32 replies to this topic

[Loomis]

Was wondering if anyone here knows whether a sequel to NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN (probably the last really terrific Bond film) was planned? Did its makers try to get Connery or someone else to play Bond in a followup film? (In the '80s, in the wake of NSNA's box office success, I mean - I've read of McClory's/Sony's plans for a rival Bond in the '90s.) Or were they allowed to make only one 007 flick?

[IndyB007]

I think they were only allowed to do a re-make of Thunderball as that is the McClory's only claim to 007... In the 90's he wanted to do another re-make of Thunderball I thought, but not an original 007 flick.

[DLibrasnow]

There was a lot of talk at the time that Sam Neill was going to play 007 in a series pf movies competing with the EON series. Neill seemed a good choice at the time and was especially good in REILLY:ACE OF SPIES.

[doublenoughtspy]

Although NSNA did pretty well at the box office - it didn't make so much money that a sequel was green lit.

It was a troubled production on almost all sides - and I doubt anyone wanted to repeat the experience for diminishing returns.

And although McClory claims or claimed to have the rights to make multiple Bond movies, he really only had the rights to redo Thunderball - so I'm sure if a sequel had been attempted - he would have lost in the courts.

[DLibrasnow]

Although NSNA did pretty well at the box office - it didn't make so much money that a sequel was green lit.

It was a troubled production on almost all sides - and I doubt anyone wanted to repeat the experience for diminishing returns.

And although McClory claims or claimed to have the rights to make multiple Bond movies, he really only had the rights to redo Thunderball - so I'm sure if a sequel had been attempted - he would have lost in the courts.

Correct to a certain extent. Surely McClory had all the rights to the treatments that he worked on with Bryce, Whittingham and Fleming in the late 1950s though. This was after all where the character Fatima Blush came from (ie she was a character in one of the treatments).

Still any sequel would have had to have been yet another version of the same story.

[hrabb04]

SPECTRE has stolen more nukes! Before Bond can say, "Deja vu!" he is called back to the Bahamas to thwart yet another SPECTRE tropical nuke plot. Look for son of the Max Largo to make an appearance.

[Zing!]

SPECTRE has stolen more nukes!  Before Bond can say, "Deja vu!" he is called back to the Bahamas to thwart yet another SPECTRE tropical nuke plot.  Look for son of the Max Largo to make an appearance.

And they could have called it...

WARHEAD

[hrabb04]

To paraphrase John McClane, "How can the same stuff happen to the same guy twice?"

[Blofeld's Cat]

Still any sequel would have had to have been yet another version of the same story.

Which would've made it hard to do a movie every 2 years or so, and it's pretty much what Eon have being doing since Goldfinger.

[Tarl_Cabot]

Was wondering if anyone here knows whether a sequel to NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN (probably the last really terrific Bond film) was planned? Did its makers try to get Connery or someone else to play Bond in a followup film? (In the '80s, in the wake of NSNA's box office success, I mean - I've read of McClory's/Sony's plans for a rival Bond in the '90s.) Or were they allowed to make only one 007 flick?

Pretty sure it was a one time gig for $ean Connery.He had a rotten time making it apparently...but then again...he's just a grouchy ol' bastard anyway .probably the last really terrific Bond film? I think the 81-87-89 films were much better and I still think 83's Octopussy is just barely better, thanks to score and staple elements. But the original Thunderball never needed a new coat of paint in the first place; I remember being annoyed it was a remake seeing it the first time b/c I didn't know that's what I was about to see and since Thunderball was one of my top 3 films I was dissapointed(80's Domino didn't cut it ). It was a nice bonus Bond film I guess but I'll take an Eon-John Glen 007 outing anyway day over it.

[00Nothing]

But the original Thunderball never needed a new coat of paint in the first place; I remember being annoyed it was a remake seeing it the first time b/c I didn't know that's what I was about to see and since Thunderball was one of my top 3 films I was dissapointed(80's Domino didn't cut it ). It was a nice bonus Bond film I guess but I'll take an Eon-John Glen 007 outing anyway day over it.

[/quote]

Totally agree. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. While I do enjoy NSNA, Thunderball is the better film, while the fact that Octopussy made more money than NSNA does seem like there is justice in the movie world afterall.

[Tarl_Cabot]

Claudine Aunger's Domino just completely owns Kim Basinger's(what were they thinking not casting Ornella Mutti or some other European actress? Why not highjack Carol Bouquet!!?). She was as bad as Stacy Sutton or Christmnas Jones...

...I do, however, like her in her later work-she's good but just not a Bond girl.

[Genrewriter]

Still any sequel would have had to have been yet another version of the same story.

Which would've made it hard to do a movie every 2 years or so, and it's pretty much what Eon have being doing since Goldfinger.

Although it did work for the Friday the 13th films.

[trevanian]

There WAS a sequel planned, supposedly WITH Connery, but Schwartzman -- who was the real force behind NSNA and kind of pushed McClory aside once he had the rights, pissed Connery off and that, along with the fact NSNA was not a huge huge hit, sort of killed any possibility.

There was an announcement in VARIETY in the mid80s, a full-page ad, announcing a followup called SPECTRE or SPECTREVILLE, but I don't recall whether it was McClory or Schwartzman (I think McClory retained most sequel rights along with all rights to SPECTRE, so I'm guessing he was the one pushing for it.)

[Loomis]

Still any sequel would have had to have been yet another version of the same story.

Oh, well, I'd have paid to see it.

