92 replies to this topic

[TheCheat]

i would be happy with michell as director as i really like changing lanes and notting hill was also good. i have been wanting to see enduring love for a while so maybe now i will check that out.

[zencat]

You know, if they really are negotiating with a Bond 22 director right now, it sure adds fuel to the fire of a 2007 release. Have they ever hired a director for the next film while one is still shooting?

However, the suggestion that there isn't yet a script refutes this. No way they can prep and start shooting in Jan without a draft in hand now. And would a director really sign onto a project without a screenplay (maybe being Bond, the answer is yes)?

Maybe P&W did a treatment with MGW and now they are looking for a writer to do the actual draft? Still...

This script part of this story sounds fishy.

[tdalton]

I know that I've been extremely critical of Martin Campbell's direction in the past, but I'd rather have Campbell return for Bond 22 than having the job go to Michell. His films are mediocre at best, and EON's choosing of him is, if true, very underwhelming news.

[DLibrasnow]

This script part of this story sounds fishy.

You and me both. Especially in light of MGW's comments last October regarding Bond 22.

[Loomis]

You know, if they really are negotiating with a Bond 22 director right now, it sure adds fuel to the fire of a 2007 release. Have they ever hired a director for the next film while one is still shooting?

However, the suggestion that there isn't yet a script refutes this. No way they can prep and start shooting in Jan without a draft in hand now. And would a director really sign onto a project without a screenplay (maybe being Bond, the answer is yes)?

Maybe P&W did a treatment with MGW and now they are looking for a writer to do the actual draft? Still...

This script part of this story sounds fishy.

Hold on, zen, we've known for ages that work has been underway on the BOND 22 script - heck, didn't Wilson even confirm it at the October press conference announcing Craig?

[Harmsway]

You know, if they really are negotiating with a Bond 22 director right now, it sure adds fuel to the fire of a 2007 release. Have they ever hired a director for the next film while one is still shooting?

However, the suggestion that there isn't yet a script refutes this. No way they can prep and start shooting in Jan without a draft in hand now. And would a director really sign onto a project without a screenplay (maybe being Bond, the answer is yes)?

Maybe P&W did a treatment with MGW and now they are looking for a writer to do the actual draft? Still...

This script part of this story sounds fishy.

Hold on, zen, we've known for ages that work has been underway on the BOND 22
script - heck, didn't Wilson even confirm it at the October press conference announcing Craig?

Yeah. They might be looking for another screenwriter to do a rewrite on the P&W draft. Who knows?

[zencat]

You know, if they really are negotiating with a Bond 22 director right now, it sure adds fuel to the fire of a 2007 release. Have they ever hired a director for the next film while one is still shooting?

However, the suggestion that there isn't yet a script refutes this. No way they can prep and start shooting in Jan without a draft in hand now. And would a director really sign onto a project without a screenplay (maybe being Bond, the answer is yes)?

Maybe P&W did a treatment with MGW and now they are looking for a writer to do the actual draft? Still...

This script part of this story sounds fishy.

Hold on, zen, we've known for ages that work has been underway on the BOND 22 script - heck, didn't Wilson even confirm it at the October press conference announcing Craig?

Yes, that's why I say the script part of this story sounds fishy. The story implies they don't have a script at all, just an idea and they are looking for a writer. That can't be right.

[Harmsway]

Yes, that's why I say the script part of this story sounds fishy. The story implies they don't have a script at all, just an idea and they are looking for a writer. That can't be right.

Maybe they entirely threw out P&W's draft and went back to the drawing board?

[zencat]

Maybe I should stop chatting and call my agent.

[Johnboy007]

Yes, that's why I say the script part of this story sounds fishy. The story implies they don't have a script at all, just an idea and they are looking for a writer. That can't be right.

Maybe they entirely threw out P&W's draft and went back to the drawing board?

We can only hope so...

[Harmsway]

#2 If Campbell does not return, it will be confirmation (in my mind) as to what I've been telling people for months now: Campbell was unhappy with being forced to direct Craig, unhappy with having to do a film that did not employ a much younger, more youthful 007, and I don't believe that the shooting script was the script he signed on for.

I don't know that it really qualifies as any actual confirmation. It certainly would fit to some degree - but Campbell himself disclosed that he was exhausted filming CASINO ROYALE and didn't want to do the sequel because of that fact. Not wanting to leap right into another film is reason enough for him to not return.

#3 I strongly suspect that the fact that THR has inside info about Michell (or any other director for that matter) being prepped for Bond22 is EON's way of getting the message out that it is ready to throw Campbell under the bus should Casino Royale tank at the box office (which I believe it will).

I don't see any reason why one could draw that conclusion.

