Bond23 Officially Suspended

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Comments

  • Ricardo C.Ricardo C. Posts: 916MI6 Agent
    I think its safe to say the producers will prob be considering all options. Villiers was fine in CR - they may consider another male assistant for M, or even bring him back, and have a female Q. - That would really change the dynamics!

    I thought Villers was kind of a dork and a female Q reminds me of John Gardner's insipid Q'ute character. I think it's about time Bill Tanner is brought back as Chief of Staff and Bond is given a personal secretary.
  • SilentSpySilentSpy Private Exotic AreaPosts: 765MI6 Agent
    I think they removed Q because of the silly R character. Also, because Q was becoming the same thing in every film. He didn't have to be like that either. They could have made Q a serious character like he was in Dr. No and FRWL. When Q shows up in Thunderball and Bond says "oh no" it's almost like Connery saying what crazy item are you about to give me. They didn't have to call him Q if they were going to use him in Casino Royale just Quartermaster or Major Boothroyd.

    I think Moneypenny went because of the dumb VR bit in Die Another Day. They could have made her a true professional for Casino Royale but didn't.

    The producers have some serious things to think about for the next Bond film. Right now, I actually prefer Dalton's two films over Craig's.
    "Better late than never."
  • Barry NelsonBarry Nelson ChicagoPosts: 1,508MI6 Agent
    Latest on the MGM front, an Indian company "Sahara India Pariwar" has entered into the talks to acquire MGM. Bond made in Bollywood, now that would be cool, lots of singing and dancing during the credits.

    http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/world/news/e3i5726ebf2b05c55df682a66fc593b2570
  • bluemanblueman PDXPosts: 1,667MI6 Agent
    Latest on the MGM front, an Indian company "Sahara India Pariwar" has entered into the talks to acquire MGM. Bond made in Bollywood, now that would be cool, lots of singing and dancing during the credits.

    http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/world/news/e3i5726ebf2b05c55df682a66fc593b2570
    What's really cool is Gulshan Glover is gonna be the new Bond. Yippee!
  • darenhatdarenhat The Old PuebloPosts: 2,029Quartermasters
    I was playing my 'Quantum of Solace' video game over the weekend in anticipation of the new James Bond game title coming out. I have to admit that I would like to see a new Bond flick with Craig in the role once more, but more for the familiarity we have of DC. I feel that trying to adjust to a new actor in the role at this point would be awkward. After two films, I'm personally still waiting for James Bond to show up on the scene. If he finally arrives in the next film, I'd like to at least see Craig have a stab at it.
  • SilentSpy wrote:
    I think Moneypenny went because of the dumb VR bit in Die Another Day. They could have made her a true professional for Casino Royale but didn't.
    I think they should bring Moneypenny back whenever Bond 23 does come around. Especially if they stick with Craig and the present story arc (as they should). The poor bloke has seen his girl drown in front of him, seen the closest thing he had to a friend die in his arms, has his boss following him all over the world and now Felix is busy being a CIA Section Chief. Poor guy needs a mate.
    That's a Smith and Wesson, and you've had your six.
  • R. SterlingR. Sterling Posts: 103MI6 Agent
    SilentSpy wrote:
    I think Moneypenny went because of the dumb VR bit in Die Another Day. They could have made her a true professional for Casino Royale but didn't.
    I think they should bring Moneypenny back whenever Bond 23 does come around. Especially if they stick with Craig and the present story arc (as they should). The poor bloke has seen his girl drown in front of him, seen the closest thing he had to a friend die in his arms, has his boss following him all over the world and now Felix is busy being a CIA Section Chief. Poor guy needs a mate.

    I think I'm in love with you, From Russia With Love.

    Platonically of course.

    Poor bloke indeed.

    Let's remember why Dante called his master piece a "Comedy":

    Starts bad, ends well.

    We may not be in the market for a happy end, but a mate, to use your fitting term, might not hurt.

    -{
    I've seen angels fall from blinding heights.
    But you yourself are nothing so divine.

