Marc Forster to Direct Bond 22!

[Golgo-13]

As reported on the SHH front page:

Marc Forster to Direct Bond 22
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
June 19, 2007


Marc Forster has signed on to direct the next installment in the James Bond franchise for Columbia Pictures and MGM, says The Hollywood Reporter.

Daniel Craig will reprise his role as Agent 007 in the film, which has a working title of Bond 22.

Forster -- whose credits include Stranger Than Fiction, Finding Neverland and Monster's Ball -- recently wrapped The Kite Runner.

Bond 22 is targeting a November 7, 2008 release.

Not sure what to think about this. Hoped Campbell would have been back but Forster's list of movies all have gotten critical praise, so maybe this is a good thing.

 

[bosef982]

He got Halle Berry to act, so there's no doubt we'll get some good performances. And oddly, he made Stranger than Fiction a hit despite its ridiculous premise. And Finding Neverland has rave reviews all around most of the time.

And that he tackled The Kite Runner, an amazingly charged and controversial and cultural novel, is encouraging as well.

 

[Agentsands77]

Wow. Bond has really stepped up the credibility these days... With names like Craig, Haggis, and Forster attached, Bond seems set to be an arthouse franchise.

 

[green]

hmmm that's a rather interesting choice for director of a Bond movie. Cant wait to see the results.

 

[roony]

I admit I´m a little disappointed that Martin Campbell won´t be coming back. I´ve never heard of marc forster, until I IMDB´d him. The idea of a more indie james bond excites me, especially since I loved the grittiness of CR.

 

[WorthyStevens]

hmmm that's a rather interesting choice for director of a Bond movie. Cant wait to see the results.

I love your avy. Funniest movie ever made IMO.

 

[The Chris]

Holy crap!I wanted Campbell back, put forster is damn good!

 

[MaskedManJRK]

Huh, not sure of how he'll handle the action scenes, but it does sound pretty interesting.

Didn't know there was a movie being made of Kite Runner, though.

 

[bapi]

MARC FOSTER TO DIRECT BOND 22:

Great news!

 

[jorel]

Why don't they let Michael Thau direct one?

 

[Movies205]

Wow there really oppose to hiring an american to film a Bond movie Anyway this is good news I enjoyed Stranger than Fiction and Finding Neverland, he's a damn good director, we'll see how he handles action.

 

[Downhere]

Excellent choice! Looking forward to the next Bond!

 

[Two-Face]

Ah crap (not that I hate Foster) but I wanted Campbell to return one time, however I am looking forward to CR sequel.

 

[Downhere]

Ah crap (not that I hate Foster) but I wanted Campbell to return one time, however I am looking forward to CR sequel.

I wanted Campbell to come back as well, but since all the previous Bond films have had different director's I wasn't holding my breath on that one. Either way, Forster is a great director and should do well.

 

[Bond]

Did ya'll really expect Campbell to return? He's already got like 3 movies on his plate right now.

And I love all 3 of those movies. This should be great!

 

[scifiwolf]

Well, I'm like a lot of you. I'm excited about Forster's ability to cull performances out of anyone, but a little unsure of how he'll handle the action. If the production crew is good, and his editor is good, I'm sure the action stuff will turn out fine.

This is good news.

 

[Two-Face]

I wanted Campbell to come back as well, but since all the previous Bond films have had different director's I wasn't holding my breath on that one. Either way, Forster is a great director and should do well.

I agree, I wait til I see the movie.

Did ya'll really expect Campbell to return? He's already got like 3 movies on his plate right now.

And I love all 3 of those movies. This should be great!

Well I didn't expect Campbell to come back, look at the sequels to Brosnan Bond films TND was good, TWINE was 50/50 but DAD was worse Bond film.
those 3 movies can't top GE.

 

[Crook]

Well this guy certainly has a much better resume than Campbell. I'm looking forward to the more "quieter" moments, as this guy seems to do well in that department. I'm just worried about the action, doesn't look like he has much experience in that.

 

[Bond]

Yeah, I can't recall if there was any action in Monster's Ball at all. The only part in that movie I watch is... well... you know. Maybe we'll see a hint of that in B22? LOL.

 

[Two-Face]

Halle Berry?

 

[KALEL114]

He has the chops. I think it is a great choice.

