There have been a rash of recent news reports indicating that the next James Bond film has been officially canceled due to the uncertain future of MGM studios. The Bond franchise is the only cash cow that the financially-strapped MGM has to bank on. However, unless a new buyer emerges, the studio can't launch any film productions. Eon Productions, which co-owns the franchise, recently stated that preparations for the next Bond film had been indefinitely suspended until the MGM problem is resolved. Suddenly news reports began appearing, stating that the film had been officially canceled, making the fate of the next film seem even more ominous. Exactly what the difference is between "suspended indefinitely" and "canceled" is open to debate but it certainly seems to indicate that star Daniel Craig and director Sam Mendes are now free to accept other projects and won't be waiting for word on the start of the next Bond film. We asked Eon Productions for a comment, and they simply said they are not deviating from their previous statement which read :
"Due to the continuing
uncertainty surrounding the future of MGM and the failure
to close a sale of the studio, we have suspended development on BOND 23
indefinitely. We do not know when development will resume and do not
have
a
date for the release of BOND 23," stated Michael G Wilson and Barbara
Broccoli
jointly.