SPECTRE Production Timeline

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  • edited September 2013 Posts: 2,598
    Sorry, Logan. Shame on me! ;)
    Bounine wrote:
    Bounine wrote:
    "Bamigboye writes: Director Sam Mendes, Craig, and producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson are all big fans of Naomie’s and don’t want her to be too desk-bound, as other Moneypennys have been.

    ‘The idea formulating in Bond-land is for Naomie to be much more of a sidekick to James, and for her to get out and harm the bad guys,’ an executive close to the production told me."


    What a load of rubbish. Bond is a loner and works alone. He doesn't have a sidekick. These people it seems know little about James Bond, plain and simple. Spying in reality is a lonely profession anyway. If this is what Mendes is doing then I am in complete lament that they chose to have him as a director again. To hell with this garbage. What a p*** take! Well, I guess the viewing of other films will take priority over this lunacy they're currently calling Bond 24.

    As for Fiennes, he is a fantastic actor and not Bond's sidekick but boss so I won't mind really if we some more scenes from him in England.

    While it's true that Bond is no social butterfly, it is completely inaccurate to say that he doesn't have a sidekick. The relationship Fleming builds between Bond and his allies (Leiter, Mathis, Kerim Bey, Draco, Quarrel, etc.) is utterly central to the novels, and is one of the most striking features of the Bond character. Bond may be a rather cold man, but the love he has for his few close friends is powerful, even to the point of bringing Bond close to tears.

    When I referred to "sidekick" I meant some action oriented character shooting all the bad guys just like Bond and together with Bond. Someone running around with Bond doing lots of physical arse kicking isn't a nice thought, especially when it's Moneypenny. All those characters you named except for maybe Felix haven't helped Bond in this capacity. I can't recall Felix doing this either. If she were merely doing some spying it wouldn't be as bad. She did this in the Moneypenny Diaries but she wasn't working with Bond. In fact she was predominantly on her own. I don't like the thought of those two going out and working in the field together. She's always been a secretary in the films and the actual Bond novels. If she is to leave the office in Bond 24 then fine, have her engage in some investigative work but she should spend very little time working with Bond in the field. I hate the backstory they gave her in Skyfall. It's so typically Hollywood. Why couldn't they just show her having some interesting and perhaps amusing interview with the head of MI6, Chief of Staff and whoever else might have been required to interview her.

    In the novels, and to a significant extent in the films, Bond's sidekicks do engage in some roughhousing with Bond. Now having said this, let me say that I in no way, shape or form support Moneypenny becoming another Wai Lin or Jinx.

    To a significant extent? I must have forgotten about these incidents. I only remember minor scenes. Certainly we've had physical Bond girls but I'm not talking about these players and I never liked Lin or Berry's characters. Their fighting roles were too large and Bond worked with them for too long. I remember Sir Godfrey doing a bit of fighting in AVTAK in the underground factory at the stables. That was fine. Yeah, you get some of Bond's allies engaging in a bit of gun play. No problem. Kerim in FRWL for incidence at the Gypsy camp but I really don't like the thought of a character who has been a secretary in the entire history of the films and the books to suddenly be doing this and especially for a good part of the film. It's an almost complete character change. It's almost like suddenly deciding to have Miss Marple, after many years, learn karate and have her engage in fight scenes.

    I wonder who was responsible for this bulls*** Moneypenny back story. You know, after CR and even QOS to an extent (although this film had way too much action for my liking but I heard later on that the lack of story was due to the writer's strike) I finally felt like they were back on track. The films (including Skyfall) had got darker, more Flemingsque with greater character work and grittier action scenes and now they pull this rubbish. Character development is good but it must be good character development. One must remain faithful to long, established characters.

  • 4EverBonded4EverBonded the Ballrooms of Mars
    edited September 2013 Posts: 12,480
    Actually, I do not find Hardy attractive at all; I definitely would not call him "on the pretty side." Brosnan is definitely handsome. I like Hardy as an actor, but his looks ... not really.

