BOND 23 Put on Indefinite Suspension

MGM and their financial woes are creating havoc on some of our favorite and most anticipated franchises.  While pre-production on THE HOBBIT seems to be moving on ungreased tracks, not a whole lot of pessimistic news had come our way on the 007 front.  That is, until today.

EON Productions released a statement today saying production on BOND 23, previously set for release in 2012, had been halted until MGM can get their house in order.  EON and related producers, including Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, cited MGM’s uncertain future and their failure to finalize a deal selling off property rights as the cause for the suspension.  No planned start or release dates were given.

Of course, optimism has to be glanced at, at least.  The Bond franchise is anything but dead, and, I’m sure, someone, even if it isn’t MGM backing it, will pull a BOND 23 out of their hats at some point down the road.  It’s just that it IS down the road at this point in time, and the parties involved, both behind and in front of the camera, are in question.  When we last heard, Sam Mendes was attached to direct from a screenplay by Peter Morgan, and Daniel Craig was without a doubt returning for a third venture.  All of this is in question now, and we could be looking at yet another possible reboot on the franchise if deals cannot be met.  That’s an idea I wouldn’t mind flashing a license to kill at.