As MI6 has previously
reported, there were never any plans
to shoot the 24th and 25th James Bond films back-to-back,
despite
tabloid rumours to the contrary. The same reporters are rowing
back on those claims, and (now) correctly stating that they
will be shot as individual films. The press speculation hinged
on news that John Logan has been signed to pen both screenplays.
Associate Producer Gregg Wilson told MI6
Confidential magazine (issue #19) that Logan
had not handed in an early draft, again as rumoured by the
press, but that late last year they were in fact "no
where near" the treatment stage for Bond 24. Things have
seemingly progressed well since then, with the Daily Mail now
reporting that two treatments for the next film by Logan are
in circulation with the core Bond team.
Above: The 'Skyfall' team at the BAFTA awards last weekend.
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After initially saying that "Skyfall" had exhausted
him and that he would need a break before even considering
returning to the franchise, director Sam Mendes is now apparently
'75%'
of the way to signing on to Bond 24.
Speaking at the BAFTA
awards last weekend, when quizzed about
whether he would return to helm the next 007 outing, Mendes told
reporters: "I've had a great time, it's been a huge learning
curve and we would want to make a better movie next time around,
and if we thought we could do that they might let me have another
go again." In the back-stage interview, the producers made
it quite clear that they want the "Skyfall" director
back for Bond 24.
Due to his raft of commitments (helming a musical version of
'Charlie And The Chocolate Factory' for the Theatre Royal which
opens on May 18th, producing a new vampire hunter television
drama series with writer John Logan for a US cable network, and
directing 'King Lear' at the National Theatre which opens in
January 2014), it is unlikely that production on Bond 24 could
start until early-2014. EON are understood to be willing to push
back the start date to accomodate Mendes.
A summer 2015 or holiday 2015 release frame for Bond 24 seems
the most likely if Mendes signs to return, given the director's
attention to detail in pre-production and the length of the "Skyfall" shoot.
Bond 24 will see Daniel Craig back as 007 for his fourth and
penultimate film of his current
contract, and the return of the
new MI6 team comprising Ralph Fiennes (M), Naomie Harris (Moneypenny)
and Ben Whishaw (Q) as they are all optioned through Bond 25.
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