I asked myself which of Boyle's movies is most like a Bond movie. The answer is: other than the Olympic short I don't know if any of them are much like a Bond. Perhaps that's one of his strengths - he can master many genres: Sci-Fi, horror, musical, drama, whatever Slumdog Millionaire is ....
Does anyone else find it a bit odd that Boyle has been 'announced' this way, with no comment from MGM or EON and still no international distributor, in fact it has not even been confirmed who the domestic US distributor is...?
For me Trainspotting is a brilliant Bond film, it has what I want from Bond. Great music, fast editing, lots of classic scenes but not action scenes. Bond used to be like that, I mean DAF for me is one classic scene after another and so it goes with most of them back then, but they're not all just action scenes. They retain your interest in other ways, something quirky or witty or offbeat.
Pulp Fiction is another like this. It seems like an action film - but there's hardly any 'action' of that kind in it. It's one classic scene after another and constant macho one-upmanship dialogue, something the Bonds used to have. Your attention is kept throughout, curiously you don't get that with wall-to-wall action films, it is just boring. That said, those used to computer games expect that I guess.
Boyle is good but he's not a new cutting edge director and his films tend to be 'theme' movies and that in part is what makes them interesting. They tend to be a bit slick and that can work against him. Boyle's heist film of a few years back was a bit empty. Lose the amazing theme and you don't get anything so much, Scorcese has the same thing going on. Wolf of Wall Street is great as it retains your interest, I'm not sure there's much heart going on there.
Also, I have to say, this whole thing of getting Boyle in to write something... I mean, if it doesn't get accepted, do they start from scratch? The clock is ticking so to start on a script in, what April and shooting begins in Oct, that's a bit mad isn't it? Didn't this happen with QoS - they got Haggis in, he got $1m and they junked it... Start from scratch, writer strike, oops.
I recall Michael 'Cliffhanger' France worked on GE and a lot got junked. The pts that I read was nonsense, an Aston Martin car chase along the roof of Japanese bullet train, never any chance they'd go with that, but it was all typed out... what's the point? Just have them sit down and pitch the movie, takes only a short while, say yay or neigh. Don't let them sweat over the commas and spelling for months then say 'No, we can't have Vesper having had a kid that Bond has to take an interest in and then leave behind at the end of the film' (Haggis' idea for QoS I understand).
I don't believe they'll be writing from scratch if Boyle and Hodge don't pan out. The idea is they've got the P&W script as a fallback. That's not the most encouraging news in the world, but there's a script.
Finding a last-minute director is another question.
There's a lot more going on than we know. Just because we don't know something doesn't mean it isn't happening. There are always deals being made, deals falling through. There's a reason why this stuff is called "behind the scenes". I don't think it's fair to hold this against EON for not making us a part of the process.
I asked myself which of Boyle's movies is most like a Bond movie. The answer is: other than the Olympic short I don't know if any of them are much like a Bond. Perhaps that's one of his strengths - he can master many genres: Sci-Fi, horror, musical, drama, whatever Slumdog Millionaire is ....
The only ones I've seen are Slumdog Millionaire and both Trainspotting films, none of which are anything like Bond, and I have Sunshine on DVD waiting in a huge queue.
From reading the IMDB descriptions of all the films he directed, I would probably say that the one that sounded most like a bond film was Trance? But that is merely from an IMDB description so I could be way off.
There's a lot more going on than we know. Just because we don't know something doesn't mean it isn't happening. There are always deals being made, deals falling through. There's a reason why this stuff is called "behind the scenes". I don't think it's fair to hold this against EON for not making us a part of the process.
Right. EON wouldn’t have announced a date if they didn’t think it could be successfully met. Craig committed many months ago and my guess is there was a script and a plan, but it didn’t fully satisfy everyone, so when Boyle had an original idea, they decided to explore it. I don’t see that as a negative. If they were “mailing it in” I doubt they’d have bothered.
Let’s not forget too that SOMEBODY managed to get Showtime to postpone shooting the series “Purity,” which was supposed to start production this year, until after Bond 25, so I have no doubt that the date will be met. Also Mark Forster wasn’t announced as director until summer of that year, so we’re not in any kind of danger zone yet as far as not hearing news...
