1017 replies to this topic

[sharpshooter]

https://twitter.com/...374609671172096

 

Apparently it's rumored that Daniel Craig's stunt double (most likely Ben Cooke) has signed a contract..

I can't help but get excited by all this talk. 

[MISALA1994]

I don't actually think Eon would court any actor they don't want; if someone is on their shortlist they are prepared to go with him - but they will have a pretty good idea which of a small number of names they want to see in the dinner jacket. Chances are for Eon these actors don't probably just emerge; they are likely keeping tabs on their options for some time. And nobody can tell even whether any of the names toted by press and bookies are indeed what Eon have in mind.

At the moment it may look like Craig is returning but I wouldn't be surprised if Barbara Broccoli did already know whom to call after BOND 25.

That doesn't mean casting Bond after Craig would be an easy task. A lot of people will have to be convinced, many of which will have their own ideas much like the fanbase does. But I don't actually see the time after Craig as some kind of 'open season' for all and sundry in the type bracket defined as "007".

It's sad that Cavill is Superman, he would have been a natural successor.

[SecretAgentFan]

The stunt double signing - well, if that is true then it must mean that Craig will definitely be back.

 

It would all come together:

 

- Craig being enticed by BB´s production of "Othello" to return as Bond

 

- P&W being hired to write the script

 

- A distribution deal being made after the presentations are over

 

- Preproduction moving forward

 

 

I guess the big reveal in the news will offer everything: Daniel Craig returns for BOND 25 to be directed by X and distributed by X in 2018, with shooting to start in late 2017.

[Odd Jobbies]

I don't actually think Eon would court any actor they don't want...

Sorry, i should've made it clear that was sarcasm.

 

Just seemed to me that all the recent re-casting gossip has amounted to a list of actors who aren't right for the role.

[SecretAgentFan]

Well, gossip and EON´s casting list are not necessarily the same thing.

 

While I imagine that Hiddleston indeed met with BB, anybody else was definitely an invention by some internet "journalists".

[Odd Jobbies]

 

Yes. 

 

But ggl (if I understand correctly) either knows the source or those who spoke with the source. I'm usually very hesitant when it comes to rumors, but I am fairly confident there is more going on here. 

 

(Am I allowed to mention another fan forum on this website?) 

Yes, Tiin007, I´m part of the Archivo 007 staff.

 

Sadly I can't add much more to SecretAgentFan's perfect translation. I think the best part is that we can talk about a really advanced preproduction...

 

I'd have thought they'd have had 26 mapped out to some extent because Blofeld feels like an ongoing story. Of course if Craig backed out it's back to squar one. Now that it's seeming more certain that Craig is returning they can carry on as planned.

Well, gossip and EON´s casting list are not necessarily the same thing.

Indeed (one hopes)  

[MISALA1994]

At the moment it may look like Craig is returning but I wouldn't be surprised if Barbara Broccoli did already know whom to call after BOND 25.

Agreed, she met DC year and half before he was announced in 05...

Edited by MISALA1994, 23 April 2017 - 12:49 PM.

[Professor Pi]

Fox just claimed the November 2, 2018 release date for X-Men: Dark Phoenix.  Whatever EON is planning, their window of release dates for 2018 is closing fast.

[SecretAgentFan]

Well, I don´t think that X-MEN is still such a big draw - and it is only one of those new installments which are planned.  They might not get the film ready in time.  Also, a new Bond film, possibly Craig´s last one, will definitely excite audiences much more.

 

In any event, EON would be wise to choose the November 2018 release date - since the STAR WARS movie for that year is slated for summer, leaving the Christmas business to Bond, should he accept that mission...

[Dustin]

I don't think a 2018 release is necessarily a priority option, they could just as well aim for spring/summer 2019. At any rate they would need to have the director singled out and he/she must be willing to do the work in a certain timeframe. Perhaps a look at certain names might be giving us an idea about who and when...

[Tiin007]

I wonder if early 2019 (perhaps March?) would be a wiser choice. Could give EON a little wiggle room in terms of getting everything in order. 

 

Then again, I really do enjoy the November releases dates. It's proved to be a good time for Bond. 

[Pussfeller]

Considering the state of the script and so forth, a 2018 release would require an un-EON-like swiftness. I'm putting my chips on autumn 2019. 

[DavidJones]

I'm putting my chips on autumn 2019. 

 

I've convinced of this too.

[Gobi-1]

Also if Craig is coming back for one more film and one film only they can take their time. No need to rush it out since it will be his last one. They can take more time to craft a proper send off for Craig.

 

Also with a writer's strike looming they may not can move forward anyway. 

