism in this story. On the one hand, as Matt pointed out, this is not the usual "sources say, claim, report..." blah, but we have names and we have facts. Which leads me to believe that there is a chance that this story may be true.

On the other hand I know that if John knows those people quoted, says that EON holds all rights and that this is part of the marketing campaign, I can believe him.

So actually - no idea, but I thought it was interesting enough to create a mainpager

It is a great main pager Tim!

And you guys may be right. There may be something here.

I'm only going off info I've gleaned from the old Gildrose/Eon agreements. But it's new world over there now. When the Fleming family took over, I expect they had lawyers take a very good look at the original contracts. Who knows, maybe there is a way to sell a "Young" Bond series. Maybe that's why they DID a "Young" Bond series instead of more 007 adventures. Maybe not being "007" is the loophole? The Young Bond series does carry that trademark. And when you have companies like DreamWorks and Miramax/Disney involved, well...they have lawyers too. (Although Miramax, as a film production company, will cease to exist very soon so their inclusion is sort of misleading.)

This could be innocent marketing

[Bondian]

Hmmm, makes you wonder if Casino Royale will 'borrow' from Silverfin?.

[YOLT]

I say dont make it until Bond #6 is finished filming Bonds. As I could understood from now on we will have atleast 3 to 4 years for the next Bond to be determined. Having both older James and younger James Bond together wont work I think, at the same time.

[Triton]

I would presume that Eon Productions and Sony are discussing the film rights to Silverfin with Ian Fleming Publications, if the book, of the "young" Bond book series, does not fall into the films rights already owned by Eon Productions.

It appears to me that Silverfin is succeeding whereJames Bond Jr. failed in appealing to an early teen audience. I just don't see Eon Productions and Sony allowing Miramax/Disney to acquire the film rights to the book without a fight on all fronts: monetary and legal.

I could see Eon Productions producing a big screen adaption of Silverfin to give Warner Brothers Harry Potter film series a run for their money. Perhaps an every other year release schedule opposite of the James Bond series so that the two wouldn't compete directly.

Plus think about all the "young" Bond merchandising that Eon Productions and Sony could sell to licensees: "young" Bond-brand toys, board and computer games, school supplies, lunch boxes, back packs, and clothing.

Also Eon Productions is no stranger to children's films with Albert Broccoli producing Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in 1968.

[zencat]

Frankly, I think it's a bit unfair how far reaching Eon's film rights seem to go. While I think they should be given first crack at Young Bond, they shouldn't be able to prevent IFP from going elsewhere if they pass. I think it can and maybe should be argued that Eon owns films rights to James Bond 007, yes, but not to James Bond before he became 007. Of course, the Higson books are admittedly rooted in Fleming and it's Fleming's Bond that Eon owns so...

[Triton]

Frankly, I think it's a bit unfair how far reaching Eon's film rights seem to go. While I think they should be given first crack at Young Bond, they shouldn't be able to prevent IFP from going elsewhere if they pass. I think it can and maybe should be argued that Eon owns films rights to James Bond 007, yes, but not to James Bond before he became 007. Of course, the Higson books are admittedly rooted in Fleming and it's Fleming's Bond that Eon owns so...

I disagree. The fault of how far Eon Productions film rights go lie at Ian Fleming's feet or his attorneys. Fleming didn't have to agree to such a deal with Harry Saltzman when he sold him the film rights. Also, was Fleming given a princely sum in 1961 dollars for the film rights and is he at fault, or his legal advisors, for being short-sighted in not realizing that films based on his literary creation would continue for over forty-three years?

Plus such a position ignores the fact that it was the Eon Productions film series and the marketing done by Eon, United Artists and then MGM/UA that makes the James Bond name worth something. I presume that Eon, United Artists, and MGM/UA have spent millions promoting James Bond.

From my perspective, the heirs of Ian Fleming whether they have the name Glidrose Publications or Ian Fleming Publications have done little or nothing to promote Bond and sit back and collect royalties.

Further, I believe that it is grossly unfair to Eon Productions and MGM/UA/Sony that a Miramax/Disney produced Silverfin, if it were to happen, can hang on the coat tails of forty-three plus years of marketing the James Bond brand. I believe that the marketing of Casino Royale, or Bond XXII, or another Bond property would directly benefit a "young" Bond production.

[Righty007]

Sony (MGM/UA) owns all 22 James Bond films. I think Eon Productions Ltd. and Sony will also have the rights to Young Bond.

[Johnboy007]

Doesn't Miramax only have the rights to publish it? I thought it was made clear long ago that they had no rights whatsoever to turn it into a film.