23rd James Bond movie, “Skyfall,” starring Daniel Craig, Naomie Harris, Javier Bardem, begins production Monday
Producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli have announced that the 23rd James Bond adventure, titled “Skyfall,” will go into production Monday.
The film, from Albert R. Broccoli’s Eon Productions, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, and Sony Pictures Entertainment, will be directed by Academy Award winner Sam Mendes and stars Daniel Craig, who returns for his third film as James Bond 007. The screenplay is written by Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and John Logan.
“Skyfall” will begin its worldwide roll-out in the U.K. and Ireland on Oct. 26 and in North America on Nov. 9, 2012.
Along with Craig, the cast for “Skyfall” will include Javier Bardem, Dame Judi Dench, Naomie Harris, Bérénice Marlohe, Ralph Fiennes, Albert Finney and Ben Whishaw.
In “Skyfall,” Bond’s loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.
“We’re so delighted to have Sam Mendes direct ‘Skyfall’ and be working once again with Daniel Craig. We’ve a great script, an extraordinary cast and an incredibly talented creative team for this latest James Bond adventure,” said Wilson and Broccoli in a news release.
The director of photography is Roger Deakins, a nine-time Oscar nominee who previously shot the films “Jarhead” and “Revolutionary Road” for Mendes. The production designer is Oscar winner Dennis Gassner, who previously designed “Quantum of Solace” and collaborated with Mendes on the films “Road to Perdition” and “Jarhead.” The editor is Stuart Baird, A.C.E., whose many credits include “Casino Royale.” Jany Temime, whose many credits include the Harry Potter series, “In Bruges,” and “Children of Men,” is the costume designer. Action specialist Alexander Witt is the second-unit director. Gary Powell is stunt coordinator, Chris Corbould is SFX supervisor and Steve Begg is visual effects supervisor, all of whom have worked on previous Bond films.
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Wednesday Video Spotlight: Making of NewsOK’s OU and OSU stop-motion 3D football intros
Stop-motion whiz and NewsOK videographer Kyle Roberts is playing with action figures again! I love it when he does that!
Football season is almost here, and The Oklahoman and NewsOK are getting ready by launching the first football stop-motion animation to use action figures. Some of our super-talented folks here custom-painted several action figures and combined 3D and stop-motion animation to create these intros in honor of the new season.
The college football bliss begins Saturday when my Oklahoma State Cowboys take on the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns at 6 p.m. in Stillwater (I’m so there, folks! Go Pokes!) and the Oklahoma Sooners host the Tulsa Golden Hurricane at 7 p.m.
It’s great to see another stop-motion creation from the gifted Mr. Roberts, who is responsible for this bit of mad-genius filmmaking that got national attention:
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Video: Beastie Boys with Santigold “Don’t Play No Game That I Can’t Win”
Boys. Beastie Boys.
Since my guys and I are big Beastie Boys fans, we were eager to see their new music video. As expected we’re liking the song, “Don’t Play No Game That I Can’t Win,” featuring the lovely Santigold, but we can’t help but think that they kind of stole the idea for this video from Kyle Roberts’ “Battle of the Bonds.”
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Video: Oklahoma filmmaker Kyle Roberts’ “Battle of the Bonds”
Up-and-coming film director and producer Kyle Roberts, owner of the Oklahoma City-based film company Reckless Abandonment Pictures and a videographer for NewsOK, last week debuted his new stop-motion film “Battle of the Bonds” at a special event at IAO Gallery right here in OKC.
Kyle this week posted his uproarious short film on YouTube for all to enjoy – and judge for themselves who is the best Bond.
“Battle of the Bonds” was a labor of love for Roberts that took eight months to complete. He invited local and national YouTube celebrities Daneboe, Brittani Louise Taylor and Zack Scott to give voice to the Bonds in the film, which are portrayed as lookalike action figures. Local comedian and actor Lucas Ross also stars in the film.
“Battle of the Bonds” already has received shout-outs from SocialTimes.com, Wired and the L.A. Times and garnered more than 33,000 YouTube hits.
So, support a talented local filmmaker and check out “Battle of the Bonds.”
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What to do in Oklahoma on May 19, 2011: “Can’t Stop This Motion” with Kyle Roberts’ short films, including “Battle of the Bonds”
Today’s featured event:
Watch the short films of Oklahoma City-based filmmaker Kyle Roberts at his “Can’t Stop This Motion” cinematic showcase at 7:30 tonight at IAO Gallery, 706 W Sheridan.