Does anyone else find it a bit odd that Boyle has been 'announced' this way, with no comment from MGM or EON and still no international distributor, in fact it has not even been confirmed who the domestic US distributor is...?
I find it very odd. These are strange times. On the one hand I can't imagine a filmmaker of his standing jumping the gun, but on the other hand no comment from EON either to confirm or deny is equally strange. All this is not creating mystery or interest but just makes the Bond machine look inept which does not bode well for the film. I'm trying to remain positive which would be easier to our if the clock was not already way past ticking and Spectre had not been such a stinker in all but box office terms.
Of that of which we cannot speak we must pass over in silence- Ludwig Wittgenstein.
Does anyone else find it a bit odd that Boyle has been 'announced' this way, with no comment from MGM or EON and still no international distributor, in fact it has not even been confirmed who the domestic US distributor is...?
I find it very odd. These are strange times. On the one hand I can't imagine a filmmaker of his standing jumping the gun, but on the other hand no comment from EON either to confirm or deny is equally strange. All this is not creating mystery or interest but just makes the Bond machine look inept which does not bode well for the film. I'm trying to remain positive which would be easier to our if the clock was not already way past ticking and Spectre had not been such a stinker in all but box office terms.
They don’t confirm or deny anything until they’re ready to make an announcement. Never have, never will.
Does anyone else find it a bit odd that Boyle has been 'announced' this way, with no comment from MGM or EON and still no international distributor, in fact it has not even been confirmed who the domestic US distributor is...?
I find it very odd. These are strange times. On the one hand I can't imagine a filmmaker of his standing jumping the gun, but on the other hand no comment from EON either to confirm or deny is equally strange. All this is not creating mystery or interest but just makes the Bond machine look inept which does not bode well for the film. I'm trying to remain positive which would be easier to our if the clock was not already way past ticking and Spectre had not been such a stinker in all but box office terms.
They don’t confirm or deny anything until they’re ready to make an announcement. Never have, never will.
Correct. What's different this time is that someone else is which is different.
Of that of which we cannot speak we must pass over in silence- Ludwig Wittgenstein.
Trouble at MGM, no script, no confirmed director, eight months to principal photography, and a possible writers strike, hello 2007 all over again...
Apparently you are wrong on a few things: the Writers Guild has a new contract; MGM is not in trouble, at least financially. MGM is actually (as per Variety) is in very good shape financially; why they removed the CEO I have no idea; it shouldn't have a huge on Bond 25.
Trouble at MGM, no script, no confirmed director, eight months to principal photography, and a possible writers strike, hello 2007 all over again...
Apparently you are wrong on a few things: the Writers Guild has a new contract; MGM is not in trouble, at least financially. MGM is actually (as per Variety) is in very good shape financially; why they removed the CEO I have no idea; it shouldn't have a huge on Bond 25.
"And even though Barber had hits with Bond outings Spectre and Skyfall, insiders say a rift had also developed between him and 007 producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson. “There was a revolt,” says an insider who claims the Broccoli camp ultimately refused to work with Barber. " https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/gary-barber-why-mgm-ceo-was-fired-1096079
And no completed script, no confirmed director, no US domestic or international distributor, only a few small things...
Sir MilesThe Wrong Side Of The WardrobePosts: 27,749Chief of Staff
"And even though Barber had hits with Bond outings Spectre and Skyfall, insiders say a rift had also developed between him and 007 producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson. “There was a revolt,” says an insider who claims the Broccoli camp ultimately refused to work with Barber. " https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/gary-barber-why-mgm-ceo-was-fired-1096079
Who’s the insider...?...do you believe everything you read...?
And no completed script, no confirmed director, no US domestic or international distributor, only a few small things...
We know who is working on the script, who will direct that script and who the US distributor is but hey, keep sayin’ it...
Did I miss something re the US distributor? I thought there wasn't a deal yet. I have read about MGM cutting a deal with Annapurna but I thought it didn't apply to Bond.
