Where does Bond go after Craig?

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  • Mendes4LyfeMendes4Lyfe The long road ahead
    Posts: 8,395
    What I want from Bond 26 on a basic level, is a straightforward story, with a clear tangible threat that bond has to solve. No ghosts emerging from the past, stepping out of "the shadows", no bond becoming jaded with MI6 and going into hiding, no scenes that exist to serve a thematic or character purpose but doesn't actually add anything to the jeopardy and stakes of the mission at hand.

    A few other things that would be nice to see: Bond and M having eachothers backs again.

    Also it would be cool if Bond met Q on his mission just randomly coming out of a doorway again, and they have instant chemistry. I don't think we need more scenes of Bond meeting the scooby gang for the first time, shaking hands etc. Just get straight to business.
  • Posts: 1,985
    007HallY wrote: »
    I think Aston Martins are here to stay. As said it's due to these brands having so much business association with the Bond series. The DB5 may or may not make a return as Bond's personal car. Personally, I'm fine with it making a brief appearance, but it doesn't have to either. I don't think simply changing Bond's car is the way to make these films fresh.
    CrabKey wrote: »
    If we can get away from the done to death world ending plots and villains, I think there are lots of ways to refresh this series. Just letting Bond do a little sleuthing and be a spy would be a change. And of course he'll be sucked into a bigger plot. Absolutely, get rid of that car once and for all. I love that car but move on. I'd love for Bond to own one of those old Bentley's. Maybe it's a restoration project. Just find a new direction. Let's quit thinking the only place to go is the past. Bond on a training mission without gear. Bond assigned to prevent someone from being assassinated. Bond to infiltrate formula one racing or world football. Bond on a ship that is hijacked by pirates. Bond on a mission to destroy an organization that manufacture bogus drugs. Bond sent to rescue a kidnapped dignitary. I doubt EON will call, but if they do, I'll post here first.

    I like some of those ideas a lot, but I think the issue is they're simply concepts, which by all means should be fresh and inventive, even if just for Bond. They're not stories however. Some of them have been done before even just broadly in the 007 series (ie. Bond preventing someone from being assassinated is TLD. Bond infiltrating anything, whether it's football or Formula One, is a tried and tested story outline that we see, for example, in Fleming's DAF with Bond infiltrating a diamond smuggling operation, or OHMSS with Bond going undercover as Bray). I'm pretty sure the others have all been done in non-Bond films before. That's not to say they couldn't or shouldn't be done in a Bond movie by the way. I'd love for a Bond film to start with Bond going on a training mission which goes wrong/leaves him without gear (it sounds a bit like TLD's PTS with a bit of DAD's and SF's thrown in, but stretched out a bit into the main story, which has potential).

    It's impossible for a Bond film not to have some sort of similarity to its predecessors. Again, they're formula based adventures. Short of having a Bond film with no villain, no Bond girl, no scheme for Bond to prevent etc. I'm not sure if a Bond story can be completely original. And that's fine. Doesn't mean it can't be fresh.

    True, my simple concepts are not stories. They are starting points that can be developed into fresh and inventive stories. Bond is called upon to infiltrate the world of Formula 1 racing. The plot of one of the previous Bond films need not apply. Will there be similarities to a previous Bond film? Of course there will be. Anything put on film, especially in a series as long running as Bond, can be related to something previously seen: Bond meeting a woman, Bond driving fast, Bond defeating the bad guy. So, yes impossible not to find similarities. But that's not what we're talking about. We're talking about stories we haven't seen. I don't need another reworking of MR or YOLT. Been there, done that. Now that the entire cinematic history of Bond has been erased by NTTD, the filmmakers have a clean slate. If there's unused Fleming material from the novels, use it. But I don't want a Bond film that retreads stuff we've already scene. For example, were my Formula 1 film to be made, I wouldn't want some dopey scene in which a giant truck swallows up Grand Prix cars so that they never make it to the finish line. Give me the usual Bond fun and excitement, not a thinly disguised version of a Bond film I've already seen.
  • peterpeter Toronto
    edited October 8 Posts: 9,509
    Similarities that one could detect, especially long-term fans, will be in themes and conflicts, not necessarily a specific scene like vehicles of whatever kind swallowing other vehicles. And it’s not in character actions like driving fast, gambling or wearing tuxedos — as those are part of the character of Bond through the different actors that are all part of the timeless archetypes first set on the page by Fleming.

