Someone must have really been slammed around by the polarizing reviews of the last James Bond film, Quantum of Solace. Now, it seems that Bond production company EON Productions is firing off everything it's got to make the twenty-third Bond movie a promising film. First, there was the addition of screenwriter Peter Morgan, who has thrilling intelligent films like The Queen, Frost/Nixon, and The Damned United (a film fully recommended by TSR!) on his resume. He will be working with Neal Purvis and Robert Wade (Paul Haggis is out).
Now, there's talk that American Beauty and Road to Perdition director Sam Mendes is in the final stages of being hired as a "consultant." Read that again - it's not "director" just yet.
Bond 23 is still in pre-production, and there are some financial clues as to why a big name like Mendes is just on board as a "consultant." As explained by Deadline Hollywood: "Once EON hires a director on their Bond films, it triggers a first payment from MGM. Well, given that MGM is teetering on the brink of bankruptcy, and EON may have the right to take Bond elsewhere, it stands to reason that the producers wouldn't want to do anything right away that further complicates ownership of Bond #23."
Fair enough. As much as I don't like being teased by the idea of Mendes having to dance around such an important role, the inclusion of the Road to Perdition director is exciting. Some of you may remember that Daniel Craig, (who is back as Bond) starred in that film also. And though Mendes has done his fair share of drama before, it's not likely that anyone, including Peter Morgan, EON Productions, or even the Bond fanbase, will allow him to slack on bringing the action.
What do you think? Is Mendes fit for a double-O title? Is there someone else you'd rather see in the "consultant"/possible director spot?
Source: Deadline Hollywood