Now that I think about it, I'd say that everything bar the completed script is in place. However they would of course know how the story of the film is going to play out, so i'm sure that aspect is in hand. Boyle has basically confirmed he just hasn't said "I'm definitely doing it" because he's waiting for the official announcement date. Same with the distributor. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if Hodge and Boyle have been working on it for a while now. Maybe EON hedged their bets and commissioned 2 screenplays to be written. Who knows. Either way, things are bubbling along.
What you are forgetting is that if this really is Craig's Bond, it has to be lined up to be a stinker. That's the rule - so the next actor can come along and redeem the series. -{
Connery - DAF.
Moore - AVTAK
Dalton - LTK (very neatly done as they couldn't have anticipated it would be the last when they did it)
Brozzer - DAD.
Now that I think about it, I'd say that everything bar the completed script is in place. However they would of course know how the story of the film is going to play out, so i'm sure that aspect is in hand. Boyle has basically confirmed he just hasn't said "I'm definitely doing it" because he's waiting for the official announcement date. Same with the distributor. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if Hodge and Boyle have been working on it for a while now. Maybe EON hedged their bets and commissioned 2 screenplays to be written. Who knows. Either way, things are bubbling along.
Ok, I didn't miss something...... we still officially don't know who the distributor is.
What you are thinking is all very plausible. I recall the period prior to Skyfall when Mendes was "officially" identified as a "consultant" to the production, wink, wink. Boyle may have said he's the director pending a "completed" script but one would have to believe they were close enough that he is on board. With regards to the technical crew, etc EON pretty much has a core group they draw upon that they have been putting in place since the Bond 25 release date was announced. Plenty of great DP's around to draw upon. Of course heaven forbid, if Roger Deakins is unavailable or not interested I would guess that Someone would see that as another sign of the Bond 25 apocalypse. )
And no completed script, no confirmed director, no US domestic or international distributor, only a few small things...
We know who is working on the script, who will direct that script and who the US distributor is but hey, keep sayin’ it...
Did I miss something re the US distributor? I thought there wasn't a deal yet. I have read about MGM cutting a deal with Annapurna but I thought it didn't apply to Bond.
In October MGM and Annapurna announced a partnership that didn’t include Bond. In November it was announced that Annapurna had struck a separate deal for 1 Bond film.
Now in the Bond community nobody accepts that and still swears Bond 25 doesn’t have a distributor. As recently as a few days ago and the MGM news Annapurna was still named as distributor. I’ve seen it’s CEO Megan Ellison on business news channels talking about it. So who knows...
In October MGM and Annapurna announced a partnership that didn’t include Bond. In November it was announced that Annapurna had struck a separate deal for 1 Bond film.
Now in the Bond community nobody accepts that and still swears Bond 25 doesn’t have a distributor. As recently as a few days ago and the MGM news Annapurna was still named as distributor. I’ve seen it’s CEO Megan Ellison on business news channels talking about it. So who knows...
I am really surprised that news of a distributor for Bond 25 has apparently fallen through the cracks here. Even though it's just for one Bond film, it's still pretty big news. Maybe the North Koreans are back at again and have infiltrated the online Bond community with a campaign of disinformation.
To sum up: Bond25 has a director and a distributor and there won't be a writers' strike?
What I wonder is how far the script has developed by now and if Boyle has a DoP, editor, composer and other key crew ready.
I am really surprised that news of a distributor for Bond 25 has apparently fallen through the cracks here. Even though it's just for one Bond film, it's still pretty big news. Maybe the North Koreans are back at again and have infiltrated the online Bond community with a campaign of disinformation.
I’ve noticed that on here, and on other Bond forums, that fans expect to receive periodic production updates from EON, and if they don’t get any, they assume nothing is going on. The Annapurna thing never had an official press release, so many fans never accepted the news. When the Boyle news broke, it was reported that Annapurna were the ones who wanted him - still no one would believe it.
The same can be said of any Bond 25 news - if fans don’t get an official statement regarding director, script, etc., well then there must be no plans. The only thing I can think of is fans have gotten used to how Marvel does things, being engaged with fans - but that’s just not how EON works...
