The Latest James Bond Headlines 
From Rush-a With Love
Posted on June 8, 2007 12:26 PM
What's the rush?
I recently heard of Roger Michell's refusal to direct Bond 22 and started to second guess the production pace of the movie. Currently set for release in November of 2008, we have more than a year until Bond 22 drops. A year may seem like a long time to some, but in the movie industry, pre-production and production times of a full length feature film can last twice as long as that number. Is this ample time for the creation and production of a Bond movie worthy of succeeding the blockbuster Casino Royale?
Don't get me wrong, I want to see the next installment of the Bond franchise more than anyone (I distinctly remember putting up the countdown for Bond 22's release when its rumored released date emerged - to the tune of 600+ days remaining). However, if more time is needed for production and it could result in a high quality movie, what would the harm be in delaying its release, say, until November, 2008?
Ultimately, the producers and everyone involved with '21' proved their point with Casino Royale. Bond is most definitely back - on top of the box office and back in the regular rotation through rumor mills and gossip buzz. Royale lived up to Fleming's legacy more so than I could have imagined prior to its release. Now on the verge of Craig's second outing, I worry that Bond 22's production is being rushed.
This is not to say that aside from its pace, news about the production is completely negative. As much as I applaud the movie makers for bringing Paul Haggis back to contribute to the script (I also enjoy learning of some minute details of the plot), I cringe at rumors of the Olsen twins or Amy Winehouse as prospective Bond girls. Rumors like this, of course, are definitely the norm prior to a Bond movie's production and release, however, the 'process' of production for the movie that director Roger Michell discussed in a recent Times article has me worried.
Click here to read the entire article if you wish - I would like to focus on the following section:
"Well," he says. "I did give up directing the Bond film. And it wasn't quite $8 million but it was a lot of money. It was because in the end I didn't feel comfortable with the Bond process, and I was very nervous that there was a start date but really no script at all. And I like to be very well prepared as a director.
"The Bond people - who are lovely - are used to going into these massive productions in quite a chaotic way: 'Oh, we'll fix that later.' I panicked about this. And it was starting to make me feel very, very unhappy about what I was doing and who I was. The more the money went up, the worse it made me feel.
"I felt a bit like the character in Landscape with Weapon [a weapons designer who pulls out of a massive payday after he gets cold feet about his work] and a little bit like Doctor Faustus, and just decided eventually that I'd be doing it for the wrong reasons. I'd be doing it for my friendship with Daniel Craig. I'd be doing it for the money. And not really because I yearned to do it."
So, after months of talks, late last year Michell pulled out of directing the follow-up to Casino Royale.
I can't blame Michell for not taking the job, and I actually admire his courage in turning it down for a lack of passion for the project. What really worries me about this piece is his description of the 'process' that is underway for Bond 22's production. For all I know, the 'process' that Michell describes could have (and probably has) been used by the Bond producers for years. Perhaps this method has been tested, tried-and-true?
However, learning about this alleged rush to produce Bond 22 is in the least unsettling. I cannot help but think that for the current status of the franchise (running high off of Craig's first) is in a very fragile state and that Craig's next attempt at 007 is very important - both for the future of the James Bond role and the status of the franchise.
Really, all I can hope for is that the 'powers that be' utilize similar judgment akin to that used in the pre-production of Casino Royale and the monumental and successful selection of James Bond #6. I just hope they understand that the prospect of time should be considered an ally in Bond 22's production, not a villain.
So don't be worried about delaying Bond 22's production, Bond producers. If it is necessary, I know I can (try to) wait patiently.