    Just next in line.
  • JinxtJinxt Posts: 3MI6 Agent
    I think it's time to develop what goes on at MI6 HQ, including the introduciton (re-introduction) of both Moneypenny and Q, but cutting out the silliness associated with both and cast these two as more serious characters. In this day and age, there really aren't any "gadgets" anyone is going to take very seriously so Q has to be portrayed as Bond's "wingman" providing him with the logistical support he needs, as in the C.R. poisoning/defibrilator scene, etc.
  • Both MI6 and MI5 have something akin to a Q-branch and Q-figure in real life, incidentally. I imagine that the GCHQ would have something like that, too. There's no reason, then, why Q can't be reincorporated into the series provided that what Q-branch put together is handled well and not allowed to become a deus ex machina or any other kind of cop-out. Take the briefcase in FRWL for example - it should require Bond's intelligence and general badassery to work, rather than pushing a button.
    That's a Smith and Wesson, and you've had your six.
  • SilentSpySilentSpy Private Exotic AreaPosts: 765MI6 Agent
    I too think it's time for Bond to get his mission at MI6. No more instructions on the run or in the field. There hasn't been a sitdown mission brief since Goldeneye. And that wasn't a standard mission brief either.
    "Better late than never."
  • superdaddysuperdaddy englandPosts: 917MI6 Agent
    SilentSpy wrote:
    I too think it's time for Bond to get his mission at MI6. No more instructions on the run or in the field. There hasn't been a sitdown mission brief since Goldeneye. And that wasn't a standard mission brief either.
    Me too and time for a new M,moneypenny,producers,directors and Bond, if not Cavill then maybe Max Brown who starred in Tuders with Cavill and is currently starring in Spooks as a spy who has just been recruited from the SBS[SOUND FAMILIAR].
    He is 29 and has a young Connery look about him and is over 6 ft.
  • Barry NelsonBarry Nelson ChicagoPosts: 1,508MI6 Agent
    According to the Wall Street Journal this morning, MGM creditors are just a week or two away from finalizing a deal that would place MGM in bankruptcy with a plan to re-emerge under the control of Spyglass Entertainment. However, Carl Icahn has been buying up MGM debt on the open marlet and now controls 10% of the debt, he wants to force a merger between MGM and Lion's Gate, which he own a large percentage of. According to the paper his chances of success are minimal, but the more debt he controls the larger voice he becomes.

    Article below.

    Billionaire investor Carl Icahn bought a significant chunk of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc.'s debt and is pushing the beleaguered film studio to merge with rival Lions Gate Entertainment Corp., said people familiar with the matter.

    Carl Icahn, has been building up a position in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer debt.
    Mr. Icahn is Lions Gate's largest shareholder, with just under 33%.

    Mr. Icahn told people close to MGM earlier this week he holds somewhere between $400 million and $500 million of MGM's debt outstanding and is continuing to build his position in the studio, they said. The purchases give Mr. Icahn about 10% of MGM's outstanding debt.

    In discussions with some MGM creditors earlier this week, Mr. Icahn said he believes MGM and Lions Gate could benefit from synergies, the people said.

    Mr. Icahn doesn't yet hold enough debt to block a pending deal between MGM and Spyglass Entertainment. But he could continue to buy pieces of MGM's bank obligations and try to persuade other creditors to go along with his plans.

    Mr. Icahn didn't respond to a request for comment. MGM and Lions Gate declined to comment. Spyglass couldn't be reached.

    MGM, saddled with roughly $4 billion in debt, has already reached a deal with Spyglass co-founders Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum to take over management of the studio as part of a streamlined bankruptcy in coming weeks.

    People close to MGM said Mr. Icahn's recent overture shouldn't disrupt that deal. MGM's creditors spent much of the summer talking to Lions Gate, but the two sides disagreed on how to value a deal, they said.

    MGM is just weeks away from filing for bankruptcy protection in the deal reached with Spyglass. The studio with the roaring-lion logo plans to ask a broader group of lenders to vote on the deal as soon as next week, according to people familiar with the matter.