[SecretAgentFan]

Well, taking more time does not mean: everybody can finally bring their A-game.  In fact, more time for preparation than necessary brings on a number of problems: more second-guessing by the moneylenders and the creative personnel, meaning more changes to everything, meaning more insecurity and a tendency to compromise and overwrite.

 

If you have a clear visiion and a compact time frame in which to fulfill it you will get a much better result.

 

Also, DC is not getting any younger, and people tend to get sick or have other developments in their life which weigh in on their decisions.

 

No, I´m not in favour of more time at all.  Plan it thoroughly and then do it quickly and efficiently.  That´s what drives a great creative process. 

[sharpshooter]

Also if Craig is coming back for one more film and one film only they can take their time. No need to rush it out since it will be his last one. They can take more time to craft a proper send off for Craig.

Goldeneye, Casino Royale and Skyfall are in my opinion, the best Bond films of my lifetime. All three of those films were make or break situations. The franchise usually brings out the best in itself when its back is well and truly up against the wall. It's entirely possible that can also be true of a Craig led Bond 25.

[MISALA1994]

Bond 25 have to feel fresh like GE & CR back then, that is why i prefer recasting.

[Dustin]

In terms of time it's obvious more isn't always guaranteed to result in a better product. Still, for BOND 25 it's probably not a world of difference whether they make a 2018 or 2019 release. If they are on track - as some hints suggest - they may avoid a troubled production, which I think will definitely be a priority with everybody after SPECTRE's lessons.

[SecretAgentFan]

True - but it will definitely be dictated by MGM´s need to deliver new money to its shareholders fast AND Daniel Craig´s age and willingness to go through the whole process (shooting and doing PR worldwide).

 

I believe they want to get BOND 25 out as soon as possible in order to get breathing space for the next era.

[Dustin]

In which case they would have to move soon. Who knows, mayhap preproduction is far more advanced than one might guess from the scraps we pick up.

[SecretAgentFan]

I hope so - but it´s really difficult to interpret the fact that now the studios are courting EON to choose a distributor.  Does that mean preproduction is already happening?  Or is this just a preliminary stage in which the plan to tackle BOND 25 is a mere starting point with no concrete schedule yet?

 

I would say this: offering just BOND 25 right now seems to indicate that they actually have that film to offer in the near future, meaning they will produce it and need the distribution deal in place to move further into production.  Otherwise they could have said: oh, well, let´s see... sometime within the next months we could actually take some meetings but since production is so far off and we don´t know who Bond will be it won´t matter if we wait another six or eight months.

 

So... yeah, I believe BOND 25 could start shooting this year.

[Dustin]

It's possible there exists a rough concept re: BOND 25, such and such running time, budget for actors, crew and post production, possible locations with tax subsidies and kickbacks. And it's reasonable to expect it's ready-to-sign once the terms of the distribution deal are agreed on. How far in advance you have to hire sound stages, crew and equipment...well, one assumes a studio such as Sony - just as an example - is able to move a relative lot on relative short notice.

So overall it's probably possible - provided there is something resembling a workable script.

[DavidJones]

I hope they only go into production when they are happy with the script. What a novelty that would be

Edited by DavidJones, 24 April 2017 - 12:11 PM.

[SecretAgentFan]

I guarantee you this: there will always be people totally unhappy with the script - because everything´s subjectve and people will have different opinions.  And also, it is the safe way for anybody involved with a film production to remain unimpressed by a script because that way when the film tanks they can always say: oh, I told you so, the script just wasn´t there.  

 

On the other hand, if a majority is absolutely happy with the script in no way that can be taken as proof for the actual quality of the script either.  

 

Let´s be honest about this: a script writer (in this case P & W) gets assigned to write the script for another entry in a major tentpole series.  This does NOT mean that they have the great original idea and everybody says: yeah, go and write that, and we will make it.  

 

No, it means: EON and DC (and MGM and a possible director) have had talks about which story they want to tell.  These ideas are then communicated to the writers.  And they have to figure out how to incorporate all these ideas (which usually cannot really fit together).  The result is the first draft.  Then EON, DC and all the others weigh in again - then the writers incorporate this feedback.  And this process goes on and on until either the writers get replaced or... the scheduled start for production does not allow for any more meddling.

 

In this regard - let´s sincerely hope that there is a time table already and that the script (which in its first and second drafts most of the time is in its best integral shape) will not be re-worked to the umpteenth time until no originality is left.

 

And even if it also was PR talk - let´s not forget how much DC praised the scripts for SKYFALL and SPECTRE.  Both had lots of holes which, I strongly believe, weren´t there from the beginning but were the result of intensive meddling.  Because if you want to make everyone happy ideas will start to not fit together anymore.