Roberts, who also works as a NewsOK videographer, will show several of his short films and videos and premiere his latest stop-motion animated project, “Battle of the Bonds.” His new short film took 8 months to complete and uses action figures to represent the various actors who have portrayed James Bond in an effort to determine once and for all who was the best Bond.
Our pal Matt Price of Nerdage will be emcee of the event, which will feature musical guest Denver Duncan.
For more on “Can’t Stop This Motion,” click here to read my colleague Heather Warlick Moore’s story on the NewsOK Mood section.
For more information, go to www.iaogallery.org or www.ra-pictures.com.
For more events, go to www.wimgo.com.
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Wednesday Video Spotlight: Oklahoma Filmmaker Kyle Roberts brings “Battle of the Bonds”
Up-and-coming film director and producer Kyle Roberts, owner of the Oklahoma City-based film company Reckless Abandonment Pictures and a videographer for NewsOK, will settle the age-old question who is the best Bond Thursday night at Individual Artists of Oklahoma Gallery.
As Angi Bruss reports in this NewsOK video, Kyle will premiere his new film, the stop-motion “Battle of the Bonds” during “Can’t Stop This Motion,” a night celebrating his short films. The cinema showcase is set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday at IAO Gallery, 701 W Sheridan, and will feature live music from Denver Duncan.
For more on “Can’t Stop This Motion,” click here to read my colleague Heather Warlick-Moore’s story on the NewsOK Mood section.
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Bond 23 set for November 2012 release
Sony Pictures Entertainment will remain in the James Bond business after reaching an agreement with MGM to co-finance and theatrically market and distribute the long-awaited Bond 23 worldwide, the company announced in a news release.
Sony will release the next film in this iconic franchise on Nov. 9, 2012, throughout the world except for select International territories, where MGM will directly oversee distribution. The new release also reveals that Daniel Craig is still attached to the storied franchise, which joins “The Hobbit” among high-profile projects delayed by financial troubles at MGM.
Sony Pictures and MGM look forward to Sony Pictures co-financing and distributing Bond 24 on a similar basis, according to the releae. Additionally, MGM and Sony Pictures have agreed to explore co-financing opportunities on future motion pictures produced by each of the respective studios for the next five years.
The two studios have collaborated directly and indirectly in recent years on numerous films, including the most recent Bond films, “Casino Royale” and “Quantum of Solace,” “21,” “Yours, Mine and Ours,” “The Pink Panther” and the forthcoming Kevin James comedy “Zookeeper.”
Sony is touting the announcement of the agreement to distribute Bond 23 as another high-profile title on its 2012 slate, which also includes “Men in Black 3″ and “The Amazing Spider-Man,” as well as “I Hate You, Dad,” starring Adam Sandler,” Here Comes the Boom,” starring Kevin James, “21 Jump Street,” “Resident Evil 5″ and “Total Recall.”
“Sony Pictures is the ideal studio partner for us as MGM re-enters the filmmaking business. We have longstanding relationships with Michael and Amy and look forward to what promises to be a prosperous future together,” said MGM Co-Chairmen and Chief Executive Officers Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum in the release.
“In addition to working together on Bond, this deal expands our relationship with MGM as we explore co-financing opportunities on other high-profile projects,” Sony Pictures Chairman and CEO Michael Lynton said in the release. “Gary and Roger are incredibly thoughtful and experienced leaders who are outstanding creative executives and respected moviemakers. While we are excited to be back in the Bond business, we also look forward to future collaborations and I am confident that this agreement will be long-term, lucrative, and beneficial to both studios.”
“After successfully working on the re-launch of the James Bond franchise with Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace, we could not be more proud or privileged to continue our association with Barbara Broccoli, Michael G. Wilson, Daniel Craig, and the talented teams at EON and MGM,” said Sony Pictures Co-Chairman Amy Pascal.
When Sony released “Casino Royale” and “Quantum of Solace,” the films had record-high grosses for the Bond franchise, the news release touts, with “Casino Royale” taking in $599 million in worldwide ticket sales and “Quantum of Solace” generating $577 million.
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Daniel Craig, Sam Mendes bringing James Bond back to the big screen in 2012
Bond, James Bond, will be back on the big screen in 2012, EW.com has confirmed.
Financial tussling over the fate of MGM led the Broccoli family, who produces the Bond films, to stop development of the 23rd film in the long-running series last year. But the latest adventure for 007 – which has yet to get a title – is back on track with plans for a Nov. 9, 2012 release date.
