18 replies to this topic

[I never miss]

Only a bit of fun and not to be taken too seriously.

Imagine that, as a long-time Bond film fan, and multi-billionaire, you were able to buy Eon and the rights to the Bond catalogue. You are in sole charge of the Bond movies from now on, though you have sensibly decided to keep Mickey and Babs under your wing as their advice will no doubt be very useful. You will make the films privately and release them through a studio (much the same way as George Lucas has done with 5 of the Star Wars films).

You officially take over the day that QOS is released at the cinemas. What decisions do you make? Who do you hire or fire?

Here's my tuppence worth:

1. Ensure that Craig's on contract for Bond 23 and 24. If he isn't, offer him $20m to do both the two movies in 2010 and 2012.
2. Speak to Gary Oldman and sign him up to play Gerard Risico, the head of Quantum, in Bond 23 (Title: Risico).
3. Speak to Charles Dance and Helen Mirren to gage their interest in taking over from Judi Dench in Bond 24 - ask the fans to vote on their fave candidate on Cbn.
4. Ensure that an agreement is reached with the owners of Aston Martin that their cars can be used by Bond for next 5 films.
5. Sign Henry Cavill on a retainer to be ready for a 2014 release of Bond 25. If his stock is still high in 2012, and Craig has decided to bow out/is looking too old, then announce Cavill as new Bond after Bond 24 has been released, thus eliminating new search and wasted time.
6. Pay

Edited by I never miss, 15 April 2008 - 09:30 PM.

[Dell Deaton]

Your first point is probably the most important. I think the franchise benefits from a "known" Bond for longer periods, even at the expense of some "aging" over time. To that end, maybe a bit more thought would be put into adapting the scripts accordingly. After the stumble of the first Star Trek feature film, for example, I felt that, beginning w/ Wrath of Kahn, the stories were better suited to actors' ages, w/out sacrificing anything.

That said, I'd also like to see MI6 fleshed out a bit. Not the sort of gratuitous "add an agent" sort of thing, but as Ian Fleming did it starting w/ Moonraker. The office, relationships Bond has outside of them (tied neatly, and tightly to the plot, of course); maybe get into his home.

I'm not suggesting we have to go all the way back to or be bound by the novels. Just that there's still a lot of great stuff there to be tapped into, and that I believe it could add a lot to the films.

[dinovelvet]

-Sign Daniel Craig to do three more Bond films, with increasing pay and bonus clauses (e.g. if the film makes, say, $600 million at the box office, he gets a bonus)

-Inform Purvis and Wade that their services are no longer required. Sign Paul Haggis to a multi-picture deal, and make headlines by paying the highest sum ever offered to a screenwriter.

-Throw out the "no American directors" rule and start looking at some talented Yanks for the director's chair

[Simon]

If I became a decision maker at Eon, the first decision I would make would be to become a silent partner and make no further decisions.

Leave it all to M&B.

[Judo chop]

As the new president of EON, my first action item would be to put forth a public apology to Timothy Dalton.

[Bondian]

Brilliant question, I never miss. A brilliant question that requires a brilliant answer. But as I now own EON, you'll need to wait until the day of release before I made a decision or gave anything away.

j/k

I would also like to keep Mike and Babs in charge as they have a vast experience of usually going the right way with each film.

What I would like to put "on the table" would be very well written short stories bringing back the mini features into the cinema/theatre. Getting rid of all those crappy TV adverts. I would keep the previews of "coming attractions" to a minimum as they IMHO distract from my concentration on the movie I've paid to see.

EON could set an even bigger standards here by these 'mini movies'. Maybe they could do a kind of 'Young Bond' expanded story over several months. I'm sure many folk would go to see these more than the main feature.

Okay. Have had some brandy tonight so I'm, not thinking straight. But in all honesty, do I ever.

Cheers.


Ean.

[sark]

I would personally screentest all the 'actresses' auditioning for a role as a Bond girl.

[Qwerty]

Leave it all to M&B.

Sounds pretty good to me.

[Jim]

I would ignore every fansite because reading them would only depress me.

[Skudor]

Seeing as, in this scenario, I am a billionaire and given the lovely revenues I'd continue to get from the back catalogue I'd go all arty-farty and remake the Bond novels, in order, as period pieces. I'd hire and pay for the best writers to ensure the scripts follow the novels as closely as possible. Ratings would not be an issue. No expense would be spared, but nor would there be any silly explosions etc. just for the sake of it.

David Arnold would not be scoring my pictures.

