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Producer confirms Sam Mendes will be directing Bond
23, new writer said to be joining script team as Peter
Morgan reportedly departs... |
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Bond 23 - Mendes Confirmed, Writers Change?
10th April 2010
After a week of April Fool's,
tabloid rumours and movie blogs running endlessly recycled hype
and hoaxes, some refreshing information on the 23rd
James Bond film has come to light today.
Respected British newspaper The
Telegraph has
today confirmed that Sam Mendes will be helming Daniel
Craig's
third outing as 007. The paper's Mandrake column said, "Sam Mendes
caused astonishment when he announced the end of his marriage
to Kate
Winslet, which
had been seen as one of the most solid in show business. He is
now provoking intrigue in his professional life. Barbara
Broccoli,
the producer, confirmed to Mandrake recently that Mendes, 44,
would be the director of the next James Bond
film."
Mendes is currently understood to be signed
as a 'consultant' on Bond 23 to avoid a trigger payment
from cash-strapped MGM. As the future ownership of the
studio is in question, EON have avoided any possible ownership
issues on the movie by holding fire on Mendes signing as
director until the situation is resolved. MGM's debt holders
have extended
the freeze on interest payments until mid-May to help
the lion find a new suitable owner, or other financial
restructuring plan.
Still on the subject of Bond 23, The Telegraph
also says that Peter Morgan, the screenwriter of "Frost/Nixon" and "The
Queen", who had been announced as one of the writers
on the 007 film, may no longer working on the script.
"Patrick
Marber, the acclaimed playwright, is understood to be wanted
by Mendes as his replacement. 'It is a mystery worthy of
a Bond script,' says Mandrake's source. A spokesman for
the Hollywood studio MGM said: 'The film-makers say the
Morgan / Marber switch is just speculation.'" |
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Above: Writer Patrick Marber, said to be joining the Bond 23 script
team.
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MGM may have little knowledge of the work being
done on Bond 23 behind the scenes by EON, and it is a standard
response from the studio. Peter Morgan said he completed
his work on the Bond 23 draft between July and October last
year, until his work was put on hold due to the MGM debacle.
Oscar nominated and British-born
writer Patrick Marber has seen success with a couple of high-profile
films in
recent years, including "Closer" (2004) and Dame Judi
Dench starrer
"Notes on a Scandal" (2006). Marber picked up the BAFTA
for Best Short
Film last year with "Love
You More". He is also known for writing on comedy
projects with
Steve
Coogan.
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In recent months, Daniel Craig has said
he expects filming
to start in late 2010, indicating a tentative release
window of late 2011. Dame Judi Dench has been told to hold
her diary for early 2011 to film her scenes as MI6 chief
M.
Bond 23 is being written by regular Bond
duo Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, and "The Queen" and "Frost/Nixon" scribe
Peter Morgan. Daniel Craig will play 007 for the third time,
with Dame Judi Dench returning as MI6 chief 'M'. David Arnold
will compose the score for his sixth 007 movie. Producers
Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson have yet to confirm
a director, although Sam Mendes is understood to be in a holding
pattern. |
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