"Blofeld"
Sweepy the Cat
Halifax, West Yorkshire, EnglaPosts: 986MI6 Agent
Over at the Commander Bond message boards I found a thread about a possible non-Eon Bond film simply called "Blofeld" to be produced by a guy called Tom O'Casey who apparently now owns the McClory rights after he died in 2007. Here is what is apparently the press release:
O’Casey also says that he is toying with the idea of casting one of the former Bonds in the title role. No word from EON yet, but Hollywood is already buzzing with the news.
Even though I'm a dedicated EON Bond fan (Rarely mention CR54, CR67 or NSNA and don't include them in my Bond collection) this is ruddy exciting news. Sure nothing is set in stone but at the end of the day, Bond is Bond. I might even take it over (or with) Bond 23!
just for the Blofeld/SPECTRE theme (It'd hardly be a surprise not seeing the gunbarrel/bond theme/main characters :P )
Even if the film is crap, it'll still be interesting to look at and there are bound to be atleast a couple of enjoyable bits.
Leading onto that, what do people have against having two simultaneous Bond series. Sure the EON one will always be the original and the best but I'd still like to have double helpings of Bond every third year or so instead of just one.
By 21st Century Artists Film Corporation and B. A. Wise Consulting Services, 10-20-2008
TOM O'CASEY WILL PRODUCE 'BLOFELD' IN 2010. JAMES BOND PRODUCERS FACE A SECOND CHALLENGE BASED UPON McCLORY’S SCRIPTS.
Tom O’Casey, the ever elusive 'high fashion accessories designer and manufacturer,' says he will produce “BLOFELD," based upon the screenplay and screen treatments created by the late Irish producer, 'Kevin McClory' sometime next year for a 2010 release by one of Hollywood’s oldest and greatest studios. It is rumored that both 'Paramount' and 'Universal' may be involved, but no word out, just yet, from O’Casey, who first saw the original treatments by 'Kevin McClory, British screen writer, 'Jack Whittingham' and James Bond 007 creator, Ian Fleming, early last year, while visiting Amsterdam.
These same treatments became the basis for the James Bond 007 films, “Thunderball” and “Never Say Never Again," both of which starred Sean Connery in the signature role he made famous.
In 1998, Kevin McClory, in association with 'Sony Pictures,' attempted a second series of James Bond films outside of the 'Official' series produced by 'Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer' and Danjaq, LLC, a company owned by the family of the late 'Albert R. “Cubby” Broccoli. Broccoli’s daughter, Barbara and stepson, Michael Wilson are the producers of the forthcoming 007 film, “Quantum of Solace," which will star Daniel Craig in his second outing as the secret agent with the license to kill. That film is being released through 'Sony Pictures,' in association with MGM.
Tom O’Casey plans to 'pick-up' where Kevin McClory left off. In 1999, a Court Ruling in Los Angeles prevented producer 'McClory' from making any more James Bond films.
It was widely believed McClory had lost all rights to use the characters 'James Bond 007, Moneypenny, Felix Leiter, M, etc.,' but according to the confident O’Casey, “These rights are still available to me and they will be enforced in the United States and the rest of the world. I am not afraid of the legal consequences that might be incurred from the Broccoli family and Sony Pictures."
O’Casey states, “Kevin McClory never signed off on James Bond and his rights to any court. Even the producers of the official Bond series stated in 2004 that McClory 'might have the right to produce a James Bond film in Australia ,' with their belief it could not be released in the United States market."
Tom O’Casey says he is looking at the resumes of more than 100 actors, who might become his James Bond 007. “I would be delighted to use 'Colin Farrel as 007,' but would prefer a total unknown, just as 'Harry Saltzman and Cubby Broccoli' did with Connery back in 1962. I want a rugged Bond — a harking back to when Connery bent a poker around his assailant’s neck in 'Thunderball.' That was great. Sean Connery will always be Bond to me."/ The O’Casey agenda includes 'a four picture deal,' which still remains to be signed, though; at least two major studios say they are ready to commit $250,000,000 to O’Casey films. O’Casey plans to film, 'BLOFELD,' (2.) 'WARHEAD,' (3.) 'SPECTRE' (4.) 'JAMES BOND OF THE SECRET SERVICE,' back to back in such diverse locations as the ' Bahamas , Bermuda , Jamaica , Hawaii and Japan .'
“I wasn’t crazy about 'Never Say Never Again,'" O’Casey said Tuesday. “It suffered from a terrible jazz score by Michel LeGrand and the direction was abysmal. BLOFELD will be a rich blend of Technicolor imagination, a wonderful relationship between Bond and Moneypenny — -a harking back to the early days of Sean Connery and Lois Maxwell in 'Dr. No' and 'From Russia, with Love.' "
O’Casey also says that he is toying with the idea of casting one of the former Bonds in the title role. No word from EON yet, but Hollywood is already buzzing with the news.
