Why Michell Turned Down Bond

[Furious Styles]

In an interview with HIT - relayed through Moviehole.net - director Roger Michell has spoken out on why he turned down the opportunity to reunite with Daniel Craig on the 22nd James Bond picture.

Michell, who first worked with Craig on Enduring Love, was linked to the film in July 2006 before leaving in August, citing “creative differences”.


Talking to HIT, Michell said, “We couldn’t find a way of making us all happy with the script. It’s been through various drafts, but I just decided to say no before I got too far into it.”


As far as Michell is aware, the job of helming the sequel to Casino Royale is “absolutely up for grabs at the moment”.


Earlier this year, Michell revelead that the film’s timeline - which may have seen Bond 22 released in 2007 - as being too tight.


From a script by Casino Royale writers Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, Bond 22 is due to be released on 7 November 2008.

I wonder if this is any indication (and this is purely speculation on my part) if the script istelf was particularly good enough to move ahead so quickly.

 

[TheVileOne]

Or does that mean that they are rushing the script into production and not giving it the time it needs?

 

[Furious Styles]

Or does that mean that they are rushing the script into production and not giving it the time it needs?

Good point. I believe Michell would have accepted the job if he felt the script was good or as good as Casino Royale.

When filming for TND began, the script wasn't even finished and that probably hindered the overall quality of the film. The same will happen to Bond 22 because I certainly don't have faith in Wade and Purvis to put together a brilliant script in such a short time frame.

 

[AndrewBerger]

Or it could mean that Mitchell has a completely different idea of what Bond should be like than they do.

I didn't really expect the man who made Notting Hill to understand OO7.

 

[Brian Braddock]

Or it could mean that Mitchell has a completely different idea of what Bond should be like than they do.

I didn't really expect the man who made Notting Hill to understand OO7.

You make a good point.

 

[InsaneDwayne]

He left because of Craig's ego.

 

[AndrewBerger]

He left because of Craig's ego.

Do you have a source or are you just letting your backside do the talking?

 

[Agentsands77]

Michell turned down Bond a long time ago, when the release date was still very early (I believe when it was set to be released May 2008, and would thus be rushing into production right now), and he felt very rushed. The script has undoubtedly changed since he left the project, and Craig and co. have indicated things are still very much up in the air as far as the storyline and specifics of BOND 22 are concerned.

And there is the question of what Michell wanted to do with BOND 22, after all. He left even before CASINO ROYALE was released, and may not have had an adequate picture of what that film ultimately ended up being. Or he may not have wanted the CASINO ROYALE approach at all. Who knows?

 

[neobido9999]

You make a good point.

No, he really doesn't

 

[Brian Braddock]

No, he really doesn't

Please, feel free to elaborate.

 

[InsaneDwayne]

Do you have a source or are you just letting your backside do the talking?

No, I just read it in the new Wizard magazine. You should stop letting your tushie ask the questions.