2121 replies to this topic

[zencat]

It's very possible, Brisco (and I do think EON should seriously consider adapting the books, but that is another discussion to have at another time). But I also think another potential "driving force" behind the selection of Deaver is to finally take a serious run at the U.S. market. It's their "White Whale." I'm not even sure DMC performed to expectations in the U.S. I wonder if they might even hold a DMC-like launch event for this book in the U.S. this time?

[David Schofield]

It's very possible, Brisco (and I do think EON should seriously consider adapting the books, but that is another discussion to have at another time). But I also think another potential "driving force" behind the selection of Deaver is to finally take a serious run at the U.S. market. It's their "White Whale." I'm not even sure DMC performed to expectations in the U.S. I wonder if they might even hold a DMC-like launch event for this book in the U.S. this time?

Wouldn't the way for really IFP to crack the U.S. market be to have Deaver's Bond discover that his real dad was an American, Zen???

[zencat]

Brilliant!

I think the only way to crack the U.S. market is to dump supertankers of cash into the marketing, and even then it's hard. It's just so freakin' big and there's so much competing media screaming at all times. Charlie Higson talks about how when he does radio in Britain, he reaches a fair amount of the country. But here...

[Brisco]

I agree that's probably a major factor in the choice of Deaver. (Faulks certainly isn't exactly a household name in America!) But I wasn't saying that Deaver was chosen as EON-bait; I was saying that the contemporary setting was probably chosen to make the book more appealing to EON, regardless of the author. As for Deaver himself, I've never read anything by him but I am excited! And he certainly could be a good way to churn up the American bestseller lists. (But I think there are a few British writers, like Lee Child, who might do that too.) Remember when the earlier John Gardner books were US bestsellers on the basis of the Bond name alone? What's changed here since then?

[doublenoughtspy]

There have been continuation novels for 42 years and Eon hasn't touched them - why on earth would they start now?

Deaver is a big name, but not big enough for Eon to suddenly change their stripes.

It is so much easier for Eon to pay screenwriters, and own the work outright, then dilute it by having to pay the Fleming estate, plus the continuation author, plus the screenwriter.

The Fleming estate gets a cut every time a new film is made no matter what - I don't think they are sitting around making book decisions based solely on "How do we make this an attractive thing for Eon to film?"

I'd love to see continuation novels filmed, but I doubt we'll ever see it. One possible exception would be if there was some absurdly long writer's strike and there was some escape clause about adapting existing material (kind of like when the revamped Mission: Impossible in the 80s used 60s era scripts to get around the writer's strike.)

[Loomis]

I absolutely loathe the idea of Eon adapting any of the continuation novels.

[zencat]

Bah! To heck with Eon and the films. Really, with the exception of CR (based on a book), the film output for the past 15 years has been pretty darn weak as far as great Bondian stories and characters go. I've always enjoyed the books, and my real pleasure in the past decade has come from IFP, not Danjaq. With Project X and Deaver, I now expect this to continue. With the movies...so much time, so much drama, so many politics, so much money...and QOS is what comes out in the end. My turn is almost complete. Bond to me is a literary franchise, and that franchise continues to deliver.

[Trident]

As usually, I'm once more late to this particular discussion. Nonetheless, wanted to specify my ideas a little more:

On the reboot thoughts, I can't see it be allowed. You can't just have the "flavour" of Fleming and a bunch of new adventures about a bloke called James Bond (Well, you can, I suppose - the existential approach would have been better suited for Seb Faulks). You need the man who tackled Le Chiffre, Goldfinger and the rest. Up front and present.

I genuinely can't see it making a difference either way. Bond is Bond is Bond, isn't he? If it were a new series, as sharpshooter said above, where we follow his new personal history and watch him changing: sure that'd make sense. But in a one-off I can't see how a 50's Bond in the present day or a 21st century Bond would make much difference. Obviously he'd have the right knowledge of the day and would be vaguely reconstructed, but we had that with the 50's Bond Gardner gave us (less gold bands on his cigarettes; up to date on technology).

