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Writer Peter Morgan confirms his Bond 23 outline
was left incomplete when production was put on hold,
departs process, script work is still halted... |
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Morgan Confirms Incomplete Script
19th October 2010
Screenwriter Peter Morgan has confirmed he did not complete
an outline for the 23rd James
Bond film before leaving the project. Bond 23 is still lacking
a first draft script.
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Back in June 2009, EON Productions officially
confirmed Peter Morgan ("The Queen", "Frost/Nixon")
was joining the regular 007 duo of Neal Purvis and Robert
Wade to pen the script for Daniel
Craig's third outing
as James Bond - the 23rd in the series.
It is understood
that Morgan worked on the project from July to October
2009, before pre-production work was suspended (it was
later officially
confirmed that the film was on ice in April 2010)
due to MGM's financial woes. In December last year, just
after he had stopped work on the outline, Morgan teased
local reporters in Vienna (where he had recently moved
with his family) that it was "a shocking story". |
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Above: Writer Peter Morgan pictured
in his new home, the city of Vienna.
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In an interview published today by ComingSoon, Morgan confirms
his tenure on Bond 23 was short. Asked whether he had completed
a first draft of the script, Morgan said, "No, no, no, I hadn't
gotten that far. I was working on an outline when they said, "We're
going to have to stop this process now," and when it came
to the point where I was going to commit to doing the Freddie
Mercury film, I sort of discussed with my reps that it would
probably take me out of all consideration and that's what's happened,
and I wish them the best."
Just before EON's official statement about the film's production
freeze, producer Barbara
Broccoli confirmed Sam Mendes was lined up to direct Bond 23.
Industry buzz quickly surrounded Patrick Marber, the acclaimed
playwright, who was understood to be
wanted by Mendes
as
Morgan's replacement. Producers said at the time that the switch
in writers was 'purely speculation', but it is now clear that
a new writer was
to be brought
in with Morgan
departing.
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Last week, David Wilson (son of producer
Michael G. Wilson) spoke
about the Bond 23 situation at
a press event for the forthcoming videogame "GoldenEye
007" - on which David is a producer.
"We're in a holding
pattern to see what happens with the studio",
Wilson said. "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."
When pressed for a start date, Wilson revealed "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."
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Wilson also confirmed the stalling of writing: "The
script's been in development for some time. We often start the
scripts about a year before pre-production has begun. So the
script has been in development but it's been halted for the time
being."
Finally, Wilson put to bed recent speculation about director
Sam Mendes' participation, adding "Yes, he's very excited
to do this film - and it's a matter of timing too. He's a hot
director, and there's a danger he would have to go and work on
something else so we have to be patient and optimistic."
Bond 23 is officially on hiatus until MGM's
financial future is assured. MGM's debt-holders are currently
considering restructuring offers from Spyglass and Lionsgate,
with a vote scheduled for 29th October.
