If there is one person that the fans are constantly deriding, it's David Arnold. To say his scores are unpopular is an understatement. But the other "person" who takes a lot of heat if the writer. And in this case, there are two: Neal Purvis and Robert Wade. Or, as they have become known, Pervert and Waste. Personally, I don't think they deserve half the criticism they get, but it did stir a thought in me when I was typing a response to another thead - if Purvis and Wade leave the Bond series, who should EON bring in to replace them?
My choice would be <b>Will Beall</b>. Do yourself a favour and get your hands on the second and third seasons of "Castle". Watch season two's "Sucker Punch", and season three's "Knock Down" and "Knockout". They all tell parts of a larger story within the show's mythology, and they are quite possibly three of the best hours of television that you will ever watch - and it's only really just beginning, so I'm eagerly keeping an eye out for more Beall episodes. In the wake of CASINO ROYALE and QUANTUM OF SOLACE, there have been a lot of calls from fans for the series to drop the melodrama and go for a tightly-paced thriller. Based on "Sucker Punch", "Knock Down" and "Knockout", I believe Beall could deliver exactly that.
Any other suggestions?
Comments
I wouldn't know where to start in choosing a writer to do the Bond films post Purvis/Wade.... but if I were directing, and had my choice of a writer, i would choose Oliver Butcher and/or Stephen Cornwell - they worked on the Liam Neeson film "UNKNOWN"... or ... Bridget O'Conner and/or Peter Straughan - from their work on "TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY"
I am not sure why some believe instantly getting the TINKER writers means they can do a Bond film. They are poles apart, completely different sensibilities.
Saying that, BOND XXIII may just be nearer to what folk like in TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY anyway. Watch this space...
Hey Shadow,
In another discussion you mentioned how Jeffery Deaver drops hints about writing for Bond films, and how hes tried to use the success of his books to convince his abilities. You think you could elaborate?
Deaver got the CARTE BLANCHE gig when he said that Ian Fleming was a huge early influence on him, unaware that ian Fleming Publications was watching. When they decided to commission a new Bond novel, they approached Deaver, in part because of his respect and admiration for Ian Fleming.
I said that if I ever wanted to write a Bond film, then I should do something like Deaver: write a sting of highly-successful novels, and then make overtures towards EON about writing a Bond film based on my novel-writing credentials. I didn't say anything about Deaver wanting to write a Bond film or trying to use his reputation to get the gig. TINKER TAILOR is a spy film. TINKER TAILOR was well-received. Therefore, if the people who wrote TINKER TAILOR were to write a Bond film, that Bond film would be successful and popular and memorable.
At least, that's what I'd say those people believe.
Thanks for clearing, :P
Take, for example, THE EMPTY CHAIR. Early in the story, a character is presented as an expert in a particular field. They dismiss a theory on the basis of insufficient evidence, and the character is shown to have no reason to lie. Therefore, the audience accepts this explanation, and disregards the theory. However, at the end of the story, that theory is not only valid, it underpins the entire plot.
But moving on:
In all seriousness, I would love at least to see a script from Quentin Tarantino. Even if he just writes a Bond film, and is not necessarily influenced to do so by Eon. I'd like to see what he'd do with it, and it would make for good reading. He has stated before he'd like to direct a Bond film, but he probably wouldn't realistically write it, if ever contacted by Eon to direct. I don't think there has ever been a writer/director for a Bond film.
Cameron Crowe (Vanilla Sky). See the directer sugestion thread why.
Hossein Amini. (Drive, Shanghai)
Bond 25:
Hossein Amini. (Drive, Shanghai and The Four Feathers.) & Michael Schiffer ( The Four Feathers, The Peacemaker & Crimson Tide )
Hossein Amini mix of writing for old and young and action/adventures & thrillers.
I know we discus writers, but i like to look some steps further and give a good reasen. Tomorrow Never Dies production designer Allan Cameron (& second united directer Vic Armstrong) do another Bond movie because there working on The Four Feathers. Atleast Allan Cameron. Stuard Baid i like to see return then as editor (in specialy of the Madagascar scene's in CR.). For another choose insteed of Vic Armstrong mabey Paul Jennings (stunts or stunts coordinator for GE,Twine, The Mummy, The Saint, Mission Impossible ), Alan Stewart (Sherlock Holmes, Elizabeth: The Golden Age) or Alexander Witt. Phil Meheux can be re-consider as cinematopgrapher. The directer Shekhar Kapur (Born in India, but live in Uk.) can be intresting too. Antony Hunt (visual effects producer or Supervisor for Harry Potter, Entrapment, K-19: The Widowmaker, Goldeneye and The World Is Not Enough.) working on that movie also. . The guy who working on The Four Feathers, Never Say Never Again and The Mummy as Set Decorator be not avaible because he is to old and quite in 2002. But Peter Young Set Decorator of Tomorrow Never Dies, The Saint, and The Mummy Returns i think be good alternative. Watch the trailer http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi2549219609/ with James Bond humor, but moost import it look like it have a plot where the hero fight for his own country but also for a far from his beath country. Exact what i like to see be inprovement in the next 3 couple of Bond movies. Michael Schiffer who working with him on The Fourh Feathers is Thriller writer as you can see. This for the people who be afraid for to much Twine elements to make more another Twine AND TLD.
Ronald Bass (Entrapment, Amelia 2009) & Anna Hamilton Phelan (Amelia 2009) .
Open sugestion:
A 3 writers mix: Peter Straughan (The Debt, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy ), Matthew Vaughn (The Debt, Layer Cake) & Jane Goldman (The Debt, James Bond Supports International Women's Day) then Vaughn or John Madden (directer of The Debt and working earlier with Judi Dench.) can be consider as directer.
That would be a disaster, but the fanboys would love it.
YES,YES,YES and Chris to direct also with Christian Bale or Tom Hardy as the next Bond.
Me
Why do you believe so?
I would also add Peter Morgan (with a legitimate production) and Luc Besson
Still, I've always wanted to know if J. J. Connolly could pull it off. Only credit: Layer Cake. But it's a good credit.
Alex Garland would be another interesting choice.
Christopher Hampton works exclusively on adaptations now, unfortunately.
With Peter Weir or Sam Mendes as directer.
Don't know why but when saw Master and Commander i must think about Skyfall a litle bit and how intresting it can be to have John Logan work with them.
Master and Commander with some human ending, whyle Happy Feet go more about human difrence. John Logan wrote various movies about chacters in difrent time like Gladiator. Weinstein Brothers of The weinstein Company are co producers, The weinstein Company = Mgm.
Now that my friend is a genius idea!
The fhype, cinematography, production design, chacterdevelopment and humor that already be in that litle footage of The Counselor feels amazing. Get a bit of Quantum Of Solace meet Skyfall feeling. That movie is written by Cormac McCarthy http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0565092 If Eon whant second writer besides Logan then i think Eon should consider him.
Steven Knight. English. Directer and writer http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1140275
Smart move to show some footage of Hummingbird after promotion for Counselor. He wrote Dirty Pretty Things from the twice say no to Bond directer Stephen Frears and Amazing Grace directed by Michael Apted.