    Themes and conflicts, whether on a training mission, a pirate ship or investigating a formula one race will likely be ground they’ve covered before. What you’ve done, @CrabKey , is place them in fresh settings that haven’t been done before.

    “Same but different”…

    For example, I’ve never seen James Bond in the CN Tower before. But the reasons why he’s there I’ve likely already seen many times in these films (he’s following a lead; he’s meeting a contact, he’s going to gamble to get closer to a villain). This scene may end in a shoot out and him parachuting from the highest level of the tower, and landing on a CN train below, but the only thing wholly original to this little scene is the setting. Everything else has been covered.

    It’s about executing the same six or seven themes in fresh ways. And yes, one of those ways is to create a new setting.

    Check out the new Sarah Paulson film, Hold Your Breath. It’s ground that’s been covered before, but the setting (the dust storms of the 1930s), gives the film a whole fresh feeling…
  • echoecho 007 in New York
    Posts: 6,296
    As for me, I'd rather have character and story than action for action's sake. There was too much empty action in the Moore and Brosnan eras.

    Compare Bond's movements in the PTS of NTTD to TWINE. The former has a lot of story, and action where warranted with real stakes (a credit to Seydoux's acting during the car chase). The latter has a lot of empty action, aside from the beginning of the boat chase where Q is involved (in danger?) and the very end where Cigarette Girl is hanging off the balloon.

    Or compare the PTS of NTTD to the Rome car chase in SP. Again, it's no comparison because I feel the story motivating the action in the former, and I feel nothing in the latter.
  • Posts: 4,139
    CrabKey wrote: »
    007HallY wrote: »
    I think Aston Martins are here to stay. As said it's due to these brands having so much business association with the Bond series. The DB5 may or may not make a return as Bond's personal car. Personally, I'm fine with it making a brief appearance, but it doesn't have to either. I don't think simply changing Bond's car is the way to make these films fresh.
    CrabKey wrote: »
    If we can get away from the done to death world ending plots and villains, I think there are lots of ways to refresh this series. Just letting Bond do a little sleuthing and be a spy would be a change. And of course he'll be sucked into a bigger plot. Absolutely, get rid of that car once and for all. I love that car but move on. I'd love for Bond to own one of those old Bentley's. Maybe it's a restoration project. Just find a new direction. Let's quit thinking the only place to go is the past. Bond on a training mission without gear. Bond assigned to prevent someone from being assassinated. Bond to infiltrate formula one racing or world football. Bond on a ship that is hijacked by pirates. Bond on a mission to destroy an organization that manufacture bogus drugs. Bond sent to rescue a kidnapped dignitary. I doubt EON will call, but if they do, I'll post here first.

    I like some of those ideas a lot, but I think the issue is they're simply concepts, which by all means should be fresh and inventive, even if just for Bond. They're not stories however. Some of them have been done before even just broadly in the 007 series (ie. Bond preventing someone from being assassinated is TLD. Bond infiltrating anything, whether it's football or Formula One, is a tried and tested story outline that we see, for example, in Fleming's DAF with Bond infiltrating a diamond smuggling operation, or OHMSS with Bond going undercover as Bray). I'm pretty sure the others have all been done in non-Bond films before. That's not to say they couldn't or shouldn't be done in a Bond movie by the way. I'd love for a Bond film to start with Bond going on a training mission which goes wrong/leaves him without gear (it sounds a bit like TLD's PTS with a bit of DAD's and SF's thrown in, but stretched out a bit into the main story, which has potential).

    It's impossible for a Bond film not to have some sort of similarity to its predecessors. Again, they're formula based adventures. Short of having a Bond film with no villain, no Bond girl, no scheme for Bond to prevent etc. I'm not sure if a Bond story can be completely original. And that's fine. Doesn't mean it can't be fresh.

    True, my simple concepts are not stories. They are starting points that can be developed into fresh and inventive stories. Bond is called upon to infiltrate the world of Formula 1 racing. The plot of one of the previous Bond films need not apply. Will there be similarities to a previous Bond film? Of course there will be. Anything put on film, especially in a series as long running as Bond, can be related to something previously seen: Bond meeting a woman, Bond driving fast, Bond defeating the bad guy. So, yes impossible not to find similarities. But that's not what we're talking about. We're talking about stories we haven't seen. I don't need another reworking of MR or YOLT. Been there, done that. Now that the entire cinematic history of Bond has been erased by NTTD, the filmmakers have a clean slate. If there's unused Fleming material from the novels, use it. But I don't want a Bond film that retreads stuff we've already scene. For example, were my Formula 1 film to be made, I wouldn't want some dopey scene in which a giant truck swallows up Grand Prix cars so that they never make it to the finish line. Give me the usual Bond fun and excitement, not a thinly disguised version of a Bond film I've already seen.