    And no, I do not want a Jinx or Wai Lin kind of role for Moneypenny. But I like the back story for this Moneypenny.
  • SandySandy Somewhere in Europe
    Posts: 4,012
    I saw so many new comments in this thread that I thought, there must be some hot news! How wrong I was, just commenting gossip. Unless I hear from the actual source that MP is going to be a field agent again I'm not buying it. Yes, Baz gets it right a lot but he also gets things wrong and sometimes confuses things. For example I'll pick something recent. He was one of those who broke the news that Craig was doing Betrayal on Broadway however at the time I remember him saying that Craig and Weisz were only doing it if Mike Nichols accepted to direct. Now we know that Nichols was in from the start and he was the one who invited Craig.
    All I'm saying is that Baz has his sources, he might get some things right but we should never forget his info is only as good as what his "sources" heard. I really think we shouldn't make a storm in a glass of water over this. Having said this, I prefer MP to stay in her desk and that is what we got at the end of SF. However, I don't mind her popping up somewhere to give a helping hand (e.g. DAF).
  • @Sandy- exactly! There's nothing wrong with Moneypenny lending a hand in some subtle way, but it doesn't make sense to have her going out into the field and getting physically involved like shooting someone or helping Bond in the casino by knocking out a bad guy, when they made it clear she'd already declined that job description and elected to take a desk job. If Baz isn't wrong about this, then clearly it's about the amount of work that Harris does to justify her paycheck, and I'm still not ruling out pressure by the likes of the feministas and minority interest groups sticking their noses in where they don't belong.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,960
    @Sandy- exactly! There's nothing wrong with Moneypenny lending a hand in some subtle way, but it doesn't make sense to have her going out into the field and getting physically involved like shooting someone or helping Bond in the casino by knocking out a bad guy, when they made it clear she'd already declined that job description and elected to take a desk job. If Baz isn't wrong about this, then clearly it's about the amount of work that Harris does to justify her paycheck, and I'm still not ruling out pressure by the likes of the feministas and minority interest groups sticking their noses in where they don't belong.

    That was my thought when SF ended: Fiennes is such a big actor, and to justify the paychecks of Whishaw and Harris, are they always going to get more screentime than fans may want? Instead of having the traditional Bond flirts with Moneypenny, meets M for the missions, meets Q for the gadgets, and he's on his way, are we going to have more of Q and MP in the field with M always in sight?
  • Posts: 7,653
    I enjoyed the Moneypenny diaries but even there the story was about Eve Moneypenny and 007 played an important role but was not the leading character.

    If they want to make a movie of the three Moneypenny books I am fine with that, if not Moneypenny should be a part of the movie but not as sidekick. Q as sidekick in LTK was ridicolous as well even if the man is funny as a whip.
  • pachazopachazo Make Your Choice
    edited September 2013 Posts: 7,314
    I keep thinking that if they wanted a female agent then they shouldn't have casted Harris as Moneypenny. Moneypenny is a secretary. There are still plenty of women in the business world that have secretary/administrative assistant type jobs. There's nothing wrong with that. It's not a statement that women can or should only do those types of jobs. We just had a female M so it's not like this series is being degrading towards women. If they want to put a woman in the field then so be it but please keep Moneypenny behind her desk where she belongs.
  • Sandy wrote:
    He was one of those who broke the news that Craig was doing Betrayal on Broadway however at the time I remember him saying that Craig and Weisz were only doing it if Mike Nichols accepted to direct. Now we know that Nichols was in from the start and he was the one who invited Craig.
    Well, we'll never know for sure, but it could also mean that it's another case of a scoop again, and that his version may be true, despite all the PR versions that are been told after ! I dare say I think the producers asked Craig first anyway :)



  • 4EverBonded4EverBonded the Ballrooms of Mars
    Posts: 12,480
    If the story is going in a different direction with a recurring character, then yes I feel sure Mendes and Craig have discussed it.
  • edited September 2013 Posts: 2,598
    SaintMark wrote:
    I enjoyed the Moneypenny diaries but even there the story was about Eve Moneypenny and 007 played an important role but was not the leading character.

    If they want to make a movie of the three Moneypenny books I am fine with that, if not Moneypenny should be a part of the movie but not as sidekick. Q as sidekick in LTK was ridicolous as well even if the man is funny as a whip.

    Agreed.

    "I keep thinking that if they wanted a female agent then they shouldn't have casted Harris as Moneypenny. Moneypenny is a secretary. There are still plenty of women in the business world that have secretary/administrative assistant type jobs. There's nothing wrong with that. It's not a statement that women can or should only do those types of jobs. We just had a female M so it's not like this series is being degrading towards women. If they want to put a woman in the field then so be it but please keep Moneypenny behind her desk where she belongs."

    Agreed too.

    I don't think Harris was even very good in Skyfall.

    Bond in Ireland? Wouldn't be opposed to this but I would like Bond to go to more exotic countries too. It doesn't even make much of a difference what countries Bond goes to in the films as he visits so many in the course of one movie and only spends a few precious minutes in one place or else they are all interior scenes, then he moves on to his next destination. Unfortunately it's not like in the older films where Bond would spend longer in one place and soak up the culture like in the books. We used to get much more exterior shots too. London in Skyfall is an exception in terms of the post 80's films.
  • Posts: 5,745
    This weekend, John Logan and Barbara Broccoli attended an event supporting the Irish Film Industry. When asked if Ireland would be considered for Bond 24, Broccoli stated "If Logan writes it into the script, we would love to shoot a Bond film here."

    Logan also commented that he would be working on the Sam Mendes-directed Penny Dreadful TV-Series while in Ireland, as well as continuing work on his Bond 24 script. He went on to say that he would take the next few months to absorb the scenery and consider writing it into the script.