Even though I'm a dedicated EON Bond fan (Rarely mention CR54, CR67 or NSNA and don't include them in my Bond collection) this is ruddy exciting news. Sure nothing is set in stone but at the end of the day, Bond is Bond. I might even take it over (or with) Bond 23!
just for the Blofeld/SPECTRE theme (It'd hardly be a surprise not seeing the gunbarrel/bond theme/main characters :P )Even if the film is crap, it'll still be interesting to look at and there are bound to be atleast a couple of enjoyable bits.
Leading onto that, what do people have against having two simultaneous Bond series. Sure the EON one will always be the original and the best but I'd still like to have double helpings of Bond every third year or so instead of just one.
Comments
But while I agree with Sweepy about this being exciting, I have to agree this sounds like a long shot.
Actually... Long Shot. That's a good title for a Bond film. -{ (NP toasts himself...)
Roger Moore 1927-2017
More Bond is always better than less. Give the role to Brozzer, and let him have a well-and-true 'Geezer' turn in the character. The Geezer Bond club, presently only having two members (Connery and Moore) is the most exclusive club in entertainment B-)
I'd love another one of those 'Dueling Bonds' box office seasons...1983 was a blast! -{
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
(You might be interested to see that GL has one too
22nd October 2008
Tom O’Casey said this morning: “I don’t think it is very likely I will be working with 'Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson,' anytime soon on the 'Official James Bond Series," for two reasons. (1.) I am associated with the 'Kevin McClory' scripts and treatments, which is 'unwanted Bond competition.' (2.) They don’t realize I would be delighted to design all of 'Bond’s new suits' and 'high-end clothes' for all the ladies and rest of the cast. 'Tom Ford' clothed 'Daniel Craig' for 'Quantum of Solace,' and though I admire Mr. Ford’s work, I feel my own is better and more dynamic and fits right in 'with Bond style.' I would reconsider many things from a business point-of-view for 'Barbara' and 'Michael,' because I admire so much what they’ve done with their father’s legacy. 'Albert Romolo Broccoli,' was one of the greatest motion picture producers in the history of cinema. I would love to work with them. I would bring in 'Cherie Matisse' and our designs would be the best things seen since 'Goldfinger.' Also, just for added genius, 'Joshua Bond,' would be brought on board for many clothing designs of high fashion for 'double-0-seven.' Joshua Bond for James Bond. (Apparel that, is.) Tom O’Casey is currently in New York, working on a variety of exciting and glamorous projects of interest to “007” fans, worldwide. O’Casey has also shown interest in two Fleming novels, by 'Peter' (Ian’s brother) and 'Nicholas Fleming,' (Ian’s nephew.) Those books are 'The Sixth Column' and 'Counter Paradise.' “I haven’t spoken with 'Kate Grimmond,' the niece of Ian Fleming about the rights, but 'The Sixth Column,' a wonderful espionage thriller was written by her grandfather, while 'Counter Paradise' was penned by her father." Kate Grimmond, along with her sister, 'Lucy Fleming Williams,' owns the 'James Bond Copyrights,' and 'Ian Fleming Publications' in London.
O’Casey said the 'Kevin McClory' scripts, though he is excited by them 'are not written in stone.' McClory and Fleming were enemies. If the Fleming people would sell to me either of the Fleming novels, just mentioned, I’m game for another 'official franchise.' After all, I am a businessman, as well as an artist."
I'll be very surprised if this comes to anything more than a (very) brief ripple in the news cycle...
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
Bond’s Beretta
The Handguns of Ian Fleming's James Bond
Totally agreed! That said, Counter Paradise sounds like a great Bond title! And you almost want this bloke to succeed! But reading The Battle For Bond by R Sellers, I have to say that while it's every fan's dream to offer input to a Bond film, if McClory had come to me with his bouncing chequebook, I'd have run in the opposite direction, knowing what I know now!
Roger Moore 1927-2017
From my readings McClory was a marginal filmmaker and a fine hustler. His contribution to "Thunderball" is undetectable. I am sure his script imput was equally minimal.
I doubt there is a scrap of viable material in those old scripts.
As for Bond outside of EON, I'm all for it - as a series for Television, based on the books, and set in the proper time period.
Having Brozzer back as Bond would not light any candles at my house!
Bond’s Beretta
The Handguns of Ian Fleming's James Bond
A modern Take on this role by a talented actor would be great to watch, someone of the caliber of Antony Hopkins or Liam Neeson.
But it will never happen.
I also have a copy of Sixth Column which I do remember finding hard going on my first and second reading of it, don't think I ever tried it a third time.
No updates for an entire month now.