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Bond 23 to Have a Shocking Story, Says Screenwriter Peter Morgan

Posted on Sunday, December 20th, 2009 by Devindra Hardawar

daniel-craig-in-casino-royale

I’m still reeling from the crushingly disappointing Quantum of Solace, but I’m continuing to hope for the best regarding future Daniel Craig Bond outings. And if we’re to believe Bond 23 (the film is still untitled) scribe Peter Morgan (The Queen, The Last King of Scotland), the next entry in the franchise may be different than the typical Bond film. Speaking to Bond fansite MI6, Morgan said that the next Bond film has a “shocking story.” It’s easy to read a lot into such a short statement, but as the first real bit of news about the next Bond film, it’s making me hopeful that it’ll resemble Casino Royale more so than Quantum.

Morgan is writing the script along with Bond regulars Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, but it’s Morgan’s involvement in particular that’s making me hopeful about Bond 23. While Purvis, Wade, and Paul Haggis succeeded in writing one of the best action films of the past few decades with Casino Royale, they sort of missed the mark with Quantum’s script. (To be fair, much of the blame regarding that film’s failures should go to director Marc Forster.) Morgan is undoubtedly a better writer than Haggis, which makes prospects for Bond 23’s script good overall.

MI6 also notes that Bond 23’s pre-production won’t begin until February 2010 because MGM is still looking for a new owner. Daniel Craig has also mentioned that filming will start at the end of 2010, which lines the film up for a fall 2011 release.

There’s currently no director lined up for the film. But assuming that the studio doesn’t want Martin Campbell back, I’m hoping that they choose Kick-Ass and Layer Cake director Matthew Vaughn. With Layer Cake, he pretty much gave Daniel Craig a film that sold him as a potential Bond — and all the early buzz for Kick-Ass is overwhelmingly positive. From the footage we’ve seen at Comic-Con alone, we knew that film was going to be huge, but now it’s looking like Kick-Ass is pretty much going to own next year.

I hate to say it, but a Matthew Vaughn directed Bond will certainly kick… butt.

[Via: Dark Horizons]

Comments

transpo1

It could be cool if he gets addicted to heroin in Afghanistan as a way of dealing with his emotional pain.

Malaguy

Count me among those who were initially disappointed with the film upon one theater viewing, but grew to really love it after repeated viewings, despite the film's very few flaws.

My opinion of the film has evolved into this:
I believe the acting, directing, action, tone, fonts, titles were all top notch. The flaws come in the form of a script that was, as mentioned, hampered by the writers' strike, and could've used a little more in the department of a Quantum Organization backstory; and in a few places the editing got a little hyper active.
Other than that, QoS has really grown on me to a level damn-near-equal to CR. I give the producers props for trying to do something different from the traditional Bond stories.
I strongly recommend all the haters to give it another try.
Just my $.02

wonka bar

Bourne Ultimatum=$227,000,000 (Winner!)
Quantum Solace=$168,000,000
Casino Royale=$167,000,000
Enough Said!

Jinkz

"crushingly disappointing"?
Thats your stupid opinion. Im over you hypercritical nerds.

brian

Oh, you may have the wrong website. This isn't 'Aint It Cool News,' this is /Film, where the writers and commenters take the time and care to explain their opinions, avoiding 'flame wars' and 'trolls,' and generally raising the bar for what a film blog can be. Honest mistake, i'm sure.

michaeldance

Quantum of Solace failed chiefly because it was painfully derivative of the Bourne franchise. I hope they move away from that in the next one and remember what makes Bond great (and hint: it's not stolidly mourning a dead girlfriend for two hours).

JPX

I believe you have it backwards - the Bourne franchise is painfully derivative of the 40+ years Bond franchise.

michaeldance

JPX: That's precisely why Quantum of Solace failed. It's not supposed to take cues from the latest hit action franchise, it's supposed to be James f'ing Bond.

michaeldance

JPX - Sheesh. I think I was being pretty clear about it being a creative failure, not a financial one.

JPX

Michaeldance, I wasn't aware that a worldwide gross of $586,090,727 is considered a failure. I think most films would be happy if they made half a billion dollars.

Devindra Hardawar

Um, how? If anything, the Bourne series tried hard to subvert what we expected from spy films like the Bond franchise.

JPX

Quantum of Solace also has perhaps the best animated opening sequence of all 22 movies. The slow-motion bullets in the sculpted sand are really well done. (The playing card motif in the Casino Royale animated title sequence is really good too, but it pales in comparison.)

The final scene of Quantum of Solace, in Russia, with Bond dropping Vesper's necklace in the snow, and, collar turned up, saying goodnight to M ("Ma'am") before turning away into the night, is like something out of John LeCarré. It nearly chokes me up each time. It's so rare for Bond to have to deal with the consequences of what's happened...in the previous movie, no less. Again, I'm mystified at the hate.

J.D.

In response to your argument that it has a politically-relevant plot, I agree. It's similar to the globalist green socialists who are attempting to acquire money and power through scientifically-questionable claims of coming ice ages and mass warming (either way, they're right!). Gore = Mr. Greene... as in "green" politics.