I am really surprised that news of a distributor for Bond 25 has apparently fallen through the cracks here. Even though it's just for one Bond film, it's still pretty big news. Maybe the North Koreans are back at again and have infiltrated the online Bond community with a campaign of disinformation.
I’ve noticed that on here, and on other Bond forums, that fans expect to receive periodic production updates from EON, and if they don’t get any, they assume nothing is going on. The Annapurna thing never had an official press release, so many fans never accepted the news. When the Boyle news broke, it was reported that Annapurna were the ones who wanted him - still no one would believe it.
The same can be said of any Bond 25 news - if fans don’t get an official statement regarding director, script, etc., well then there must be no plans. The only thing I can think of is fans have gotten used to how Marvel does things, being engaged with fans - but that’s just not how EON works...
In fairness to the hand-wringers, a lot of unofficial info gets mixed in with matter-of-fact news drops. I follow the trades (a lot of Bond fans, it feels like, do not) and I can't even recall a legitimate report of Annapurna officially announcing a distribution deal for Bond. But it all gets tossed together and strained through social media and it's often hard for Average Joe Bond Fan to know what's what.
So what you end up seeing is a picking and choosing of details to suit what (some)one already believes - or hopes - to be the case. And it happens on both sides!
I believe - and hope - that Craig will break the curse of "ending on a stinker." That he signed up for one after Spectre shows he wants it too. And I'm late to this discussion, but Boyle is without question the most celebrated director to ever helm a Bond film (if it happens), so this is no small glimmer of hope for 25.
Comments
Pulp Fiction is another like this. It seems like an action film - but there's hardly any 'action' of that kind in it. It's one classic scene after another and constant macho one-upmanship dialogue, something the Bonds used to have. Your attention is kept throughout, curiously you don't get that with wall-to-wall action films, it is just boring. That said, those used to computer games expect that I guess.
Boyle is good but he's not a new cutting edge director and his films tend to be 'theme' movies and that in part is what makes them interesting. They tend to be a bit slick and that can work against him. Boyle's heist film of a few years back was a bit empty. Lose the amazing theme and you don't get anything so much, Scorcese has the same thing going on. Wolf of Wall Street is great as it retains your interest, I'm not sure there's much heart going on there.
Roger Moore 1927-2017
I recall Michael 'Cliffhanger' France worked on GE and a lot got junked. The pts that I read was nonsense, an Aston Martin car chase along the roof of Japanese bullet train, never any chance they'd go with that, but it was all typed out... what's the point? Just have them sit down and pitch the movie, takes only a short while, say yay or neigh. Don't let them sweat over the commas and spelling for months then say 'No, we can't have Vesper having had a kid that Bond has to take an interest in and then leave behind at the end of the film' (Haggis' idea for QoS I understand).
Roger Moore 1927-2017
Finding a last-minute director is another question.
I also wonder when we will be told.
The only ones I've seen are Slumdog Millionaire and both Trainspotting films, none of which are anything like Bond, and I have Sunshine on DVD waiting in a huge queue.
From reading the IMDB descriptions of all the films he directed, I would probably say that the one that sounded most like a bond film was Trance? But that is merely from an IMDB description so I could be way off.
1 - Moore, 2 - Dalton, 3 - Craig, 4 - Connery, 5 - Brosnan, 6 - Lazenby
Right. EON wouldn’t have announced a date if they didn’t think it could be successfully met. Craig committed many months ago and my guess is there was a script and a plan, but it didn’t fully satisfy everyone, so when Boyle had an original idea, they decided to explore it. I don’t see that as a negative. If they were “mailing it in” I doubt they’d have bothered.
I find it very odd. These are strange times. On the one hand I can't imagine a filmmaker of his standing jumping the gun, but on the other hand no comment from EON either to confirm or deny is equally strange. All this is not creating mystery or interest but just makes the Bond machine look inept which does not bode well for the film. I'm trying to remain positive which would be easier to our if the clock was not already way past ticking and Spectre had not been such a stinker in all but box office terms.
