14 DAY TRIAL // Despite intense criticism from some fans, Daniel Craig as the deadly 007 agent James Bond proved to be quite a commercial hit with audiences, admittedly because it opened the Bond universe to a different segment of moviegoers as well. The 23rd installment of the time-enduring franchise has just been postponed indefinitely because of money problems, E! Online informs.
Bond 23 has been in pre-production limbo for quite some time, but confirmation that it will take a while before it actually comes out still managed to take fans by surprise. A franchise as successful as the Bond one can’t possibly be put in jeopardy because of money problems, especially since it caters to such a loyal fanbase and includes stars like Daniel Craig and whoever gorgeous woman is cast opposite him as “the Bond girl,” it is being said.
“The economy has managed to do what dozens of nefarious villains with lasers and deadly sea animals could never accomplish: Kill James Bond. MGM announced Monday that the 23rd 007 film is nothing but a pipe dream right now, thanks to the studio’s shaky financial situation,” E! writes. Though the film has often been target for all types of rumors, this time there’s no buts and maybes about it, as Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli of EON Productions make it clear.
“Due to the continuing uncertainty surrounding the future of MGM and the failure to close a sale of the studio, we have suspended development on BOND 23 indefinitely. We do not know when development will resume and do not have a date for the release of BOND 23,” the two say in the statement that is now making the rounds online. Both Wilson and Broccoli also acted as producers on “Casino Royala” and “Quantum of Solace.”
Still, there might be a silver lining to this cloud, since a franchise like Bond could be picked up by another movie studio, should MGM rule out every possibility of ever making it. So far, none has made its intention known, but things could change for the better in the following days, so keep an eye on this space for when they do.