I’ve been wracking my brain ever since reading some quotes from Skyfall and Bond 24 scripter John Logan in the pages of Empire magazine, trying to figure out just what exactly he’s talking about. I gave Skyfall a “B” when I reviewed it back in 2012, but I would dial that grade back even further now and when I read Logan saying, “The new movie continues the themes of Skyfall. Some of the characters and themes that we began to introduce in Skyfall will play out,” it makes me think even less of the film.
What “themes” are carrying over? Global terrorism? Because that’s always been a Bond theme so I doubt it could be that. And if it happens to be more James Bond mommy and daddy issues, I’ll pass. I also hope this next one takes more of a cue from past Bond films rather than inspiration from Christopher Nolan‘s The Dark Knight.
When Logan was asked about possible directions the story could go, such as the return of Quantum or the classic villainous organization S.P.E.C.T.R.E. he replied:
“There might be! Honestly, not being evasive, but the great thing about Bond is that I have fifty years of movies – 23 movies and all the Ian Fleming novels and short stories, all of which are fodder. And when I’m working on the new Bond I’m constantly going back to Fleming and the other movies – what are the bits and pieces, what are the resonances?
“One of the things we learned in Skyfall is that the audience really enjoyed those, they enjoyed when they saw the Aston Martin, they enjoyed when we had references to things they grew up with, either from Ian Fleming or from the other movies, and that’s always been a part of my thinking about Bond.”
What does he mean he’s not being evasive? He said he finished the first draft, I assume he knows who the villains are, their motivations and whom they work for, if anyone.
Finally, when asked if Bond 24 would be “as big” as Skyfall he replied, “You ain’t seen nothing yet!” Whatever that means.
Bond 24 is scheduled for a November 6, 2015 release.
