It seems slightly dodgy rumours last week that the 23rd Bond film was being put on hold indefinitely were rather premature (which is why we didn’t report them), as it’s now been announced that the film has a release date set, and that despite the delays, Sam Mendes will indeed direct and Daniel Craig will be back to star.
Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli of EON Productions, together with Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum, Co-Chairmen and Chief Executive Officers of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc., announced that the 23rd James Bond film will commence production in late 2011 for a worldwide release on November 9, 2012.
Daniel Craig will return as the legendary British secret agent, with Sam Mendes directing a screenplay written by Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and John Logan.
The producers are reportedly casting other roles at this time, with speculation that Simon Russell Beale is being eyed for a villain role. Producer Barbara Broccoli was attracted to the actor after seeing his current London play, Deathtrap. Craig and Mendes’ involvement had been slightly up in the air due to the delays to the production caused by MGM’s financial woes, but it’s good they’re still on board.