Date:September 30, 2004
Source:Hollywood Reporter
Posted by: Robert Sanchez
MGM, which is in the process of being sold to a group headed by Sony Corp., has insisted on a business-as-usual stance, but that business no longer involves the immediate production of a new James Bond movie.
The studio confirmed Wednesday that it has put the development of a new installment of its most important franchise on hold.
As a result, the movie, which had been billed simply as "Bond 21" and was scheduled for release Nov. 21, 2005, will not be hitting theaters in its traditional November slot as originally planned.
According to an MGM spokesperson, the studio made the decision because it has not yet found a director for the film. Sources familiar with the situation said that the producers plan to meet next month to decide whether to aim for a summer 2006 or November 2006 release date.
The five months of negotiations that preceded the Sony deal also are said to have affected the development of the film because during that period, executives were unable to move forward on the project.
Typically, the studio's Bond films go into production in January or February of the year in which a November release is planned, but to do that, a director has to be on board by the end of the previous summer.
A steady flow of directors' names has been associated with the assignment, with Paul McGuigan, who directed MGM's recent "Wicker Park," understood to be the first choice of producers.
There also has been speculation that Pierce Brosnan will not resume the role of James Bond, which would necessitate recasting. MGM was unable to confirm that possibility.
This site is © 2002 -2004 by The Inland Empire Strikes Back and IESB.NET
Copyrights and trademarks regarding the entertainment media images and articles published at iesb.net are held by the respective and sited owners. All other text and articles are original and © IESB.NET and The Inland Empire Strikes Back.