James Bond might just finally get back down to action next year, confirms the producer of Bond 23…
Now that MGM has got to a point where it can formally greenlight The Hobbit movies, attention inevitably turns back to its other major franchise, James Bond. The 23rd Bond movie should, if all had gone to the original plan, be shooting around about now, with Sam Mendes directing and the cast including Daniel Craig, Rachel Weisz and Dame Judi Dench. But work on the film has ground to a halt while the money problems are addressed.
So, what's the latest on the movie, and has there been any movement in the light of The Hobbit getting the go ahead? According to producer David G Wilson, talking to IGN, things aren't moving just yet.
"We're in a holding pattern to see what happens with the studio. We support them - we've had a long relationship for a long time and it's really important for us to get going again. They just have to sort out their financial issues," he said.
The site then asked him about a potential start date for the project, and did concede that "They have a plan going forward, and hopefully everything will go to plan and we hope to be in a position next year to start the film again."
Wilson confirmed that Sam Mendes was still attached to direct the film, and also noted that work on the script stopped when the pre-production process was brought to a halt. Thus, assuming the MGM financial situation is resolved, that's the first thing that'll be started, with a shoot still possible for 2011.