By Lee Pfeiffer
What a difference a day makes. Just after press reports were released indicating that Eon Productions was holding off plans to develop the next James Bond film due to financial difficulties at MGM, The Hollywood Reporter says that Sam Mendes will direct the new film and that production could start as early as this summer. Neither MGM or Eon have confirmed the report. Mendes would be the highest profile director to assume the helm of a Bond film, having had movies such as
American Beauty (for which he won the Oscar)
, Road to Perdition and
Revolutionary Road to his credit
. If true, it would appear that producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli are striving to capitalize on the new respect the Bond franchise has received from critics since Daniel Craig took over the role. Screenwriter Peter Morgan, who wrote
Frost/Nixon and
The Queen is co-writing the new script with veteran scribes Rob Wade and Neal Purvis. Traditionally, even though the Bond films have been financial blockbusters, some high profile talent has been squeamish about associating themselves with the series, fearing that the films aren't taken seriously by critics. That seems to have changed when
Casino Royale was nominated for numerous BAFTA awards. The franchise is suddenly seen as a suitable assignment for top writers and directors. If the film should go into production in summer, it will mean that it would not be ready for the all important Thanksgiving period release in November- a trend that has proven to be very profitable for all of the recent Bond movies. A word to the wise, however. Until Eon or MGM confirm the story, take it with a grain of salt: the down time in between Bond films is always a period in which rumors float about, many of which turn out to be exaggerated or completely untrue. Count this writer among those who would be very enthused about seeing Mendes' vision for the series. For more
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