    I suppose it’s a question of what in practice those concepts will produce when made into a film. As @peter said it’ll likely be a case where we see ‘old ground’ being covered, and it’ll be probably be there on a deeper story level beyond those typical Bond tropes.

    I’m not sure I’d want them to just use old Fleming material just for the sake of using it. If they get some sort of inspiration from the books or find something in that unused material appropriate for the story then fair enough. But simply mining Fleming superficially is a bit dull. I’d also say while NTTD is a thing, the history of Bond is still there, even if just in the collective minds of audiences. The next Bond film won’t completely be a clean slate even with a new cast - it’ll likely have the Bond theme, the same basic characters of people like M etc, the ‘shaken not stirred’ and ‘Bond, James Bond’ moments etc. The basic tropes and expectations of a Bond film will be there. It’s one of the reasons I wouldn’t mind the DB5 coming back even if later into the actor’s era. It’s so synonymous with Bond films it’s almost expected.
  • Posts: 3,276
    echo wrote: »
    Compare Bond's movements in the PTS of NTTD to TWINE. .
    The TWINE PTS, which is 10 minutes shorter than the one in NTTD, is classic Bond. One-liners, danger and a great setpiece with the Q boat. "Empty action" as you describe it. Kind of like all Bond movies from the last century.
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    edited October 8 Posts: 16,382
    Give me the PTSes of NTTD or SF over that any day.

    Echo’s right, when there’s a story reason for the action it’s more exciting and tense than without. The ski chase in FYEO is technically brilliant and probably superior to the one in OHMSS on a stunt/direction front. But the one in OHMSS is the centrepiece of the story: Bond has to get away to save his life and the world, it’s desperate stuff and incredibly exciting. Whereas the FYEO one just kind of… happens: it’s just a random threat to Bond’s life, for no particular reason, when he’s basically out for a stroll- so it doesn’t quite get the blood pumping in the same way.

    I don’t mind a random action scene dropped in, they can still be lots of fun (I love the FYEO one); but when there’s a story reason for it to happen it just takes it up a notch.
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 16,382
    Anyway, here’s the boss of Amazon MGM giving a little update on the new 007

    https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/oct/08/bonds-audience-will-be-patient-amazon-mgm-studios-boss-on-the-hunt-for-a-new-007


    (I thought that was worth a new post, apologies if that’s against the double post spirit)
  • edited October 8 Posts: 4,139
    It’s a fine balance. I think you need that legitimate element of danger in a Bond action sequence with a good dash of absurdity. You really need to feel this is a genuine threat to Bond’s life while being able to enjoy those humorous reprieves and a general suspension of disbelief. SF’s PTS gets it absolutely right in my opinion (I always say it’s so well done no one ever notices that Bond hijacks a digger that wouldn’t have a key in it, which is a strange sign of a great Bond action sequence. You also get those little humorous moments like Bond doing his cuffs after jumping which doesn’t distract or take anything away from the idea he’s slowly being beaten/eventually shot). NTTD does it well too.

    TWINE’s action sequences don’t ever quite have that same bite to them in my opinion. The PTS isn’t too bad for me personally. The worst examples are the helicopter sequence in the caviar factory and the ski chase.
    mtm wrote: »
    Anyway, here’s the boss of Amazon MGM giving a little update on the new 007

    https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/oct/08/bonds-audience-will-be-patient-amazon-mgm-studios-boss-on-the-hunt-for-a-new-007


    (I thought that was worth a new post, apologies if that’s against the double post spirit)

    Interesting. I suppose it’s a positive she’s saying publicly they’re taking EON’s lead.
  • slide_99slide_99 USA
    edited October 8 Posts: 693
    Something tells there are serious issues between EON and Amazon that are holding things up, which neither party is allowed to comment on. Probably has a lot to do with distribution strategies (streaming vs theatrical, etc) and maybe casting. There's never been this big a gap between Bond movies with absolutely no info on what's going on.
  • sandbagger1sandbagger1 Sussex
    Posts: 942
    They’ve never killed Bond before. This is new ground.
  • peterpeter Toronto
    edited October 8 Posts: 9,509

    😂 🤦‍♂️ 😂
    slide_99 wrote: »
    Something tells there are serious issues between EON and Amazon that are holding things up, which neither party is allowed to comment on. Probably has a lot to do with distribution strategies (streaming vs theatrical, etc) and maybe casting. There's never been this big a gap between Bond movies with absolutely no info on what's going on.