[Dustin]

I suppose the problem is how there are various to-include points but an actual coherent story isn't necessarily one of them. We want the FRWL thriller feeling, we want the GOLDFINGER fun, we want the OHMSS-back-to-Fleming and the sensational stunts of TSWLM to get the box office of THUNDERBALL's days. So the writers are trying to come up with a picture made from four or five different jigsaw puzzles and nobody is supposed to stumble about the cracks.

Who would have thought a remake script of one of Fleming's weakest books and Eon's weakest films, without a traditional Bond girl and Bond acting as a mere bit player in the drama of two other characters would end up in SKYFALL's success? And plenty of people pointed out the various weak links in the whole affair and were downright angry at its success.

Yet when they tried the same stunt with one of the best books and films in the series, with even more money, time, effort and blingbling it ended up in SPECTRE.

There simply is no telling how some script will turn out on the screen until you see the result for yourself. And with Bond even the best efforts tend to sport major black holes into which logic and reason are sucked in at some point. The task is to make us look the other way when that happens.

[Odd Jobbies]

As long as we don't excuse rushed writing with subjectivity

 

I still think they already had the story, if not more for 25 when they shot 24. Wasn't there rumours at some point that 24&25 would be shot back to back? Obviously they didn't, but if there was any truth to those rumours, then it means they'd already worked on 25 at that point, which in turn suggests 25 is a continuation of 24's story (which would likely be a hybrid of OHMSS and YOLT).

 

So maybe the recent hiring of P&W was to finish, or doctor that existing piece of work. With Craig (apparently) on board it's all systems go on that script and  IF  that were all true, then it would mean that P&W were hired because Craig had just signed up, making that existing script viable.

[Dustin]

I think the next logical step after SPECTRE was always going to be to deliver SPECTRE II - BLOFELD STRIKES BACK. But if we think a bit about it it's so predictable you would rather head in a different direction, especially since the books already went that way and the series tries hard to avoid the too obvious.

Also sometime early on it seems the prevailing air around SPECTRE turned into farewell rather than unfinished business. At any rate the thread could have been picked up again or left alone for a time; either version seems possible.

Scripts? Eon must have countless of them, most obviously discarded earlier versions of the films we know. Whether 24 and 25 as a two part version was actually in an advanced stage we don't know (yet). But it's just as possible we've actually already got the better part of that supposed second part with SPECTRE. It's the longest film and there was doubtlessly some of it left behind on the cutting room floor. One could imagine a more solid first half, expanded with Bellucci's part and maybe Leiter, ending more or less with Bond meeting a still mysterious Swann who is abducted in his presence. Bond being left behind bleeding in the snow. The whole nonsensical Eyes subplot could then have started BOND 25.

At any rate there will be actual substantive news regarding the future of BOND 25 if it's going to happen anytime soon.

[SecretAgentFan]

I believe the rumoured two-parter BOND 24-25 was mainly attributed to the outline John Logan sold in the wake of SKYFALL´s megasuccess.  With Logan´s idea for Blofeld as an African warlord thrown out, I suppose the whole thing went up in the air.

 

With SPECTRE´s ending, of course, they have backed themselves into a corner.  In some way (which would have been so easily avoidable) they have to address (again) why Bond is coming back to the service.  And, to a lesser degree, why he left Madeleine.  

 

Both would not necessarily mean that the Blofeld story would have to be taken up again as well.  Yet, and this will have been picked up on by EON and DC, SPECTRE´s treatment of this most important villain in the Bond universe left a lot to be desired.  So it would actually be a major disappointment if Blofeld did not also re-appear in BOND 25.

 

So... what´s Christian Waltz doing in the next year?

[DavidJones]

Who would have thought a remake script of one of Fleming's weakest books and Eon's weakest films, without a traditional Bond girl and Bond acting as a mere bit player in the drama of two other characters would end up in SKYFALL's success? And plenty of people pointed out the various weak links in the whole affair and were downright angry at its success.

Yet when they tried the same stunt with one of the best books and films in the series, with even more money, time, effort and blingbling it ended up in SPECTRE.

 

Forgive me, but which films are you referring to there?

 

I'd be glad if the finished script had less plot holes than Skyfall (but then, how could there be more?).

 

SPECTRE did well with the casting of Blofeld - I think it's fair to say he was popular in the role - but the script itself bungled it.

 

Maybe they can get round this by saying that Blofeld was never Bond's step-brother after all and that was all an elaborate deception?

 

If Craig does return, maybe Bond's re-hiring can be hand-waved away like the M line regarding Connery's comeback in Diamonds.

Edited by DavidJones, 24 April 2017 - 05:06 PM.

[Dustin]

Well, SKYFALL's template is a mix of TMWTGG film and book; SPECTRE's OHMSS.