I suppose it could be done. The reboot would not be about the character, but about the perspective of this character, the way he's seeing his world and the focus this world puts on him. Bond's basic character dispositions would have to be present: adventurous, gambling, a man that has his own ideas, inside a profession that doesn't allow too much room for such follies; a man enjoying life and enjoying the thrills that his job brings his way; a man that savours the joys women mean to him, but who never entirely loses himself in these. And so on.

What I mean is: reboot would not just mean giving Bond a different backstory with adjusted timeline, a new war, new enemies, new Bentley and so on. It would mean taking Bond's more prominent character streaks and imagining, where these would put him in our world. Under which circumstances would Bond end up in the SIS? How would he become an agent with a very limited operative focus?

These questions (and the answers to them) would be my base for a real reboot. It would of course mean, not everything Fleming came up with would find a modern counterpart in a similar manner. Bond is a bit of an adrenaline addict. Not overly so, but still it cannot be denied. His gambling and his alcohol/nicotine intake partially attest to that. What would a modern Bond do? If casino gambling was out of the question (security reasons)? If alcohol/fags/drugs are out of the question (if the opposition don't get you, the SIS's drug screening certainly will; goodbye field service, goodbye SIS period; would Bond risk getting his kicked just for the odd swig?)? What would he do instead?

[Brisco]

The Fleming estate gets a cut every time a new film is made no matter what - I don't think they are sitting around making book decisions based solely on "How do we make this an attractive thing for Eon to film?"

They may get a cut, but Jeffrey Deaver (or Sebastian Faulks) sure doesn't! I think that dangling the possibility of a film (no matter how unlikely) has to be an enticement to lure these bigger authors. Any author would stand to make way more money off of the project were it adapted. (Plus, the book sales then shoot up again when the film comes out.) And IFP would also stand to make a very substantial amount above and beyond any cut they already get. As to that cut, I'm actually not so sure there is one--or much of one. Didn't Fleming (ill-advisedly) sell the film rights outright and in perpetuity, including the right to make original films based on his character?

Over the years, we've seen IFP continually raise the possibility of such adaptations happening. They've long teased the possiblity with Young Bond, even though I'm sure they realize there is zero chance that EON would tackle such a contradictory series in conjunction with their regular cash cow. (Saying "we're not pursuing movies at this time because we want to build the brand as novels first" is just as much stirring up those waters as saying outright "we want to do movies!" If you're not interested at all, you don't even bring it up.) And of course it came up with DMC, raised primarily by Sebastian Faulks, I think. Even after EON passed (which was reported in the trades), he remained optimistic that his book might be adapted at some point in the future.

No, I don't think that EON is going to change their stripes. But I definitely think that IFP does consider that possibility nonetheless. And I don't blame them. They have to! It would be financially irresponsible to not at least pursue it to some degree. They're running a business.

Finally, I'm not saying that the choice of Deaver was specifically to appeal to Hollywood. I'm saying that the choice of a contemporary setting was probably made to make such a deal more possible.

And personally? I don't think there's a chance in the world it will ever happen!

[Righty007]

From the Project X website...

007 is a registered trademark of Danjaq, LLC, used under licence by Ian Fleming Publications Ltd.

I thought only the 007 logo was a registered trademark of Danjaq?

[solace]

Really exciting news. I've never read one of Mr Deaver's books but will soon put that right.

[quantumofsolace]

From the Project X website...

007 is a registered trademark of Danjaq, LLC, used under licence by Ian Fleming Publications Ltd.

I thought only the 007 logo was a registered trademark of Danjaq?

Young Bond also has this. I don't know exactly what it means but EON's claws are all over Bond, whatever the format.

[quantumofsolace]

I always want new stories about Bond. It's fine to adapt Fleming for movies or radio but after that I want all new adventures and no adaptations or remakes. More new stories with James Bond in them please. This is why I have no interset in the Silverfin graphic novel. I would pre-order a new story YB graphic novel but have no interest in purchasing the graphic Silverfin , despite it looking well adapted, because I have already read the novel and would rather move on to something new.

[zencat]

Sky News get the award for the most deceptive twisting of a headline.

