MGM has officially set a November 9, 2012 release date for James Bond 23 with Sam Mendes (Road to Perdition) set to direct and Daniel Craig set to return as 007. The movie is set to go into production later this year from a script penned by by Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and John Logan.
This isn’t as much a surprise as it is a confirmation of previous rumors following MGM receiving court approval for its pre-packaged bankruptcy plan back in early December when MGM Co-Chief Executive Officer Stephen Cooper said, “Today’s ruling is an important milestone for MGM… By dramatically reducing MGM’s debt load and providing MGM with access to new capital, the reorganization plan the Court confirmed today will enable MGM to emerge from this process with a solid financial foundation and will position MGM to be a successful studio going forward.”
The question remains as to who will actually release the film with Sony and Paramount shaping up as the leading contenders.
Around the same time Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace composer David Arnold told Film Music Magazine, “We only just got the news that we’re back on.” Kate Winslet was even quoted as confirming her estranged husband, Sam Mendes, would indeed be directing.
As far as the storyline, that’s unknown, but there were also early reports saying Bond producer Barbara Broccoli has already had many meetings over casting with Mendes including a visit to the play “Deathtrap” twice to see Simon Russell Beale, apparently an old friend of Mendes’s, perform.
I’m sure we’ll here plenty more soon enough.