[TheCheat]

welcome to cbn Gravity's Silhouette. i agree with you that it would be nice for them to get a director who they could give more creative power and have more of an impact on the franchise. casino royale is a nice start and maybe if it is a success they will try more things.

the whole script ordeal does sound strange since we had been led to believe that they were far along on the script for the next film and now it seems like that might not be the truth

Edited by TheCheat, 17 July 2006 - 06:47 PM.

[DamnCoffee]

If this rumour is true then Bond#22 will be gr8 - with craigs bond and michells directing Bond#22 will be a brilliant combination

[Loomis]

Campbell is 66, so it would be no surprise if he were too exhausted to leap straight into BOND 22. Also, perhaps he doesn't wish to spend his remaining working years making nowt but Bond films, which would also be quite understandable.

It certainly doesn't mean that so-and-so has fallen out with so-and-so, or that Eon is preparing to set Campbell up as the fall guy for CASINO ROYALE, the film that's as close to a guaranteed global smash as anything ever released, ever, but which anti-Craig Bond fans are curiously convinced will be the biggest disaster since GIGLI.

[Andrew]

welcome to cbn Gravity's Silhouette. the whole script ordeal does sound strange since we had been led to believe that they were far along on the script for the next film and now it seems like that might not be the truth

Things change. As someone said previously, they could've just thrown out P&W's script or they're looking for someone to do what Haggis did.

For all we know P&W just did an outline of Wilson's idea that is waiting for someone to script it or Wilson wasn't happy with what they did and, as said above, threw it out.

[Loomis]

Campbell is 66

Come to think of it, does this make him the oldest Bond director of all time? Without bothering to check the IMDb, I imagine it does.

[Harmsway]

It certainly doesn't mean that so-and-so has fallen out with so-and-so, or that Eon is preparing to set Campbell up as the fall guy for CASINO ROYALE, the film that's as close to a guaranteed global smash as anything ever released, ever, but which anti-Craig Bond fans are curiously convinced will be the biggest disaster since GIGLI.

I certainly admire your blind faith in the B.O. success of this film. A little extreme, IMO, but hey, I'm hoping you're right on.

[Loomis]

It certainly doesn't mean that so-and-so has fallen out with so-and-so, or that Eon is preparing to set Campbell up as the fall guy for CASINO ROYALE, the film that's as close to a guaranteed global smash as anything ever released, ever, but which anti-Craig Bond fans are curiously convinced will be the biggest disaster since GIGLI.

I certainly admire your blind faith in the B.O. success of this film. A little extreme, IMO, but hey, I'm hoping you're right on.

Well, of course it'll be a hit - even OHMSS and LTK were hits. Sure, it's "blind faith" (albeit based on Bond's long and enormously impressive track record), but what of the doubters' equally passionate conviction that CR will bomb? What's that based on?

The way I look at it, it's kinda like saying that the next seasons of "24" and "The Sopranos" will be watched by millions. 'course they will. It's not rocket science.

welcome to cbn Gravity's Silhouette. the whole script ordeal does sound strange since we had been led to believe that they were far along on the script for the next film and now it seems like that might not be the truth

Things change. As someone said previously, they could've just thrown out P&W's script or they're looking for someone to do what Haggis did.

Perhaps this is where Tom Stoppard (as per recent rumours) comes in. I don't see anything in this Hollywood Reporter news to suggest that BOND 22 is behind schedule in any way.

[Andrew]

Perhaps this is where Tom Stoppard (as per recent rumours) comes in.

I can only hope.

[TheCheat]

i would not mind somebody else taking the role of writing the screenplay as i have not been very impressed with the work that purvis and wade have done for the franchise. i would have been happy with them writing the original script and somebody else coming in and making it less cheesy and more classy like haggis did but if they bring in somebody that can skip the first part then that is even better.

[Jim]

Do any real people pay any sort of attention to who directs these things anyway?

[Harmsway]

But you know me, I try to find a the gray cloud in every silver lining, and while Michell is in no danger of being mistaken for Uwe Bolle, he's hardly an inspired choice.

I'm no fan of Michell. He's not an offensive choice, necessarily, but he's sure as hell a boring one. Furthermore, he's produced some really bad films. I mean, if they got Stephen Frears on board for JINX, they could surely muster some better talent for BOND 22.

I don't know what's worse: that EON is seriously considering hiring him, or that things may have been so bad on the CR set (behind the scenes, despite all the warm fuzzies the producers and Craig have tried to project) that Campbell needed replacing.

Well, I wouldn't say that Michell is so bad that it's out of the ordinary EON director picks. He seems to me to fit in the Michael Apted mold (which actually scares me, considering what I think of Apted's contribution to the franchise).

Regarding throwing Campbell under the bus for the potential failure of Casino Royale...well, you don't really think Michael and Barbara are going to fall on the sword, do you?

Perhaps not. I just don't think they'd be planning such a maneuver at this stage of the game - but if later on they want to pile the blame on, he's as good a scapegoat as any, I suppose.