I'd offer the title role to DC, but only with a committment to star in all of them (I would pay whatever price needed). If DC wouldn't play ball, I'd hire someone else - possibly unknown.

Once done with that I'd probably take a lengthy break and remake chitty-chitty bang-bang or some other nonsense.

[David Schofield]

ALL of us here would be better spending the billion on birds and booze, and leaving the Bond series to the experts.

We're all deluded, smart- fanboys.

I mean, I wouldn't have cast Craig as Bond. And I couldn't have been convinced by anyone to do it. I'd have cast Clive Robertson.

[Mr_Wint]

ALL of us here would be better spending the billion on birds and booze, and leaving the Bond series to the experts.

We're all deluded, smart- fanboys.

I mean, I wouldn't have cast Craig as Bond. And I couldn't have been convinced by anyone to do it. I'd have cast Clive Robertson.

Thats true. Bond 21 would've been "Beyond The Ice" starring Clive Robertsson, Al Pacino and Sharon Stone. Directed by Matthew Vaughn. Music by Michael Giacchino. And a cameo from Sean Connery himself!

[stamper]

If I was in charge at Eon, I would drink like crazy, snort drugs, pay hookers, and get on the front page of all the english tabloids.

[Trident]

Some pretty interesting suggestions already here.

Seeing as, in this scenario, I am a billionaire and given the lovely revenues I'd continue to get from the back catalogue I'd go all arty-farty and remake the Bond novels, in order, as period pieces. I'd hire and pay for the best writers to ensure the scripts follow the novels as closely as possible. Ratings would not be an issue. No expense would be spared, but nor would there be any silly explosions etc. just for the sake of it.

My own idea would be to keep the current big screen series mostly as it is in M&B's hands. But I would start a second series in the gap between the classic EON stuff. This would be skudor's remakes with different stars, a different Bond, every nut and bolt correct, all props and places, cars and cloths period. Wherever the actual locations have changed sf-x and cgi would try to give the period's image. Maybe I'd do this in b/w and maybe as mini-series for tv.


It would either be a disaster and tank the series for good. Or become a critically acclaimed success that redefines the Bond character as Fleming thought it up.

Edited by Trident, 16 April 2008 - 03:55 PM.

[Hitmonk]

Easy one - I'd produce one Bond film, then dismiss the series as being over the hill and go all out to make Kung Fu movies instead.

[Quantumofsolace007]

oh waht to do... oh what to do




1. Id keep both Craig and the vilonous orgnization Quantum around for a while.
2. I would defintly begin adapting post Fleming novels Especially Colonel Sun (there ya go Loomis you get your wish) but i'd post a vote for what psot fleming novels were the favoruite
3. I'd go back to "this is the end of Quatnum of Solace James bond will return in"
4. Bond 23 is The Hildebrand Rarity (i'm torn with having all of Craig's bond films be Fleming titled or giving him a post fleming novel or 2)
5. Purvis and wade would be kept on as story/first draft writers only (I liked Casino Royale and unless can be proven other wise a large part of that film was theirs with haggis adding a few touches and venice)
6. Rock them songs. gone are the day os madonna sheryl crow etc. Bond would much more rock orientated with (if they didn't do quantum of soalce's theme song) Yes doing the theme to THR and possibly Eric Clapton or Elton John doing bond 24's theme (maybe titled Valley of Shadows)
7. All remaning fleming characters would be used
8. I'd finnaly get that Bond on a mounatin bike versus a 5 heavidly armed thugs in cars/motor bikes chase sequence


that sums it up nicely

[Chula]

Get rid of DAVID ARNOLD!!!!!!!!!!!!

Losing Connery or Maibaum is nothing compared to losing John Barry and passing his torch onto.....David Arnold? Unreal.

[MHazard]

I would film versions of OHMSS, YOLT, and TMWGG which were actually good adaptations of the books (actually OHMSS the film is fine, but the other two don't make sense without it). Craig would be invited to play Bond in them, but if he was unwilling I would find another actor of significant dramatic talents. With all respect to Judi Dench, M would be played by a man. Felix Leiter would be a lanky straw haired Texan. All ridiculous gadgets and anyone named Q would be banned.

[stromberg]

If I became a decision maker at Eon, the first decision I would make would be to become a silent partner and make no further decisions.

Leave it all to M&B.

This

I would ignore every fansite because reading them would only depress me.

This

I would personally screentest all the 'actresses' auditioning for a role as a Bond girl.

And this.