    When i was a teen, I was obsessed with Bond. Posters covered my walls and I sought any new info I could get between LTK and GE.

    Now living through both, news on Bond was far more sparse back then.

    But guess what? We all survived! The world didn’t end. And James Bond returned.
  • Posts: 4,139
    I could be wrong, but I think if there were unresolvable issues holding up Bond 26 then I suspect these issues would actually be a bit more public. Not to say there's no disagreements between EON and Amazon (and yes, they're probably to do with distribution strategies etc). It's also tempting to try and find one main reason why we're not getting a Bond film. In reality it might be due to many reasons, with Amazon being only one of them.

    I could of course be wrong and we might get hints of major disagreements between the two parties in the future. But as it is we have Salke (who I think knows Broccoli personally/outside of this) basically saying they'll follow EON's lead. It's also, as far as I can tell, the first time anyone's outright said they've discussed potential Bond actors, which I think is interesting.
  • peterpeter Toronto
    Posts: 9,509
    007HallY wrote: »
    It's also, as far as I can tell, the first time anyone's outright said they've discussed potential Bond actors, which I think is interesting.

    The angry mob that’d just love a chance to crucify “Barbara” and claim she’s too busy for Bond, or hates Bond, or doesn’t want to do another Bond film, gloss over little details like that @007HallY …! They’d much rather stay angry, lash out and spew their hated rather than see that things have been happening behind the scenes that we just aren’t privy to (which I assume riles them more, as they feel a sense of entitlement and want to hear every detail, YESTERDAY!!!).

  • Posts: 1,340
    She is busy, that's all.

    It's today's news.
  • peterpeter Toronto
    Posts: 9,509
    She is busy, that's all.

    It's today's news.

    Says the guy who says:

    “I don't expect a great Bond film from EON either.”

    🤦‍♂️
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,179
    There are a few possible scenarios to consider:
    A) They are thinking about the next Bond but they are also keeping quiet about it.
    B) They will soon start working on the next Bond and then they will throw us bits of news as they see fit.
    C) They are not thinking about the next Bond yet, not at all. Not in a long time.

    Either way, there is nothing we can do at the moment but wait.

    We can speculate, we can have fun dreaming, but we can only wait. Demanding that so and so are fired won't change a thing. Constructing echo chambers in which we endlessly repeat that B&M have lost interest in Bond, will not speed things up on their side.

    Because we can only wait.

    And 'we' are fans. Not crew members. Fans. And one conclusion I can draw from this thread is that it's best to NOT get the fans involved.
  • peterpeter Toronto
    Posts: 9,509
    And one conclusion I can draw from this thread is that it's best to NOT get the fans involved.

    Some very good things have been posted today, but this is the best, and wisest.
  • Posts: 1,340
    peter wrote: »
    She is busy, that's all.

    It's today's news.

    Says the guy who says:

    “I don't expect a great Bond film from EON either.”

    🤦‍♂️

    Yeah, I don't expect that. I expect an average movie form them.

    If I'm wrong I'll be the first to admit it. I want good movies too.
  • peterpeter Toronto
    Posts: 9,509
    peter wrote: »
    She is busy, that's all.

    It's today's news.

    Says the guy who says:

    “I don't expect a great Bond film from EON either.”

    🤦‍♂️

    Yeah, I don't expect that. I expect an average movie form them.

    If I'm wrong I'll be the first to admit it. I want good movies too.

    Sure.👍🏻.
  • Posts: 4,139
    peter wrote: »
    007HallY wrote: »
    It's also, as far as I can tell, the first time anyone's outright said they've discussed potential Bond actors, which I think is interesting.