JPX

Sigh. Where the hell is everyone getting all this hate for Quantum of Solace? Are they out of their fucking minds? It's a fantastic, fantastic Bond film...I totally love it to death. Great story; great chases and fights; great photography; great song (Jack White and Alicia Keys!); great villain (the dude from Munich!); it resolves the lingering Vesper Lynd story beautifully; it's impeccably well made; the cars and airplanes are fantastic; it's got Mathis (Giancarlo Gianinni) and Felix Leiter (Jeffrey Wright) back from the last chapter; and (perhaps most important) it's got a Bond Girl to die for (Russian model Olga Kurylenko)...one of the best Bond Girls ever, in my opinion. (And he doesn't sleep with her! Radical!) AND it's got a totally babelicious backup Bond Girl (Gemma Arterton) (whom he does sleep with). It's impeccably written by the same three dudes who wrote Casino Royale (to which it's a legitimate sequel, beginning twenty minutes after the other one ends, for the first time in Bond history).

Why are we all supposed to just accept that it sucks? Where the hell is this coming from? Pisses me off!

And not only that, it's got a fucking legitimately politically relevant story line! The Quantum organization is like Blackwater, supporting imperialists with the tacit, covert support of the American CIA; and (like fucking Chinatown, no less) it's about the murderously important control of drinking water as a natural resource in impoverished areas. (As opposed to Casino Royale, which is merely about "terrorism" in the most generic, unspecific Hollywood fashion).

duncanc

Well said (and nice comparison to Chinatown, BTW).

My only grumble is poor geography of the boat chase - it's not stylistic; shouldn't confuse on purpose.

However, apart from that the film's a success, for me. Got a gritty feal reminiscent of the great seventies crime thrillers. I wish they'd kept the rumoured deleted ending, in which Bond is sniper-shot in snow as he walks away - Mr White at the scope of the rifle. Would've had nice symmetry (Bond sniping Mr White at CR's end. Some of the books, such as FRWL have equally shocking endings and make dive straight into the next with relish. Shame Eon/Forster 'bottled it'.

J.D.

Oh, wow, really? That would have been GREAT.

Guest

Don't think I'll ever understand why people overreact to Quantum of Solace the way they do.

walkerjjwhatdoyougot

Greengrass has no place in the bond universe! Marc Foster was a step in the right direction. Despite what all you haters might say he did a great job. Bond has to evolve into something more that a suit and a gun, Greengrass would supply just that only in quick cuts and shaky camera work. A director that would really interest me would be someone life Alfonso Cuarón

Vader182

The exclusion of the classical motifs certainly hurt it, too. As if it already didn't feel enough of a departure from the flash of Bond. Casino Royale kept Bond's flash, charm, and action of the previous films (I'm a huge fan, myself, and have seen all but one or two of the films) only it did what Batman Begins largely accomplished but in this 'verse. Only TDK (obviously) took what we loved about BB, built upon it, made it it's own film and as they say, the rest is history. Most of what we all loved about Casino wasn't present here. Hell, employ Paul Greengrass if you want to make believable gritty 'spy' action, -not- directors of period piece drama's. Impressive though they are, they brought Marc on for the development of Bond, and obviously, given the decision in my previous post, there was none. So to all the comments regarding why it was critically (and widely received as) a disappointing film, here's why.

Slatters

I preferred Quantum of Solace over Casino Royale. I don't have any grande explanation why, I just felt like it was a more engaging movie and when I'm in the mood to watch a Craig-Bond flick, I almost always put in Quantum.

J.D.

Yeah, I'm surprised to hear myself agreeing, because I didn't like QoS at first, but it does have more layers, more subtleties that you miss the first time you watch it. While CR was an all around great movie, it was somewhat more topical than QoS.

TheCritic28

I hope "shocking" isn't another pun for sex, Bond.

Guest

Jim

Does that mean Daniel Craig's aspirations for a bi-Bond are coming true? I'd support it, but if that became integral to the plot, I can't imagine it'll fare well at the domestic box office.

bnitro

QOS lost me when they decided to kill the red head ;) Oh and the laaaame villain and his laaaaame plan.

Steve

"Crushingly disappointing"? It's easily the best Bond film made.

Perhaps it wasn't camp enough for your limited sensibilities.

papasanchez

I will say only this.

Jumping out of a plane, falling into a crevis in the ground, open chute in said crevis. both parties survive. End scene. What do you guys think?

NEXT!!!

Octoberist

The problem with Quantum of Solace is that it's a step back in the wrong direction for the series. I think you mean Casino Royale is 'easily the best Bond film made' because without it, Quantum wouldn't have a leg to stand on.

I don't mind it being a 'direct sequel' but it depended waaay to much on Casino, hence the lack of characterization in the film. And no, just because Casino Royale had it that Quantum should bypass it.

TheCritic28

Here's a couple words that are probably limited in your vocabulary but I am going to ask anyways.

"Why?"

"How come?"

"Explain yourself?"