    MGM's current plans don't preclude further talks with Lions Gate, according to people familiar with the matter, but the company is focused on the Spyglass plan. MGM recently signed a letter of intent with the Spyglass founders, entitling them to breakup fees if MGM takes a rival deal.

    Hedge funds including Anchorage Advisors, Highland Capital Management and Davidson Kempner Capital Management hold about a third of MGM's debt, giving them power to block any deal.

    Under MGM's current plan, creditors would forgive their debt and take over the studio. Spyglass would merge some of its older films—including "The Sixth Sense" and "Seabiscuit"—with MGM's library in exchange for a small ownership stake in the restructured studio.

    Mr. Icahn often buys debt of distressed companies at late stages, hoping to control their futures. He bought roughly a third of Blockbuster Inc.'s debt just before the movie-rental chain filed for bankruptcy and clashed with other creditors before the filing, according to people familiar with the situation.

    About a year ago, Mr. Icahn bought up debt of embattled lender CIT Group Inc. and tried to derail its restructuring plans. Mr. Icahn was unsuccessful and CIT exited a long-planed streamlined bankruptcy in December.

    Mr. Icahn has been in a long-running fight to take control of Lions Gate. Along with Lions Gate's top executives, he held talks with MGM's biggest creditors over the summer on a so-called merger of equals but couldn't reach a deal, people familiar with the matter said.

    A merger could give MGM a stronger foothold in television since Lions Gate—the studio behind hit shows such as "Weeds" and "Mad Men"—is a partner with MGM in Epix, the new premium cable movie channel that just signed a $1 billion deal with Netflix Inc.
  • HowardBHowardB USAPosts: 2,755MI6 Agent
    Icahn can have my debt for free.....
  • bluemanblueman PDXPosts: 1,667MI6 Agent
    So much anything not having to do with Spyglass - widely reported today, MGM going into bankruptcy and Spyglass's B&B named to the top, also Wilson chiming in about Mendes still on board and getting 23 going next year. Woo hoo!

    I'm sure there's a couple months of legal wrangling to sort through, but won't be long till this thread needs to be retitled, "Officially Unsuspended" lol!
  • shaken66shaken66 california usaPosts: 155MI6 Agent
    Things are definitely looking up :) but now the question may be Craig's availability. :(
    "How did he die?"
    "Your contact?" "Not well."
  • bluemanblueman PDXPosts: 1,667MI6 Agent
    shaken66 wrote:
    Things are definitely looking up :) but now the question may be Craig's availability. :(
    he's booked into early next year I thought? But after that, should be free - which seems to be the timeline for 23 going in front of the cameras.
  • LoeffelholzLoeffelholz The United States, With LovePosts: 8,998Quartermasters
    Any hint of forward momentum is great news...the big question, aside from Craigger's availability, will be the other game pieces on the board---the state of the script, where they're at in terms of pre-production (sets, locations, et al). I wonder if the will to have #23 out in 2011 is still there---or if the lure of a 50th Anniversary film release will prove too great. A four-year lag-time between films really chafes my cojones X-(
    Check out my Amazon author page! Mark Loeffelholz
    "I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
    "Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
  • Ricardo C.Ricardo C. Posts: 916MI6 Agent
    Any hint of forward momentum is great news...the big question, aside from Craigger's availability, will be the other game pieces on the board---the state of the script, where they're at in terms of pre-production (sets, locations, et al). I wonder if the will to have #23 out in 2011 is still there---or if the lure of a 50th Anniversary film release will prove too great. A four-year lag-time between films really chafes my cojones X-(


    I think they are eager to get the film out. No way they would wait to whore the 50th anniversary of the series. At least I hope so.
  • LoeffelholzLoeffelholz The United States, With LovePosts: 8,998Quartermasters
    Ricardo C. wrote:
    Any hint of forward momentum is great news...the big question, aside from Craigger's availability, will be the other game pieces on the board---the state of the script, where they're at in terms of pre-production (sets, locations, et al). I wonder if the will to have #23 out in 2011 is still there---or if the lure of a 50th Anniversary film release will prove too great. A four-year lag-time between films really chafes my cojones X-(


    I think they are eager to get the film out. No way they would wait to whore the 50th anniversary of the series. At least I hope so.