    The angry mob that’d just love a chance to crucify “Barbara” and claim she’s too busy for Bond, or hates Bond, or doesn’t want to do another Bond film, gloss over little details like that @007HallY …! They’d much rather stay angry, lash out and spew their hated rather than see that things have been happening behind the scenes that we just aren’t privy to (which I assume riles them more, as they feel a sense of entitlement and want to hear every detail, YESTERDAY!!!).

    At the end of the day none of us are privy to what EON are doing, absolutely. I can imagine they've even done far more than any of us realise.

    Again, I'll take it as a positive that the Head of MGM Amazon is saying they're fully behind EON and are not worried about a hiatus.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    edited October 8 Posts: 40,968
    DarthDimi wrote: »
    And one conclusion I can draw from this thread is that it's best to NOT get the fans involved.

    Spot on. Hell, most can't even agree on the fundamentals or basics here without it dissolving into personal attacks and passive-aggressive commentary, but they're supposed to "listen to the fans" for where to go next? Wild.
  • peterpeter Toronto
    Posts: 9,509
    007HallY wrote: »
    peter wrote: »
    007HallY wrote: »
    It's also, as far as I can tell, the first time anyone's outright said they've discussed potential Bond actors, which I think is interesting.

    The angry mob that’d just love a chance to crucify “Barbara” and claim she’s too busy for Bond, or hates Bond, or doesn’t want to do another Bond film, gloss over little details like that @007HallY …! They’d much rather stay angry, lash out and spew their hated rather than see that things have been happening behind the scenes that we just aren’t privy to (which I assume riles them more, as they feel a sense of entitlement and want to hear every detail, YESTERDAY!!!).

    At the end of the day none of us are privy to what EON are doing, absolutely. I can imagine they've even done far more than any of us realise.

    Again, I'll take it as a positive that the Head of MGM Amazon is saying they're fully behind EON and are not worried about a hiatus.

    Exactly. It’s one of the world’s biggest IPs, and, at least on the surface, Amazon is showing professionalism and patience in that, this family, from Harry and Cubby, to MGW to BB to GW have been the gatekeepers their entire adult lives. They know what they’re doing. At least on the surface (because there have been many stories floating out of Amazon that relationships, not just with EoN, but other producers, did get off to a rocky start. But that’s also to be expected with such a huge transaction (lots of various personalities and egos). Hopefully these growing pains have been ironed out)).
  • DaltonforyouDaltonforyou The Daltonator
    Posts: 556
    I wish Bezos would start flexing his muscles on Barbara and get this train moving!
  • peterpeter Toronto
    Posts: 9,509
    I wish Bezos would start flexing his muscles on Barbara and get this train moving!

    Well, perhaps email him? Suggest he put in blue contact lenses, wear a blond wig, strip down to a pair of blue trunks, and have him give her the marching orders. I’m sure the old bimbo would fall for that.
  • Posts: 4,139
    Jeff Bezos probably has more on his mind than badgering EON. Truth be told I don't think he as an individual has much to do with any of this.
  • peterpeter Toronto
    Posts: 9,509
    007HallY wrote: »
    Jeff Bezos probably has more on his mind than badgering EON. Truth be told I don't think he as an individual has much to do with any of this.

    I’ll put down a week’s pay that you’re absolutely correct.
  • DenbighDenbigh UK
    edited October 8 Posts: 5,970
    The ironic thing as well is that getting Barbara and Michael fired will only make the process take even longer... if you want Bond 26 sooner, maybe don't consider cutting the head off the snake at the first hurdle?

    Anyway, I also just want to highlight those comments we literally got from Jennifer Salke in an article today that state; "We have a good and close relationship with EON and Barbara and Michael. We are not looking to disrupt the way those wonderful films are made. For us, we are taking their lead." She also said “the global audience will be patient. We don’t want too much time between films, but we are not concerned at this point.”
  • peterpeter Toronto
    Posts: 9,509
    Denbigh wrote: »
    The ironic thing as well is that getting Barbara and Michael fired will only make the process take even longer... if you want Bond 26 sooner, maybe don't consider cutting the head of the snake at the first hurdle?

    Anyway, I also just want to highlight those comments we literally got from Jennifer Salke in an article today that state; "We have a good and close relationship with EON and Barbara and Michael. We are not looking to disrupt the way those wonderful films are made. For us, we are taking their lead." She also said “the global audience will be patient. We don’t want too much time between films, but we are not concerned at this point.”

    The global audience will be patient?

    Has she read MI6 lately?

    Or the cranky boomer who writes Spy Command?

    😂
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