"Author Handed X-Rated James Bond Project"

[Jeff007]

Sky News get the award for the most deceptive twisting of a headline.

"Author Handed X-Rated James Bond Project"

Sex sells. lol

[DouglasJ]

Well, I'm on a break from University at the moment. Not back till September... so I've raided a cupboard and found all my parents Deaver books. Want to get a taste for this guys work.

[Brisco]

Sky News get the award for the most deceptive twisting of a headline.

"Author Handed X-Rated James Bond Project"

Makes it sound like he'll be doing a continuation of Clyde Allison's 0008 novels instead of Ian Fleming's 007 ones!

[Nicolas Suszczyk]

Congratulations Mr. Deaver!
Good to see our literary James back in action!

[Jack Spang]

When Mr. Deaver refers to this "fast pacing" I hope he is merely referring to the action/thriller oriented scenes. I hope he takes time, pacing the non action/thriller scenes at a similar velocity to that of Ian Fleming's writing. Fleming would take a bit of time, establishing the atmosphere when Bond would drive his car across Europe, travel on a plane, sit down for dinner and have a drink at a bar, etc. For me, these are some of the most memorable scenes in Fleming's books.

"I always want new stories about Bond. It's fine to adapt Fleming for movies or radio but after that I want all new adventures and no adaptations or remakes. More new stories with James Bond in them please. This is why I have no interset in the Silverfin graphic novel. I would pre-order a new story YB graphic novel but have no interest in purchasing the graphic Silverfin , despite it looking well adapted, because I have already read the novel and would rather move on to something new."

Yeah, same here.

HAPPY 102nd BIRTHDAY IAN!

Edited by Jack Spang, 28 May 2010 - 10:44 PM.

[Righty007]

I'm surprised there haven't been any Leave It to Deaver headlines yet.

[Blofeld's Cat]

He'll be a Bond diva.



Oh dear!

[godwulf]

As others have suggested, it may be time to begin accepting the existence of an "alternative universe" 007, as it were. No more references (as in Gardner's early books) to Casino Royale and Goldfinger, setting us up for subconscious rationalizing, while reading the new book, of how a man in his 60s and 70s could be so damned athletic - not to mention attractive to so many 20-something-year-old women.

The movies have certainly done it, with the Craig films. So many of our other epic, pop culture heroes have had their histories and timelines tweaked, from time to time, without losing their appeal. I think the important thing to remember is that, whoever this new James Bond turns out to be, the Fleming books et al will continue to live, and be there for us to enjoy, anytime we want them.

If I may inject what will probably be an unpopular opinion here, I hope never to hear the name "Felix Leiter" again, and would be very happy if such a character never appeared in any future Bond novel. At least the films didn't always portray him as a drawling Texas buffoon - a type with whom British writers, if I may say so, seem to be inordinately taken - but, of course, Bond and Gardner did, and Gardner even featured any number of pseudo-Leiters in his books, like Ed Rushia in Brokenclaw, apparently for comic relief. It's a stereotype that makes me cringe every time I encounter it, and one that I'm hopeful Deaver won't perpetuate.

[Jack Spang]

Bah! To heck with Eon and the films. Really, with the exception of CR (based on a book), the film output for the past 15 years has been pretty darn weak as far as great Bondian stories and characters go. I've always enjoyed the books, and my real pleasure in the past decade has come from IFP, not Danjaq. With Project X and Deaver, I now expect this to continue. With the movies...so much time, so much drama, so many politics, so much money...and QOS is what comes out in the end. My turn is almost complete. Pining my hopes on the cinematic Bond has largely been a bust. Bond to me is a literary franchise, and that franchise continues to deliver.

I'm with you on that.

To be frank, I have given up on the films. With the exception of CR that just happened to be based on a Fleming story, I have been disappointed upon viewing each film since 1995. I'll still check them out in the cinema but they no longer conjure up that excitement in me like they use to. Literary news like this gets me buzzing again though!

I don't particularly care, if in Project X, no reference will be made to the Fleming characters and stories.

Edited by Jack Spang, 29 May 2010 - 12:16 AM.

