1025 replies to this topic

[MattofSteel]

I think there's some unspoken strategy here on EON's part...a form of a "no-confidence" vote perhaps, hoping to completely gut and undercut MGM's attempts to stay afloat with a bare minimum of cash. Sort of like accelerating the time table of a painful operation so that you can go ahead and start the recovery and rehabilitation. I think this release is more than just simply announcing pre-production has been suspended. I think it was designed to do what Bond's kiss to Domino in NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN did: provoke a reaction. Question is: What reaction are they looking for? And from whom?

Exactly what I was getting at.

[zencat]

I just checked and Empire are quoting comingsoon as the source. Which makes me think how come an obscure website like comingsoon get the press release an no one else?

Because they all get it from here. This is where press releases are posted. It's a wire.

http://prnewswirefil...definitely.html

I think there's some unspoken strategy here on EON's part...a form of a "no-confidence" vote perhaps, hoping to completely gut and undercut MGM's attempts to stay afloat with a bare minimum of cash. Sort of like accelerating the time table of a painful operation so that you can go ahead and start the recovery and rehabilitation. I think this release is more than just simply announcing pre-production has been suspended. I think it was designed to do what Bond's kiss to Domino in NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN did: provoke a reaction. Question is: What reaction are they looking for? And from whom?

Yep, I think I'm with you on this, GS.

This is pretty major stuff.

[jaguar007]

I think there is still a good chance of Craig doing Bond 23, it might just be 2012 before it hits the theater (a year many people are hoping for). We know MGM's next deadline extension is up May 1st and it's creditors cannot keep giving extensions forever. Something needs to be done to put this studio out of its misery. It may not be coincidence that EON made this statement less than 2 weeks before the next deadline.

[Ambler]

EON should go independant.

Even if that was possible, it would be unlikely to succeed. The company is essentially a one-trick pony as Danjaq has failed to develop or acquire properties of any great value other than the films rights to Ian Fleming's works.

The rights of those properties would have been worth much more after Casino Royale than after QoS.

[tdalton]

Also, just a thought...but what if EON came back after the MGM situation was resolved and, to help audiences catch up on their Bond fix, filmed back-to-back 007 movies, releasing them within a year of each other? It was done with LORD OF THE RINGS and PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN. Why not Bond?

Normally I'd be against the idea, but if there was a way to squeeze out another Bond film with Craig in the lead, I'd say go for it.

Well, that's what I meant. They could bring Bond back in 2012 or 2013, but to forestall the effects of Craig getting older, and not wanting to risk audiences forgetting about Bond for another 2-3 years after BOND-23, simply film back-to-back Craig films so that he has at least 4 under his belt before retiring. It also might help story arc potential by knowing way ahead of time what his 4th film would be.

OK, I see what you were getting at now. And, I do agree 100%.

[RufusCobb]

I hate MGM i want everyone here to know that.


Welp Zorin you were right Daniel will not be returning for bond 23.


I'm angry frustrated and so annoyed right now.


Bond 23 is officially in Development hell.

I hadn't seen Zorin's quote but you know, I've long had a feeling that Dan wouldn't be back for a 3rd film.
Everyone slagged off his choice for Bond in the 1st film but then he proved his worth to the public and most of the fans, (not me but that's beside the point). So in his mind he can say, 'See, I proved I could do it.'
Then there was the 2nd film which, although it may have been successful at the box office, still drew a lot of criticism from fans and journo's.
I have a feeling that, as looks likely, there's going to be a looooong delay before the next film he might just say, 'Oh I can't be bothered, I've done my bit and made my point, I've got nothing to prove anymore.'

Could Bond 23 be ... 'Property Of A New Guy?'

Edited by RufusCobb, 19 April 2010 - 09:58 PM.

[spynovelfan]

It's an official press release, so it is, sadly, real.

