265 replies to this topic

[Sir Godfrey]

Well.

But Mr Friedman doesn't tell us when and I am afraid to know that...

[tdalton]

Well.
But Mr Friedman doesn't tell us when and I am afraid to know that...

In the article on Deadline.com, which is also a very accurate website, it states that the deal is to "start production probably next year."  If production starts at any point during 2014, it'll almost certainly be for a 2015 release.  EON can't squander all of the goodwill that SKYFALL garnered them by having another 4 year gap, and I can't imagine that they would be foolish enough to risk doing that.

[Matt_13]

This seems to be a done deal. Fantastic news!

[SecretAgentFan]

If it is indeed true that Mendes will sign on for the next two Bond films, I believe that Craig will bow out after them.

It probably is a good thing if Mendes comes back because he is now accustomed to working on Bond, everything will go smoother and quicker, and it seems more likely too that the two films he and Logan have mapped out will be realized now.

Mendes probably gambled very well for more money and influence and won.

[tdalton]

Hopefully Logan has a very strong script nearing completion here in the coming months.  As unexcited as I am about the creative team behind SKYFALL returning for the next film, and perhaps the next two, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt now that they're working with a respected screenwriter.  I can't say that I'm looking forward to it, but I'll give them a chance since we're now entering the first film in the post-P&W era.

[seawolfnyy]

I think this makes it certain that 2015 is the target for Bond 24, with 2016 or 2017 as the target for Bond 25. Whether or not, EON proceed with the two-part story for the next 2 films remain to be seen. However, signing Mendes through Bond 25 would suggest that. I think 2015 would be a good target for Bond 24 giving Mendes enough time to get through his stage commitments and for the script to be finalized. Then working on 24 and 25 back-to-back could work to bring an end to the Craig-Mendes era and Chris Nolan can begin the next cycle with a new actor in Bond 26.

[x007AceOfSpades]

Chris Nolan can begin the next cycle with a new actor in Bond 26.

 

...................................

[S K Y F A L L]

Nolan;s young he'll always be there. 

 

If true, should be really interesting to see if Mendes can bring in somebody as good as Javier Bardem. 

 

I wonder if this is it for David Arnold... always have an escape plan.

[coco1997]

Then working on 24 and 25 back-to-back could work to bring an end to the Craig-Mendes era and Chris Nolan can begin the next cycle with a new actor in Bond 26.

My feelings exactly. I'd love to see Nolan tackle a rebooted/re-imagined Bond.

[The Shark]

I'd to see Nolan tackle a Bengal tiger.

[x007AceOfSpades]

I'd to see Nolan tackle a Bengal tiger.

 

I'd pay to see that.

[coco1997]

I'd to see Nolan tackle a Bengal tiger.

???

[seawolfnyy]

I'd to see Nolan tackle a Bengal tiger.

He'd probably just confuse it to death.

[Eric Stromberg]

Yes. And make it watch a 2:45 movie that should have been 1:45.  

[007jamesbond]

It been a very long time for a Bond director to do back to back films......not since the 80s 

[FlemingBond]

All I know is I don't want to wait 4....or even 3 years for the next Bond film. Craig was the youngest Bond actor since the 60s and now he's aging quickly with all this waiting around.

[Jim]

Poll added

[Guy Haines]

Nolan;s young he'll always be there. 

 

If true, should be really interesting to see if Mendes can bring in somebody as good as Javier Bardem. 

 

I wonder if this is it for David Arnold... always have an escape plan.

Yes, I imagine if Sam Mendes is signed for Bond 24, and possibly 25, then Thomas Newman will be asked to set aside some time to write the scores. By the way, is Thomas Newman the only composer to have (1) won a BAFTA for a Bond score and (2) been nominated for an Oscar for the same?  Just wondered.

[thecasinoroyale]

I simply love the idea of a director returning - I said many times that "family feel" has been lost over the years, with each Bond trying and doing something radical and new at the whim of a new director. Mendes established something brilliant that worked, so if his "family" return then I know we're going to be in for something just as special; there will be no worry, do doubt and no fear about where he's taking Bond because we've seen it already and can only go up from here.

 

I do hope this is true, I have to say.

[x007AceOfSpades]

 

Nolan;s young he'll always be there. 

 

If true, should be really interesting to see if Mendes can bring in somebody as good as Javier Bardem. 

 

I wonder if this is it for David Arnold... always have an escape plan.

Yes, I imagine if Sam Mendes is signed for Bond 24, and possibly 25, then Thomas Newman will be asked to set aside some time to write the scores. By the way, is Thomas Newman the only composer to have (1) won a BAFTA for a Bond score and (2) been nominated for an Oscar for the same?  Just wondered.

 

 

Marvin Hamlisch was nominated for an Oscar for The Spy Who Loved Me.

 

I simply love the idea of a director returning - I said many times that "family feel" has been lost over the years, with each Bond trying and doing something radical and new at the whim of a new director. Mendes established something brilliant that worked, so if his "family" return then I know we're going to be in for something just as special; there will be no worry, do doubt and no fear about where he's taking Bond because we've seen it already and can only go up from here.

 

I do hope this is true, I have to say.

I'm still 50/50 on it. I just have a feeling it's going to be another 4 years in between film.