Sorry for putting you on the spot for this and stressing out your thinking tissues, but i am pretty curious. And if you truly believe your opinion, you'll be able to back it up, right?

Then again that's just what I think...

Devindra Hardawar

Yes, I'm the one with limited sensibilities. See more Bond movies, and learn to have a real discussion.

StevenTheCelebrity

Personally I thought Quantum of solace was an O.K. movie. However, i treated it as such, a movie not a cinematic experience.

VeratheGun

When will they figure out that the secret to a great Bond movie is the girl? Eva Green made Casino Royale. Good lord, figure out a way to get her back.

Nick

i don't understand why the studio wouldn't want Campbell back. he's shown he can handle Bond in two of my favorite films in the franchise (though i may just love the first for the video game).

i've also recently revisited the movie and enjoyed it more at home than in theaters. nowhere near a perfect Bond movie, but not "Die Another Day" bad.

Octoberist

Campbell is working on Green Lantern.

Now it depends on the schedule..but either way, if they want Campbell, they'll would have to wait till late 2011 for a 2012 release.

Kyle C.

They did want him back, he chose not to return.

shane

I liked Quantum of Solace a TON. That Opera scene is so good.

the spiller

The shocking story is M is killed, hundreds die in a gas attack in london's underground.

punch_drunk

Quantum of Solace was a hard core awesome movie. I do not understand the hate the article author has for it. I was thoroughly entertained.

Devindra Hardawar

Compare the film to Casino Royale and there is a clear difference in quality. Quantum's action was terrible looking for the most part (the rooftop chase and opera shoot out were the best the film had to offer), and the film lacked a decent villain, plot, and at many points, even dialogue.

IsaacRosales

I completely agree with Mr. Hardawar in this one. Casino Royale was what every Bond movie should ever be as it had tight and believable action, and more importantly a Bond that was actually human (both in getting bruises, and being the very arrogant yet intelligent person he is). Quantum of Solace failed in almost every single department, but its critical problem was that it didn't continue the path of "Bond is believable", and instead opting for the "Bond is Superman" route.

J.D.

Are you sure about that? Although I first disliked QoS, I've since concluded that it is much less flashy and cutsey than Casino Royale. It almost makes CR look too clean, too movie-ish. QoS had a gritty realism to it, not unlike the Dark Knight.

Gabe

Alot of people didn't like Quantum of Solace, so you can't really complain when Devindra talks crap about it.

Vader182

I think a lot of people forget the reason Quantum of Solace felt so empty of any sort of narrative or plot is due to the writer's strike hampering of development regarding the script. Then they decided to make it a flashier Bourne and, unfortunately, the director had no idea how to shoot action sequences. Shame.

Devindra Hardawar

Good point about the writers strike. One of the big problems with Quantum is the seeming lack of script at times.

John Muth

I have to say that you should look into revisiting Quantum of Solace. I wasn't blown away by it when it was theatrically released - and actually tended to forget that it even existed - but I just watched it on DVD and it was pretty friggin awesome! It also works in that it's such a direct and pretty much continuous part of Casino Royale. Despite the stylizations of the captions (which were kind of strange, with the continuity, but still worked.)

I do agree that Vaughn would be great on a Bond movie. I also kind of think that Jonathon Glazer (Sexy Beast, and the awesome Dead Weather video, "Treat Me Like Your Mother" video, which I love.)

lipslikeasukal

I thought I was the only person who defended/liked Quantum of Solace. Good to know.

duncanc

I've been hoping for a Jonathan Glazer Bond ever since Sexy Beast. I'd love to see any movie from him, but apparently he's having trouble getting finance - cinema is dead, it's just showbusiness.

Kyle C.

I agree, I was really disappointed when I saw Quantum for the first time in theaters but I have watched it repeatedly on blu-ray and it gets better every time. Yes, it could have been longer and more emotional but Forster just wanted this Bond film to be a badass action movie and in that i feel he succeeded. If you just look at it as a bridge between Casino and the next Bond film where it wraps up Casino and gets us intrigued at this omniscient enemy known as Quantum, it does it's job in spades. Lastly, the quick cutting actually works when you see it on a smaller screen and count me in the minority but I still prefer Casino and Quantum to the Bourne films.

John Muth

Whoa, whoa, whoa...Let's not get carried away. The Bourne movies, will always have my heart in that third-act of Ultimatum, which takes us directly back to the ending of Supremacy. That kind of doubling back was brilliant. (And not to "go there" but, you wouldn't have these Bond films if it weren't for Bourne. Not that that automatically makes them better, but there is definitely a debt that Craig's Bond owes to Jason Bourne.)

But, yeah, I'm pretty much with you, about Solace. :)

John Muth

@Alex, See, going down this road leads to my having to then bring up both Joseph Conrad's The Secret Agent (1906), and Hitchcock's amazing adaptation of that Sabotage (1936)..Which both precede Mr. Bond by a number of years.

And just to take another trip-round, while the characters themselves may have appeared in reverse-order, it was Bourne who first came on the scene with the new stylized-action, that then inspired the new reboot of the Bond film franchise. :)

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