I agree that it looks like a maneouvre of some sort. My guess is they're flexing their muscles a bit to pressure MGM, because they know announcing this will get a lot of attention and get a lot of people asking MGM what the hell they're doing. The message seems to be, in a nutshell: 'Due to your ineptitude, we are freezing production on the next Bond film. Yes. The next ing Bond film - it's the most successful film franchise in history, you fools! Do you really want to lose Bond? Sort this out now!'

That's my first guess, anyway, after seeing this a few minutes ago. If you haven't already, check out the final paragraph of the press release:

'In 1995, Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli took over the 007 franchise from Albert R ‘Cubby’ Broccoli and are responsible for producing some of the most successful James Bond films ever, including CASINO ROYALE and more recently QUANTUM OF SOLACE. The James Bond franchise is the longest running in film history. EON Productions and Danjaq LLC are affiliate companies and control all worldwide merchandising for James Bond.'

[Eric Stromberg]

I think there's some unspoken strategy here on EON's part...a form of a "no-confidence" vote perhaps, hoping to completely gut and undercut MGM's attempts to stay afloat with a bare minimum of cash. Sort of like accelerating the time table of a painful operation so that you can go ahead and start the recovery and rehabilitation. I think this release is more than just simply announcing pre-production has been suspended. I think it was designed to do what Bond's kiss to Domino in NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN did: provoke a reaction. Question is: What reaction are they looking for? And from whom?

Yep, I think I'm with you on this, GS.

This is pretty major stuff.

I hope this is correct. It was probably the third thought that popped into my head when I got the news, the first couple of thoughts being about rage fueled retaliatory violence.

I'd be interested to hear more opinions from those in the industry. Is this a play by the Bond producers to quicken the deal or in some way force MGM's hand?

[DamnCoffee]

It's an official press release, so it is, sadly, real.

I agree that it looks like a maneouvre of some sort. My guess is they're flexing their muscles a bit to pressure MGM, because they know announcing this will get a lot of attention and get a lot of people asking MGM what the hell they're doing. The message seems to be, in a nutshell: 'Due to your ineptitude, we are freezing production on the next Bond film. Yes. The next ing Bond film - it's the most successful film franchise in history, you fools! Do you really want to lose Bond? Sort this out now!'

That's my guess, anyway, after seeing this a few minutes ago. If you haven't already, check out the final paragraph of the press release:

'In 1995, Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli took over the 007 franchise from Albert R ‘Cubby’ Broccoli and are responsible for producing some of the most successful James Bond films ever, including CASINO ROYALE and more recently QUANTUM OF SOLACE. The James Bond franchise is the longest running in film history. EON Productions and Danjaq LLC are affiliate companies and control all worldwide merchandising for James Bond.'

Indeed. Perfect selling point.

Let's hope something happens soon.

[MattofSteel]

I can buy that theory. Maybe we're all just in denial, but I can buy it. In that case, it might actually have a positive effect of, in hindsight, accelerating Bond 23's development beyond what it might have been.

[Ambler]

'In 1995, Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli took over the 007 franchise from Albert R ‘Cubby’ Broccoli and are responsible for producing some of the most successful James Bond films ever, including CASINO ROYALE and more recently QUANTUM OF SOLACE. The James Bond franchise is the longest running in film history. EON Productions and Danjaq LLC are affiliate companies and control all worldwide merchandising for James Bond.'

But who controls Danjaq and Eon? I've not managed to find any details of the companies' structure or ownership.

[Athena007]

Holy crap.

Trying to track this back to the original press release posting. So far this is as close as I can find.

http://prnewswirefil...definitely.html

Interesting to see a Press Release from just Eon. It's almost always a combo of Eon and studio. But I guess it's understandable.

Damn MGM.

*tear*

[DAN LIGHTER]

It's an official press release, so it is, sadly, real.

