The twenty-fourth James Bond film hasn’t started filming, but the announcement of the next Bond has Hollywood excitedly shaken, but news has been stirring about the people who will be driving it’s production. The shortlist for Director has been revealed as Nicolas Winding Refn (Only God Forgives), Ang Lee (Life of Pi), Tom Hooper (Les Misérables), David Yates (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I & II), Shane Black (Iron Man 3), and Sam Mendes, who directed the billion dollar blockbuster that was Skyfall.
Originally, Sam Mendes declined to return to the role of director of a Bond film for the second time, which started the search for a replacement to match or exceed his success; however, he reconsidered and started talks with the producers. Apparently the producers are willing to wait for Mendes to finish his other work before proceeding with Bond 24, which is good to hear, as Mendes did a great job with the Bond franchise before, and this will only serve to avoid having a “rushed” film. However, there is also the ongoing negotiations with Daniel Craig.
Daniel Craig has been the peoples’ sexiest spy for three Bond films to date, and it doesn’t seem like it’s going to change. However, that doesn’t mean that Craig’s contract has been set in stone, as MGM and Columbia are trying to get him to sign on for the next two Bond films. This, in itself, supports another rumor that Bond 24 and 25 will be a “two parter”. Even Adele is getting a callback, after the success of her single “Skyfall”, to do the next Bond song. Other rumors churning have been the possible return of Bond girl Camille Montes (Olga Kurylenko) from her time in Quantum of Solace along with the Quantum Organization. However, until the start of production in 2013 (also a rumor) all that we will have is rumor, but that’s what makes it exciting!
There are plenty of rumors swarming around the mystery of Bond 24, but there are a few facts. The next Bond film is slated to come out in the next 3 years, as opposed to the Winter 2014 date it previously had. The screenplay is in development, but the details of what the story will be about, are nonexistent. Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson are producing the film, and it will be distributed by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. More details will come out as time progresses, but for right now 007 is MIA, possibly at a tropical bar taking shots with poisonous scorpions.