[Righty007]

If I may inject what will probably be an unpopular opinion here, I hope never to hear the name "Felix Leiter" again, and would be very happy if such a character never appeared in any future Bond novel.

In my opinion, Felix Leiter should make an appearance or at least be referenced whenever: (1) Bond is in the United States, (2) Bond is involved in a case that involves the United States or her interests, or (3) the Central Intelligence Agency is involved.

[Mr. Blofeld]

Bah! To heck with Eon and the films. Really, with the exception of CR (based on a book), the film output for the past 15 years has been pretty darn weak as far as great Bondian stories and characters go. I've always enjoyed the books, and my real pleasure in the past decade has come from IFP, not Danjaq. With Project X and Deaver, I now expect this to continue. With the movies...so much time, so much drama, so many politics, so much money...and QOS is what comes out in the end. My turn is almost complete. Pining my hopes on the cinematic Bond has largely been a bust. Bond to me is a literary franchise, and that franchise continues to deliver.

I'm with you on that.

To be frank, I have given up on the films. With the exception of CR that just happened to be based on a Fleming story, I have been disappointed upon viewing each film since 1995. I'll still check them out in the cinema but they no longer conjure up that excitement in me like they use to.

I'm glad I'm not as jaded as you lot; perhaps there is an advantage to joining the Bond fandom with Casino Royale...

Besides (again ), QOS isn't that bad; it's nowhere near the atrocities the final three Brosnan films were, nevermind Roger's swan song. If you really have to make QOS sound like the second coming of Grandpa-Bond, there's no hopes to persuading you, as far as the potential Bond 23 goes.

Good luck with the hardcovers, zen and Spang; bet you're both wishing, in your deepest heart of hearts, that this doesn't turn out like Devil May Care... but knowing, against all prayers, that it might.

That is why Bond 23 is the bigger prize, in my eyes; it has far less of a chance to be a failure.

[zencat]

Good luck with the hardcovers, zen and Spang; bet you're both wishing, in your deepest heart of hearts, that this doesn't turn out like Devil May Care... but knowing, against all prayers, that it might.

But I liked Devil May Care.

[Mr. Blofeld]

Good luck with the hardcovers, zen and Spang; bet you're both wishing, in your deepest heart of hearts, that this doesn't turn out like Devil May Care... but knowing, against all prayers, that it might.

But I liked Devil May Care.

You've just proved my point, dear boy.

[Loomis]

But I liked Devil May Care.

Of course you did. It's a novel in which the hero is named James Bond.

[zencat]

Maybe my condemnation of the movie Bond was too harsh. It's not that I dislike the movies. They just don't feel worth the type of infinite optimism that I've always been able to muster when it comes to Bond. It's just been such a slow drip of disappointments... A measure of cynicism seems prudent right now. But, frankly, pretty sure they could win me back with just a good title (but don't tell them that).

[Loomis]

zencat, I wish I could share your love of the continuation novels (all the continuation novels, it would seem! ). I try to keep an open mind, but basically I'm a Fleming purist.

Personally, I'd take the past fifteen years of Eon over the past fifteen years of IFP in a heartbeat. I wouldn't even have to think about it.

With the exceptions of THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH and QUANTUM OF SOLACE, I've loved everything Eon's given us since 1995. And even then, I can still derive a certain amount of entertainment value from TWINE and QOS if I'm in a particularly indulgent mood.

While it was a crashing disappointment and is in many ways a terrible film, QUANTUM OF SOLACE is still an infinitely superior piece of work to DEVIL MAY CARE.

Still, PROJECT X certainly strikes me as a more interesting proposition than the "serious" and "worthy" director Sam Mendes and the "serious" and "worthy" playwright Peter Morgan taking Bond yet further down the road of dullness, angst and joyless self-importance.

I like the fact that Deaver is an American. To me, this is an interesting point in this project's favour, and not a gross insult to all fine, upstanding, tea-drinking British Bond fans (by the way, I strongly suspect that, as with all the flap about Daniel Craig, it's the British media rather than British Bond fans that is making a song and dance about Deaver's nationality). Also, I'm intrigued by the decision to set the novel in the present day.