    Hope you're right! {[] Besides the lousy 4-year lag time, an anniversary-year release doesn't guarantee a classic series entry :#
    Check out my Amazon author page! Mark Loeffelholz
    "I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
    "Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
  • bluemanblueman PDXPosts: 1,667MI6 Agent
    Unless they want to get super creative with Craig's schedule, pretty sure we'll be seeing 23 in 2012. 2011 even late is a long shot at best IMO.

    But hey, it was likely going to be a 3 year gap for 23 anyway, all this MGM hullabalu in the end is only going to cost Bond a year, and that ain't bad!
  • darenhatdarenhat The Old PuebloPosts: 2,029Quartermasters
    2011 sounds like a real longshot, though it would be nice. I don't think anything can move forward until MGM moves out of bankruptcy, which isn't supposed to happen until the end of this year.
  • Barry NelsonBarry Nelson ChicagoPosts: 1,508MI6 Agent
    Filming for QOS began with second unit work in August of 2007, filming contiued through June 2008 with a late June wrap party. With all the legal wrangling yet to work through, then getting everything started back up, freeing up schedules, etc. I don't see a 2011 release, unless they really rush things, which wouldn't be good. Personally I am fine waiting until 2012.
  • THA-NATURALTHA-NATURAL Washington State, USPosts: 11MI6 Agent
    Is there no clauses in a actor/actress contract stating if prior gigs are delayed then reopened they drop the current project or whatever to start on the movie previously delayed?
  • LoeffelholzLoeffelholz The United States, With LovePosts: 8,998Quartermasters
    Actually, the only second unit work done in August '07 was the filming of the Siena race. Pretty much everything else kicked off after the first of the year '08...but no doubt the sets and locations were all nailed down...not the script in that case, sadly :#

    I'm sure it will probably be 2012...and yet another 4 year gap, becoming more the rule than the exception lately X-( let's just hope #23's a Goldfinger, and not a 'kitchen sinker' like DAD :s
    Check out my Amazon author page! Mark Loeffelholz
    "I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
    "Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
  • Mister GreeneMister Greene Posts: 224MI6 Agent
    Personaly I would love a 2012 premiere to celebrate the 50th anniversary, hopefully they will use this time to make a great script and really knock it out of the park
  • Ricardo C.Ricardo C. Posts: 916MI6 Agent
    Anniversary commemoration + Bond film= Crap
  • bluemanblueman PDXPosts: 1,667MI6 Agent
    Ricardo C. wrote:
    Anniversary commemoration + Bond film= Crap
    Thanks, I'll skip it then shall I? It'll be the death of Bond? 8-)

    Why not wait and see what it's like, might surprise you. :007)
  • Ricardo C.Ricardo C. Posts: 916MI6 Agent
    edited October 2010
    blueman wrote:
    Ricardo C. wrote:
    Anniversary commemoration + Bond film= Crap
    Thanks, I'll skip it then shall I? It'll be the death of Bond? 8-)

    Why not wait and see what it's like, might surprise you. :007)


    Why does Bond 23 need to aknowledge the 50th anniversary of the series if the film is released in 2012 ? It's pointless. Was The Living Daylights bad because it didn't aknowledge the 25th anniversary of the series ? Of Course not. They had a television anniversary special looking back at past history and plugging the new film, that's it. I don't want to see Die Another Day 2: Electric Boogaloo.

    This is all speculation though. Hopefully EON will have the common sense not to make a film just to aknowledge a mile stone.
  • 72897289 Beau DesertPosts: 1,691MI6 Agent
    Now that production is on the horizon, maybe we can go back to worrying over script quality. Hopefully Bond won't be looking for Mr. White in a hollow volcano or a giant atomic sub!!!!
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