I agree that it looks like a maneouvre of some sort. My guess is they're flexing their muscles a bit to pressure MGM, because they know announcing this will get a lot of attention and get a lot of people asking MGM what the hell they're doing. The message seems to be, in a nutshell: 'Due to your ineptitude, we are freezing production on the next Bond film. Yes. The next ing Bond film - it's the most successful film franchise in history, you fools! Do you really want to lose Bond? Sort this out now!'

That's my guess, anyway, after seeing this a few minutes ago. If you haven't already, check out the final paragraph of the press release:

'In 1995, Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli took over the 007 franchise from Albert R ‘Cubby’ Broccoli and are responsible for producing some of the most successful James Bond films ever, including CASINO ROYALE and more recently QUANTUM OF SOLACE. The James Bond franchise is the longest running in film history. EON Productions and Danjaq LLC are affiliate companies and control all worldwide merchandising for James Bond.'

That confirms it for me. I actually feel quite sorry for us all here. Fingers crossed it will get the ball rolling as it was intended.

[jaguar007]

*tear*

I'm touching your tear on my computer screen

[Lachesis]

I would suspect Daniel Craig will be on hand for a while yet and given the success of the last two Bonds financially and critically I find it difficult to believe someone won't be knocking on the door soon.

[jaguar007]

Does anyone think it is coincidence that EON makes this announcement just days after Peter Jackson's statement about The Hobbit

"It’s not really been delayed, because we’ve never announced the date. I mean it’s sort of interesting because the studio [MGM] has never greenlit ‘The Hobbit,’ so therefore ‘The Hobbit’ has never been officially announced as a “go” project, nor have we ever announced a date.”

[tdalton]

Does anyone think it is coincidence that EON makes this announcement just days after Peter Jackson's statement about The Hobbit

"It’s not really been delayed, because we’ve never announced the date. I mean it’s sort of interesting because the studio [MGM] has never greenlit ‘The Hobbit,’ so therefore ‘The Hobbit’ has never been officially announced as a “go” project, nor have we ever announced a date.”

I don't know if its a coincidence or not, but perhaps the minds behind the two films that could have been MGM's biggest in quite some time could get together and jointly try to push this process along somehow. I would think that the Bond producers working jointly with Peter Jackson would create quite a formidable team.

[Ambler]

If QoS' profit on return had been more acceptable then the Bond films - and MGM - would be in a much stronger position.

[Eric Stromberg]

Does anyone think it is coincidence that EON makes this announcement just days after Peter Jackson's statement about The Hobbit

"It’s not really been delayed, because we’ve never announced the date. I mean it’s sort of interesting because the studio [MGM] has never greenlit ‘The Hobbit,’ so therefore ‘The Hobbit’ has never been officially announced as a “go” project, nor have we ever announced a date.”

Didn't know about that. So a coordinated strike?

[MattofSteel]

If QoS' profit on return had been more acceptable then the Bond films - and MGM - would be in a much stronger position.

Come on.

The bloody thing made $600 million in box office alone, BEFORE BluRay release, DVD, and countless other revenue streams.

[Ambler]

If QoS' profit on return had been more acceptable then the Bond films - and MGM - would be in a much stronger position.

Come on.

The bloody thing made $600 million in box office alone, BEFORE BluRay release, DVD, and countless other revenue streams.

Box-office is not the same as profit.

As far as I can tell, QoS' worldwide box-office - minus the distributors and cinemas' take - did not cover its production costs. Of course that depends on which budget figure you believe. No official figure has been released as far as I can tell.

[Ace Roberts]

I don't think I saw this posted in the string of replies, but if I missed it I apologize - but one has to wonder if there might be a difference of opinion on the status of the script between Mendes and the producers. The indefinitely status added to the press release makes you wonder if they are at a crossroads in that department- otherwise why not keep the team together and coast until a decision is made? What does everyone think?

[zencat]

And I'd suggest we all keep an eye out on Nikki Finke's website, Deadline.com. It'll be interesting to see if she or Mike Fleming adds anything to the story or, at the very least, it'll be interesting to get her take on the matter.