Daniel Craig will return for his third run as the British superspy.
According to EW, the announcement from MGM and EON Productions confirms Oscar-winning director Sam Mendes (“American Beauty”), who was attached to the project before it stalled, is still on as director. The script will come from Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and John Logan.
EON is run by Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, children of the late producer Albert R. “Cubby” Broccoli, who launched the franchise in 1962 with Sean Connery playing Bond in “Dr. No.”
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With Guillermo del Toro out, will Peter Jackson direct “The Hobbit”?
From left, Guillermo del Toro and Peter Jackson (Associated Press file photos)
Director Guillermo del Toro this week left the planned two-film adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit” wandering aimlessly through Middle Earth, announcing that production delays have forced him to quit the planned prequel to New Zealand filmmaker Peter Jackson’s blockbuster trilogy “Lord of the Rings.”
“In light of ongoing delays in the setting of a start date for filming The Hobbit, I am faced with the hardest decision of my life,” del Toro told “Lord of the Rings” fansite TheOneRing.net.
“After nearly two years of living, breathing and designing a world as rich as Tolkien’s Middle Earth, I must, with great regret, take leave from helming these wonderful pictures,” he said.
According to the Associated Press, del Toro would continue to co-write the screenplays with Jackson and his wife, Fran Walsh, and Philippa Boyens. Jackson reached a deal in late 2007 to make two films of “The Hobbit.” He is serving as joint executive producer with Walsh.
Del Toro told reporters last week the project, which has been plagued by delays, still hadn’t been given the green light by struggling Hollywood studio MGM.
“There cannot be any start dates until the MGM situation gets resolved,” del Toro said. “They do hold a considerable portion of the rights.”
Reports emerged late last year that MGM was teetering on bankruptcy, and del Toro said those issues had caught “The Hobbit” films in a “tangled negotiation,” according to the AP.
“We have designed all the creatures. We’ve designed the sets and the wardrobe. We have done animatics and planned battles sequences … We are very, very prepared for when it is finally triggered,” he said.
MGM’s fiscal problems also prompted the producers of the James Bond series to announce in April that the 23rd installment has been suspended indefinitely.
Jackson told TheOneRing.net: “We feel very sad to see Guillermo leave The Hobbit, but he has kept us fully in the loop and we understand how the protracted development time on these two films, due to reasons beyond anyone’s control, has compromised his commitment to other long term projects.
“The bottom line is that Guillermo just didn’t feel he could commit six years to living in New Zealand, exclusively making these films, when his original commitment was for three years. Guillermo is one of the most remarkable creative spirits I’ve ever encountered and it has been a complete joy working with him.”
Jackson told the fansite would discuss options for a new director with MGM this week. He initially insisted he would not be taking the helm of the “Lord of the Rings” prequel, though the Oscar-winning LOTR trilogy remains his signature and by far most successful project.
Still, as Deadline Hollywood noted, Jackson seemed to leave open the possibility of directing “The Hobbit” when he told a New Zealand newspaper, “If that’s what I have to do to protect Warner Brothers’ investment, then obviously that’s one angle which I’ll explore.”
Jackson’s manager, Ken Kamins, told Deadline that Jackson is endeavoring to find another director who’ll keep the project on track to start production in late 2010 or early 2011.
Kamins told Deadline: “When Peter says that directing himself is one angle he’d explore if he had to, that means, if we can’t find another director who is right for the films that everyone can agree on, and, if at that time, the other studios involved in his other projects would relieve him of his obligations.”
Despite Jackson’s denials, directing seems to be the most logical solution to this complicated situation. No one else is as fully invested in the project, and with MGM’s financial problems still not sorted, it seems a good bet that any other high-profile director attached to the project would eventually tire of the wait, too. Plus, Jackson is the only director who has proven that he has the vision and passion to bring Middle Earth to the big screen.
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What to do in Oklahoma on April 21, 2010
Today’s featured event:
Watch the 2006 James Bond film “Casino Royale” from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Wednesday Night at the Movies at the Ronald J. Norick Downtown Library, 300 Park Ave. This movie is for people ages 13 and older.
Rewatching “Casino Royale” might be a particularly good idea since James Bond producers announced this week that development of the 23rd film in the venerable series has been indefinitely delayed because of financial troubles at MGM. Click here to read more.
For more information Wednesday Night at the movies, call 606-3876 or go to www.metrolibrary.org.
For more events, go to www.wimgo.com.
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