Marc Forster is set to direct. Paul Haggis is consulting on the script. Bond 22 is the successor to the most successful Bond movie ever at the box office.

Casino Royale has opened (and is still opening) doors that have normally been shut for the action-packed, often formulaic James Bond franchise.

Bond 22 is beginning to shape into something special. Something the franchise has never seen before. Collectively, the creators and contributors to Bond 22 will likely compose a landmark James Bond movie - yes, even after its landmark predecessor, Casino Royale.

The way I see it, the sky is the limit for Bond 22. As Marc Forster put it in the press release naming him director of Bond 22:

Boy, does it ever, Mr. Forster.

The mere fact that Bond's origins have come to light and the once tried-and-true formula of a Bond movie (however you would describe it - Bond meets girl, Bond meets villain, Bond stops villain from taking over the world in some form) is now extinguished positively affects 22's success and the franchise's longevity.

It might as well be 1962 after the release of Dr. No - with a few catches. Here we are, the start of a character. Played masterfully by Daniel Craig and delighting fans and critics around the world to the tune of more than $600 million at the box office worldwide, the character literally has no boundaries for his next outing - physically (the opening sequence of Royale shows that Bond is fit for any rigor of the job), emotionally (Bond fell in love with Vesper - will he fall in love again or will he never trust a woman - really, the producers could go either way here) and mentally (how will Bond's mental status become as a result of killing in cold blood and his other experiences that would otherwise alter a normal person for life?).

From this point, the similarities between the 60's and now diminish. With the billions made from the box office spanning 40+ years of success, Bond 22 will not have to worry about exposure. This is one of the first times where we will actually witness the growth of the James Bond character from the cinematic icon he has become to the (hopefully) high quality character and movie persona deserving of an Oscar.

And why not?

I would think it inevitable with the caliber of the cast and crew that is turning out for the movie. Oscar winner Paul Haggis, critically acclaimed director Marc Forster and a James Bond in Daniel Craig that is unlike any of his predecessors are just a few delightful draws of Bond 22 - and it is only in pre-production! Hopefully Craig's growth into the role will catapult the franchise into something it has never achieved before. I am keeping my fingers crossed, and might even have to renege on my From Rush-a With Love post - which is an excellent thing.

With the direction the Bond movie franchise is headed now, Bond 22 has the opportunity to become the first Bond film (if you wouldn't count Royale as one, which I may) - not only seriously entertaining and successful, but also a cinematic piece of art.

November 7, 2008 can't come soon enough.