[Loomis]

Gravity's Silhouette, I suppose that you think the fact that Campbell didn't do TOMORROW NEVER DIES means that he had a falling out with Eon after GOLDENEYE (a rift healed after many years, as we can see from the fact that he's now making CASINO ROYALE)?

Won't you accept the possibility that just because a director doesn't immediately return for another Bond, it doesn't necessarily mean that all hell has broken out between everyone?

BTW, welcome to CBn. I enjoy reading your views, although I don't think I'm going to agree with many of them.

[zencat]

I don 't think Campbell would return even if asked. He was asked back for every film after GoldenEye and turned each one down because he didn't want to become "the Bond director". He finally gave in with CR because the money was right (VERY right) and with CR he had a chance to, once again, do something fresh and help relaunch the series (instead of being director of Pierce #5).

He will be in the same situation now. Even if CR is a huge hit, to do a second Craig Bond turns him into "the Bond director." He will take the money and career boost and do another film. Career-wise, that is the smart move, and he's a smart guy.

[Loomis]

I don 't think Campbell would return even if asked. He was asked back for every film after GoldenEye and turned each one down because he didn't want to become "the Bond director". He finally gave in with CR because the money was right (VERY right) and with CR he had a chance to, once again, do something fresh and help relaunch the series (instead of being director of Pierce #5).

He will be in the same situation now. Hit or not, to do a second Craig Bond turns him into "the Bond director." He will take the money and career boost and do another film. Career-wise, that is the smart move, and he's a smart guy.

Very smart to be known not as "the Bond director", but as "the guy who revitalised the Bond franchise.... twice". I totally agree, zen - Campbell can have a fork put in him, but not for the reasons GS gives.

[Andrew]

He will be in the same situation now. Even if CR is a huge hit, to do a second Craig Bond turns him into "the Bond director." He will take the money and career boost and do another film. Career-wise, that is the smart move, and he's a smart guy.

To tell you the truth, I think Campbell would be much more successful as the "Bond director" than what he does by himself.

[zencat]

He will be in the same situation now. Even if CR is a huge hit, to do a second Craig Bond turns him into "the Bond director." He will take the money and career boost and do another film. Career-wise, that is the smart move, and he's a smart guy.

To tell you the truth, I think Campbell would be much more successful as the "Bond director" than what he does by himself.

Unless you measure success by the standard which I'm sure he and most a-list directors measure it by; creative control over your movies. The Bond films are famously producer controlled. Eon gets to make every final decision, and I expect they get final cut. For a big-time director, this has gotta be a misery. I also expect Bond directors (like Bond actors) get cut out of profit participation. So, if you want to then measure by money, it's possible a director like Campbell actually makes more money from a outside bomb than a hit Bond film.

However you look at it, if you have a strong career outside of Bond, it's best not to become "the Bond director." But for someone like Michell (or Spottiswoode, Apted, Tamahori), it could be a step up into the world of big buget action.

[Tim007]

Now get Martin Scorsese and Joe Pesci as a villain for Bond #23. Oh, and Robert de Niro as a henchman.

[zencat]

Very wise man, this Gravity's Silhouette.

Thanks for the kind words and welcome to the forums, my friend.

[jake speed]

I'm no fan of Michell. He's not an offensive choice, necessarily, but he's sure as hell a boring one. Furthermore, he's produced some really bad films. I mean, if they got Stephen Frears on board for JINX, they could surely muster some better talent for BOND 22.

Well, Apted was a different choice, yet he WAS the type of director just about every fan claimed to want for TWINE. The wall-to-wall senseless action and plotless direction of TND was what wrought Michael Apted. And I may be in the minority here, but I found TWINE to have one of the most engaging casts in the entire series. Dench, Carlyle and Marceau were absolutely brilliant. So brilliant in fact that their backstory almost relegates 007 to sub-plot status. But I've digressed....

...You asked me earlier why I would think that Michell's hiring signifies that EON didn't get along with Campbell. Well, you've quite aware of my position on those press conference pictures from back in February. You remember my take on Campbell's body language, and how Dench had to be sandwiched inbetween Craig and Campbell, and how utterly distracted and bored Campbell seemed to be, plus the reports coming off the set that there was tension between Michael/Babs and Martin, and between Martin and Daniel. All of that is just one reason why I expected him not to return. However, when you consider Michell's resume, you see he's worked with Craig twice before, and if that doesn't tell you that EON wants a more malleable director who can get along with Craig, then I can't imagine what would convince you. It's clear that they want a director who believe in Craig and can work with him. Campbell is done. Put a fork in him.

I thought Campbell's attitude in the October press conference was strangely off too. He didn't look happy at all. I'm glad someone else noticed this. I thought it was just me.

Welcome to the forum GS. Nice to have an opinionated poster onboard