[seawolfnyy]

 

I simply love the idea of a director returning - I said many times that "family feel" has been lost over the years, with each Bond trying and doing something radical and new at the whim of a new director. Mendes established something brilliant that worked, so if his "family" return then I know we're going to be in for something just as special; there will be no worry, do doubt and no fear about where he's taking Bond because we've seen it already and can only go up from here.

 

I do hope this is true, I have to say.

I'm still 50/50 on it. I just have a feeling it's going to be another 4 years in between film.

 

My fears exactly.

[x007AceOfSpades]

 

 

I simply love the idea of a director returning - I said many times that "family feel" has been lost over the years, with each Bond trying and doing something radical and new at the whim of a new director. Mendes established something brilliant that worked, so if his "family" return then I know we're going to be in for something just as special; there will be no worry, do doubt and no fear about where he's taking Bond because we've seen it already and can only go up from here.

 

I do hope this is true, I have to say.

I'm still 50/50 on it. I just have a feeling it's going to be another 4 years in between film.

 

My fears exactly.

 

 

I don't have a problem with him returning, but he has other commitments and it seems EON is just hellbent on wanting him and only him now.

[seawolfnyy]

I love what Mendes brought to and did for the franchise. He made Bond appealing to the masses and turned it into a phenomenon. I welcome his return. However, if it means another long delay, then let him commit to his stage efforts and bring him back when the time is right and now just to cash in on Skyfall's success. The thing is, it took Bond 50 years to break the $1 billion mark. It's possible that Skyfall stuck lightning in a bottle and even bringing back most of its crew won't replicate it's success.

[x007AceOfSpades]

I absolutely agree, I believe he did a fine job, but It seems like they "Made him another offer he couldn't refuse" and took up on it, because money talks. Lets say by some miracle it comes out in 2015, there could be a potential chance, maybe a slim one, that could be somewhat disappointing and fall short of the success and appeal Skyfall had. I guess what I'm trying to say is that it could fall short like QOS did.

[RMc2]

I love what Mendes brought to and did for the franchise. He made Bond appealing to the masses and turned it into a phenomenon. I welcome his return. However, if it means another long delay, then let him commit to his stage efforts and bring him back when the time is right and now just to cash in on Skyfall's success. The thing is, it took Bond 50 years to break the $1 billion mark. It's possible that Skyfall stuck lightning in a bottle and even bringing back most of its crew won't replicate it's success.

 

You might be interested to know:

 

Bond broke $1 billion way back in the 60s, with Thunderball (and depending on your source, Goldfinger). This is, of course, adjusting for inflation, which is the best way to compare the box office performance of each actor's era, I think. If we do that, then Craig is definitely the most popular Bond after Connery

 

That said, let's not forget the HUGE expansion that the Asian cinema market has had in the past ten years (which SF cannily took advantage of with the Shanghai/Macau sequences) as well as the impact of the post-Cold War expansion of western blockbuster distribution in Russia and the former Soviet bloc. Then in SF's case, there was the 50th anniversary celebrations, the 4 year wait, and the Olympics - possibly the best marketing coup for a movie ever.

 

Taking that into account, just imagine what Connery-era Bond could have achieved with the markets and marketing Craig-era Bond has at its disposal.

 

So yeah, just a nerd-out to question giving credit to Mendes for making Bond "appealing to the masses". As good as SF was, its commercial success had more to do with Bond the cultural phenomenon than Bond the film. As for its critical success...it was more Mendes' CV than his work on SF that gave it such acclaim. The critics were on his side as soon as he was announced.

 

For me, Martin Campbell is the hero of modern Bond.

[Sir Godfrey]

I don't think the box office is a good success indicator. When you see the top 10 of the list, most of them are recent movies released in 3D, because the price of a 3D movie ticket (or IMAX) is mostoften more expansive thant an other (it is the case in France). Moreover because of the inflation, one billion in 60's is not comparable with a billion today, as said RMc.

 

The better way to know what is a successful movie is the number a tickets sold.

[RMc2]

I don't think the box office is a good success indicator. When you see the top 10 of the list, most of them are recent movies released in 3D, because the price of a 3D movie ticket (or IMAX) is mostoften more expansive thant an other (it is the case in France). Moreover because of the inflation, one billion in 60's is not comparable with a billion today, as said RMc.

 

The better way to know what is a successful movie is the number a tickets sold.

 

Excellent point, I'd forgotten the IMAX premium for SF. If we could get hold of accurate ticket sales figures, that'd be the best comparison.

 

I guess the most accurate way would be to compare the average number of tickets sold per cinema/theater? That might take into account greater accessibility to the silver screen?

[Berni99]

Now that would be quite interesting, Mendes doing the next (last) two Craig Bonds - and Nolan introduces the new Bond in Bond 26?

 

Yes, i think thats the plan

[thecasinoroyale]

(I'm so glad we've got some meaty Bond 24 rumours to bring us all out in debate mode - I've missed this since 'Skyfall'!)

 

 

I echo you in my only worry is the 4 year gap between films. I could stand 3 at the most like the gap between 'TMWTGG' and 'TSWLM' was, they spent time on production and gave us a great Bond. But then again 'TWINE' and 'DAD' didn't benefit...!

[x007AceOfSpades]

[i then again 'TWINE' and 'DAD' didn't benefit...!

That's a fear I have..