They don’t confirm or deny anything until they’re ready to make an announcement. Never have, never will.
http://variety.com/2018/film/news/gary-barber-leaving-mgm-chairman-1202731059/
Trouble at MGM, no script, no confirmed director, eight months to principal photography, and a possible writers strike, hello 2007 all over again...
Correct. What's different this time is that someone else is which is different.
Again, you're making assumptions on things you don't know.
Apparently you are wrong on a few things: the Writers Guild has a new contract; MGM is not in trouble, at least financially. MGM is actually (as per Variety) is in very good shape financially; why they removed the CEO I have no idea; it shouldn't have a huge on Bond 25.
"And even though Barber had hits with Bond outings Spectre and Skyfall, insiders say a rift had also developed between him and 007 producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson. “There was a revolt,” says an insider who claims the Broccoli camp ultimately refused to work with Barber. "
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/gary-barber-why-mgm-ceo-was-fired-1096079
And no completed script, no confirmed director, no US domestic or international distributor, only a few small things...
Who’s the insider...?...do you believe everything you read...?
That you know of...I’m sure Babs will be on the phone to you shortly to discuss their plans
We know who is working on the script, who will direct that script and who the US distributor is but hey, keep sayin’ it...
Did I miss something re the US distributor? I thought there wasn't a deal yet. I have read about MGM cutting a deal with Annapurna but I thought it didn't apply to Bond.
Connery - DAF.
Moore - AVTAK
Dalton - LTK (very neatly done as they couldn't have anticipated it would be the last when they did it)
Brozzer - DAD.
Roger Moore 1927-2017
Ok, I didn't miss something...... we still officially don't know who the distributor is.
What you are thinking is all very plausible. I recall the period prior to Skyfall when Mendes was "officially" identified as a "consultant" to the production, wink, wink. Boyle may have said he's the director pending a "completed" script but one would have to believe they were close enough that he is on board. With regards to the technical crew, etc EON pretty much has a core group they draw upon that they have been putting in place since the Bond 25 release date was announced. Plenty of great DP's around to draw upon. Of course heaven forbid, if Roger Deakins is unavailable or not interested I would guess that Someone would see that as another sign of the Bond 25 apocalypse.
In October MGM and Annapurna announced a partnership that didn’t include Bond. In November it was announced that Annapurna had struck a separate deal for 1 Bond film.
Now in the Bond community nobody accepts that and still swears Bond 25 doesn’t have a distributor. As recently as a few days ago and the MGM news Annapurna was still named as distributor. I’ve seen it’s CEO Megan Ellison on business news channels talking about it. So who knows...
I am really surprised that news of a distributor for Bond 25 has apparently fallen through the cracks here. Even though it's just for one Bond film, it's still pretty big news. Maybe the North Koreans are back at again and have infiltrated the online Bond community with a campaign of disinformation.
What I wonder is how far the script has developed by now and if Boyle has a DoP, editor, composer and other key crew ready.
I’ve noticed that on here, and on other Bond forums, that fans expect to receive periodic production updates from EON, and if they don’t get any, they assume nothing is going on. The Annapurna thing never had an official press release, so many fans never accepted the news. When the Boyle news broke, it was reported that Annapurna were the ones who wanted him - still no one would believe it.
The same can be said of any Bond 25 news - if fans don’t get an official statement regarding director, script, etc., well then there must be no plans. The only thing I can think of is fans have gotten used to how Marvel does things, being engaged with fans - but that’s just not how EON works...
In fairness to the hand-wringers, a lot of unofficial info gets mixed in with matter-of-fact news drops. I follow the trades (a lot of Bond fans, it feels like, do not) and I can't even recall a legitimate report of Annapurna officially announcing a distribution deal for Bond. But it all gets tossed together and strained through social media and it's often hard for Average Joe Bond Fan to know what's what.
So what you end up seeing is a picking and choosing of details to suit what (some)one already believes - or hopes - to be the case. And it happens on both sides!
I believe - and hope - that Craig will break the curse of "ending on a stinker." That he signed up for one after Spectre shows he wants it too. And I'm late to this discussion, but Boyle is without question the most celebrated director to ever helm a Bond film (if it happens), so this is no small glimmer of hope for 25.