And, Tarl, yes, I think NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN was probably the last really terrific Bond film, chiefly because it had the Bond actor doing, y'know, "proper Bond" stuff (fighting, gambling, globetrotting, and romancing unbelievably gorgeous women), with real flair, sophistication and charm. A good Fleming story (well, a story by Fleming and some others, I suppose), and a well-made, entertaining film with plenty of that good old-fashioned panache.

Okay, it goes on a bit too long (while giving the impression that a couple of important scenes were left on the cutting room floor), and the final battle is rather dull, but, still, NSNA is quality stuff. Look, Tarl, it's Bond, it's Connery - what's your problem, man?

trevanian, interesting info there. I guess that Variety ad must be a real collector's item. Wonder if zencat has a copy?

[DLibrasnow]

I'm sure he does Loomis.

I also would have paid to see a NSNA sequel. As everyone knows I am a big fan of NSNA.

[Turn]

I'd pay to see an NSNA sequel, too. Hell, I'd probably pay to see any incarnation of Bond, save for one P Diddy would do. I just wish they would have been able to make the original script for NSNA.

[DLibrasnow]

You mean the Len Deighton one Turn?

[hrabb04]

What could they have called the sequel? "He Means It This Time."

[BONDFINESSE 007]

Was wondering if anyone here knows whether a sequel to NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN (probably the last really terrific Bond film) was planned? Did its makers try to get Connery or someone else to play Bond in a followup film? (In the '80s, in the wake of NSNA's box office success, I mean - I've read of McClory's/Sony's plans for a rival Bond in the '90s.) Or were they allowed to make only one 007 flick?

A sequel? lol let hope not

[CBN_Rules]

http://imdb.com/news...001-02-13#film5

'Connery Says He Turned Down Fortune To Play Bond Again

Sean Connery says that after he completed his last James Bond film, Never Say Never Again, in 1983, he was offered $15 million to make another Bond film -- and refused. Today's British Guardian newspaper quotes Connery as saying: "They were talking wild sums back then to get me into another Bond. Much as I enjoyed the Bond films back in the 60s, I needed a fresh challenge. A new direction. I could have just stayed where I was and made an incredible amount of money. Others would have done so. But not me. That isn't arrogance or me saying how wealthy I am. Far from it. I think I am being honest and putting people who say I watch the pennies in their place." '

Also from a Variety article in 1984,

I am just going by what I remember here, I think Shatterhand has it, but it is impossible to find things on there,

"After making a net profit after all costs of over $16 million Warner Brothers is prepared to give Sean Connery a $10 million raise to make another Bond movie which is tentatively titled The SPECTRE of Defeat. If the next film does as well financially as Never Say Never Again, the studio can net a $6 million profit even with Connery's big salary, which has prompted the studio to put plans for another Bond film into motion.

[Tarl_Cabot]

Still any sequel would have had to have been yet another version of the same story.

Oh, well, I'd have paid to see it.

And, Tarl, yes, I think NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN was probably the last really terrific Bond film, chiefly because it had the Bond actor doing, y'know, "proper Bond" stuff (fighting, gambling, globetrotting, and romancing unbelievably gorgeous women), with real flair, sophistication and charm. A good Fleming story (well, a story by Fleming and some others, I suppose), and a well-made, entertaining film with plenty of that good old-fashioned panache.

Okay, it goes on a bit too long (while giving the impression that a couple of important scenes were left on the cutting room floor), and the final battle is rather dull, but, still, NSNA is quality stuff. Look, Tarl, it's Bond, it's Connery - what's your problem, man?

No problem dude... I like the film but it is a remake-woulda been nice to see an orginal Bond film with Sean Connery; the "pretitle" is the weakest of the series(ok it's not really part of the series). I like the Monte Carlo stuff especially...but...I prefer all 80's Bonds to it except for AVTAK. NSNA just doesn't have enough of a authentic Bond film feel thanks to the absence of the theme music, score, pretitle, gunbarrel and a totally out of character, chummy portrayal of Q.

I agree that Sean is the Bond actor, when he's in his prime. I prefer Tim Dalton as Bond in a direct comparison the NSNA/DAF era Connery.

[DLibrasnow]

Tarl - it's precisely because of the lack of traditional Bond elements that I loive NSNA so much.

[Tarl_Cabot]

I guess that's why I like the Dalton films so much then.

It's an entertaining Bond film(I own it). I like it's low tech feel which seems to be influenced by FYEO.

[Turn]

You mean the Len Deighton one Turn?

Yes. I've actually got a copy of one of those scripts at home.

[DLibrasnow]

I've heard that the Deighton script was a good one with some very interesting ideas.

[Qwerty]

[quote name='BONDFINESSE 007' date='4 March 2005 - 12:17']
[/quote] A sequel? lol let hope not

[/quote]

[Turn]

I've heard that the Deighton script was a good one with some very interesting ideas.

If I get a chance, I'll dig it out of my archives and give it a read through and hit on some of the highlights.

[Blofeld's Cat]

Also from a Variety article in 1984,

I am just going by what I remember here, I think Shatterhand has it, but it is impossible to find things on there,

"After making a net profit after all costs of over $16 million Warner Brothers is prepared to give Sean Connery a $10 million raise to make another Bond movie which is tentatively titled The SPECTRE of Defeat.

How hokey is THAT title!

[Qwerty]

I've heard that the Deighton script was a good one with some very interesting ideas.

If I get a chance, I'll dig it out of my archives and give it a read through and hit on some of the highlights.

I'd certainly appreciate that/be interested, Turn!