We are of like minds today, GS. I've been clicking over since I first saw this. Hope she (or Mike) picks it up and dishes the real dirt.

[spynovelfan]

Does anyone think it is coincidence that EON makes this announcement just days after Peter Jackson's statement about The Hobbit

"It’s not really been delayed, because we’ve never announced the date. I mean it’s sort of interesting because the studio [MGM] has never greenlit ‘The Hobbit,’ so therefore ‘The Hobbit’ has never been officially announced as a “go” project, nor have we ever announced a date.”

Didn't know about that. So a coordinated strike?

They seem like different types of statement to me. Jackson is sort of saying: 'We've never been too troubled by any of this and I don't pay it too much mind. We're just getting on with it, and will get it out when they've sorted it out, one way or another. So there's no "delay"...' Whereas Eon seem to be taking a more passive-agressive tack to me, more like: 'Okay. We're telling the world that we're freezing the next Bond film because you're so useless. Happy now? Incidentally, it's the biggest film franchise of all time and we've done pretty darn well at it since Cubby, so don't think we don't have any clout.'

I am, of course, speculating. That's just the impression I get.

But if there's a stamement from another film producer affected by this, then yes, I guess it would be enemy action.

[blueman]

I called this a while back; I'm really not surprised.

Hoaxer. Just cuz it says Babs and Mikey, how do we know it wasn't JimmyBond in the Cbn forum with a fax machine? At least with the Mendes hoax, the WSJ reporter talked to an actual person (likely dlf in disguise).

[zencat]

Get off it, blueman. Geeze.

[DamnCoffee]

I called this a while back; I'm really not surprised.

Hoaxer. Just cuz it says Babs and Mikey, how do we know it wasn't JimmyBond in the Cbn forum with a fax machine? At least with the Mendes hoax, the WSJ reporter talked to an actual person (likely dlf in disguise).

I don't think this is a good time. Given the circumstances.

[MattofSteel]

Box-office is not the same as profit.

As far as I can tell, QoS' worldwide box-office - minus the distributors and cinemas' take - did not cover its production costs. Of course that depends on which budget figure you believe. No official figure has been released as far as I can tell.

I know it's not the same. Assuming the highest rumoured budget of $200 million plus, say, $60 million in additional marketing and the film's ending worldwide gross of $586 mill, it needed to make back twice of $260 mill to break even, which it far exceeded.

Add on DVD, BluRay, the game, merchandising, product placement, and the other extensive revenue streams - QOS turned more than a tidy profit for all the parties involved.

And realistically - QOS and CR are by far and away the most financially successful Bonds of all time, the next closest is DAD (strictly in terms of box office) and that was a full 150 million behind.

What else could one possibly have expected out of QOS? Avatar $$?

I'll apologize in advance and I'll drop it, I don't want the thread to turn into this.

[MRW007]

damn it...now im really sad about this. Daniel Craig has to come back, he's the best Bond in the entire franchise. Ive said this before, if Daniel Craig doesn't come back as Bond, the movies won't be the same again, and most likely i'll refuse to see them. But it's not gonna be the same without him (

[spynovelfan]

I called this a while back; I'm really not surprised.

Hoaxer. Just cuz it says Babs and Mikey, how do we know it wasn't JimmyBond in the Cbn forum with a fax machine? At least with the Mendes hoax, the WSJ reporter talked to an actual person (likely dlf in disguise).

Please don't do this. It's a press release from Eon, received by this site and many others. It's very different from a reporter asking Sam Mendes if he will direct the next Bond film and Mendes replyng that that's just speculation, and anyway the whole situation is frozen because of the MGM situation. Very different indeed. As I think is probably now clear from this press release two days after a respected British broadsheet stated that Barbara Broccoli had 'confirmed' Mendes to direct, you cannot blindly trust what is printed in newspapers or by websites, even if they have good reputations.