It remains to be seen whether reports regarding MGM‘s post-bankruptcy plans to have the next ‘Bond‘ film out as early as November 2012 will bear out but it certainly sounds like things are picking up.
Five-time ‘Bond’ composer David Arnold (“ Tomorrow Never Dies” to “Quantum Of Solace“) has revealed he’s received news that the latest installment of the franchise — currently running under the working title “Bond 23” — is now “back on” after the official, indefinite postponement by EON Productions earlier this year.
“I haven’t thought about it yet,” Arnold explained when asked about his potential work. “We only just got the news that we’re back on. But ‘there’s many a slip twixt cup and lip’ so I will keep quiet until I get a script and then start writing ideas. I just hope the next one is as good as my favorites, as I think everyone does. And I’m always interested in what Daniel Craig brings to the part. But like most things with movies, if it ain’t on the page etc… All I can say is that I’m looking forward to a great script for it, alongside every other Bond fan in the world!”
We wouldn’t get too enthused as “back on” probably just means that, as MGM nears completion of the deal to have the heads of Spyglass Entertainment take over management, the company is probably just looking to get the wheels rolling on one of its biggest money-spinners now that Peter Jackson‘s “The Hobbit” is already well and truly in pre-production and eying a February start. That said, it does look like MGM is already putting the feelers out to the various pieces and people of the Daniel Craig-led Bond films that have helped make them so successful. Of course, no word yet on if Sam Mendes will direct as previously planned or what is contained in the script by Peter Morgan (though rumors suggest Afghanistan will feature in some way).
Of course, there’s also other issues such as the distribution rights which were freed from Sony after MGM’s bankruptcy that need to be sorted out, but at the very least, it does seem the wheels are in motion and hopefully it won’t be too long before cinema’s longest enduring MI6 agent is back on the big screen. [FilmMusicMag via MI6]