Skyfall director Sam Mendes and screenwriter John Logan are teaming up again to work on the upcoming 007 sequel. Empire had a chance to speak with Logan who gave up a little bit of details, but did confirm that shooting would start this upcoming October. See what else he had to say below!
Here’s a bit of a status update on the next Bond film:
“Right now the first draft is almost done. I’m terrifically excited about it! I’ve been working very closely with Sam [Mendes], and it’s been joyous to pick up from our work on Skyfall and just continue on with the storytelling. The new movie continues the themes of Skyfall. Some of the characters and themes that we began to introduce in Skyfall will play out, I hope successfully, in the next movie.”
Logan confirmed that him and Mendes are also working closely with Daniel Craig on the script, like they did with Skyfall:
“Daniel’s very involved. It behooves no-one to write a character that the lead actor doesn’t want to play, so having worked so closely on Skyfall, I have my own sense of what I think Dan responds to, as does Sam, [and producers] Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson of course.”
When asked if S.P.E.C.T.R.E. would play a role, he wouldn’t comment. Logan did say he’s drawing inspiration from the old material for the new.
“There might be [a presence of S.P.E.C.T.R.E.]! Honestly, not being evasive, but the great thing about Bond is that I have fifty years of movies – 23 movies and all the Ian Fleming novels and short stories, all of which are fodder. And when I’m working on the new Bond I’m constantly going back to Fleming and the other movies – what are the bits and pieces, what are the resonances? One of the things we learned in Skyfall is that the audience really enjoyed those, they enjoyed when they saw the Aston Martin, they enjoyed when we had references to things they grew up with, either from Ian Fleming or from the other movies, and that’s always been a part of my thinking about Bond.”
Logan was asked if we’d see the return of Quantum, Blofield, or any other Double-0 agents. Early rumors had Logan and Mendes returning for both Bond 24 and Bond 25, but the scribe says he’s just focusing on this one film at the moment:
“I’m just trying to get one done first! If I survive this one, we’ll see about the next one!” Yes John, but is it a two-parter? “Couldn’t comment!”
Quantum of Solace is one of the weakest films in the franchise, and I’m not sure if that’s because it’s a direct sequel to Casino Royale or not. I like the idea of a continuation from what was laid down in Skyfall with Ralph Fiennes as the new M and Ben Wishaw as Q; but I’d rather just see another standalone Bond film. It’s what they do best.
As more Bond 24 news comes our way, we’ll be sure to keep you posted here at DFAT!
~Chaz