 

[Bond]

Press Release:

CULVER CITY, Calif., June 19, 2007 – Marc Forster will direct the 22nd James Bond adventure, it was announced today by Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, producers of the James Bond films, Sony Pictures Entertainment, and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios.

Forster is the acclaimed director of the highly anticipated motion picture The Kite Runner, adapted from Khaled Hosseini's best-selling novel. He also recently directed the comic hit Stranger Than Fiction for Sony Pictures. Previously, Forster directed the award-winning and critically acclaimed films Finding Neverland, which was nominated for seven Academy Awards® including Best Picture, and Monster's Ball, for which Halle Berry won a Best Actress Oscar®.

Forster will commence work shortly with screenwriter Paul Haggis on a draft of the screenplay by Neil Purvis and Robert Wade.

Daniel Craig will reprise the role of James Bond in the as-yet-untitled Bond 22 production, which follows Casino Royale, the highest-grossing film so far in the most successful franchise in motion picture history.

With nearly $600 million in worldwide box-office receipts, Casino Royale was also regarded by critics as one of the best Bond films yet. Bond 22 will begin filming at Pinewood Studios, London, in December 2007. Columbia Pictures will release the film worldwide on November 7, 2008.

Wilson and Broccoli said, "We are delighted that Marc Forster, with his exceptional talent and unique vision, has agreed to direct our next James Bond film."

Forster said, "I have always been drawn to different kinds of stories and I have also always been a Bond fan, so it is very exciting to take on this challenge. The new direction that the Bond character has taken offers a director a host of fresh possibilities and I look forward to working with Daniel Craig, Barbara Broccoli, and Michael Wilson, as well as the team at Sony and MGM on this new film."

Amy Pascal, Co-Chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment, added, “We had a great experience working with Marc on Stranger than Fiction and we are excited to be working with him again. He’s an actor’s director; he approaches material with intelligence and taste. What makes him the perfect choice for Bond 22 is that he will bring to this film all the elements Bond audiences expect – action, humor, suspense, and thrills."

"The Bond franchise is one of MGM's most treasured legacies," added Harry Sloan, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, MGM. "We share Michael and Barbara's confidence in Marc Forster's directing talents and support him in his efforts to continue the evolution of the Bond story for today's filmgoers."

Forster is represented by CAA and Management 360.

About EON Productions


EON Productions/Danjaq, LLC, is owned by the Broccoli family and has produced twenty one James Bond films since 1962, including Casino Royale. The James Bond films, produced by Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, make up the most successful franchise in film history and include the recent blockbuster films GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World is Not Enough, and Die Another Day. EON Productions and Danjaq, LLC, are affiliate companies and control all worldwide merchandising of the James Bond franchise.


About Columbia Pictures


Columbia Pictures, part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, is a Sony Pictures Entertainment company. Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America (SCA), a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution; television production and distribution; digital content creation and distribution; worldwide channel investments; home entertainment acquisition and distribution; operation of studio facilities; development of new entertainment products, services and technologies; and distribution of filmed entertainment in 67 countries. Sony Pictures Entertainment can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.sonypictures.com.

About Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc.


Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc., through its operating subsidiaries is actively engaged in the worldwide production and distribution of motion pictures, television programming, home video, interactive media, music and licensed merchandise. The company owns the world’s largest library of modern films, comprising around 4,000 titles. Operating units include Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc., United Artists Films Inc., Ventanazul, MGM Television Entertainment Inc., MGM Networks Inc., MGM Distribution Co., MGM International Television Distribution Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Home Entertainment LLC, MGM ON STAGE, MGM Music, MGM Worldwide Digital Media, MGM Consumer Products and MGM Interactive. In addition, MGM has ownership interests in international TV channels reaching nearly 110 countries. MGM ownership is as follows: Providence Equity Partners (29%), TPG (21%), Sony Corporation of America (20%), Comcast (20%), DLJ Merchant Banking Partners (7%) and Quadrangle Group (3%). For more information, visit www.mgm.com.

 

[Rezzo]

Great news

 

[green]

I love your avy. Funniest movie ever made IMO.

I have to agree with you...t:

 

[odiin]

Wow, wow... WOW.

I've got to admit that I didn't know who this guy was at first, but I am familiar with some of his work and just... Wow. They're aiming pretty high for this one, huh?