    Does this mean that preliminary location scouting for Bond 24 has begun? How far along is Logan's script? Do you want Ireland to feature as a location?
  • Posts: 686
    JWESTBROOK wrote:
    This weekend, John Logan and Barbara Broccoli attended an event supporting the Irish Film Industry. When asked if Ireland would be considered for Bond 24, Broccoli stated "If Logan writes it into the script, we would love to shoot a Bond film here."

    Logan also commented that he would be working on the Sam Mendes-directed Penny Dreadful TV-Series while in Ireland, as well as continuing work on his Bond 24 script. He went on to say that he would take the next few months to absorb the scenery and consider writing it into the script.

    Does this mean that preliminary location scouting for Bond 24 has begun? How far along is Logan's script? Do you want Ireland to feature as a location?

    Why wouldn't they, it is cheap and I am sure the film industry gets a tax break.
  • Posts: 5,767
    Bond should visit Ireland in the next film. He was in Scotland in SF. Then in Bond 25, he should meet an ally in Wales, much like he met Mathis in QOS. Imagine, Bond knocks on the door of some Welsh mansion, just like he knocked on Mathis´ door, and when the door opens we see Timothy Dalton :-)!

    Anyway, would be a good opportunity to see something of those islands.
  • Posts: 2,598
    Yeah, Timothy Dalton should return. Either playing a villain or an ally. For me, preferably an ally as I'd like to see him in further Bond films. I'm serious about this actually. I think it's been long enough now for him to return to the series in some other role. He's 25 years older than he was. I don't think it would be an issue. At any rate, it shouldn't be an issue.
  • Ireland would be a good PTS location, along the lines of Spain in TWINE. I don't see them using it as a major setting, but considering the restless wanderlust of recent Bond films, it wouldn't be too difficult to cram Ireland into the itinerary.

    Any Irish shenanigans would surely involve Mallory, given his character's history in the Troubles.
  • RC7RC7
    Posts: 10,512
    It would be a good business move, given that all you yanks think you're Irish ;)
  • BennyBenny Shaken not stirredAdministrator, Moderator
    Posts: 15,129
    RC7 wrote:
    It would be a good business move, given that all you yanks think you're Irish ;)

    There'd have to be a character/s Paddy and Seamus though.
    Ireland doesn't bother me as a locale. But not as a main location perhaps.
  • The only reason I can think for Bond going to Ireland would be if he went to Belfast and saw somebody with a connection to M whilst being tortured during the Troubles. Maybe an ex-paramilitary loyalist? Someone from the Royal Irish Regt?
  • 4EverBonded4EverBonded the Ballrooms of Mars
    Posts: 12,480
    Some connection to Mallory.
    I'd LOVE Bond to visit Ireland. As one of several places, sure.
    But I'd really enjoy the Irish scenery in a Bond film.
  • Posts: 12,526
    Would have no issue with a location in Ireland assuming it works within the story of course?
  • doubleoegodoubleoego #LightWork
    Posts: 11,139
    We had huge portions of SF taking place in London and Scotland; besides the obligatory MI6 office scenes and possibly a look at Bobd's flat (which I doubt) I really want the next few films to stay away from the UK and Ireland and I most certainly don't want to delve into connections into M's past. We've had way too much of this close, personal ties. Just send Bond overseas for a cracking adventure.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,960
    doubleoego wrote:
    We had huge portions of SF taking place in London and Scotland; besides the obligatory MI6 office scenes and possibly a look at Bobd's flat (which I doubt) I really want the next few films to stay away from the UK and Ireland and I most certainly don't want to delve into connections into M's past. We've had way too much of this close, personal ties. Just send Bond overseas for a cracking adventure.

    I'm with this. There's definitely something they could do with Ireland, and if Deakins is on board, it would look even more beautiful, but I don't want any personal ties to the characters or anything of the sort. Just send Bond away to stop the bad guy.
  • CraigMooreOHMSSCraigMooreOHMSS Dublin, Ireland
    Posts: 8,207
    As someone who has worked in film production for a number of years in Ireland, I can safely say there are a huge number of locations in this country that could be brilliantly utilised for a sequence in a Bond film. Plus, if the production did make its way here, I might get a job out of it ;)
  • Samuel001Samuel001 Moderator
    edited September 2013 Posts: 13,355
    With M having history in Ireland we may go there one day but I hope not in Bond 24. It's time for something different.
  • edited September 2013 Posts: 3,494
    AgentJM7 wrote:
    The only reason I can think for Bond going to Ireland would be if he went to Belfast and saw somebody with a connection to M whilst being tortured during the Troubles. Maybe an ex-paramilitary loyalist? Someone from the Royal Irish Regt?

    I think Belfast would be just the kind of place Bond would go and perhaps find himself in a dangerous situation or covert meeting. The M connection would make sense too. I don't know what the surrounding countryside in Counties Antrim and Down might look like, but in the early 1990's I dated a lovely black haired au pair from nearby County Donegal named Terri (yes, yes, yes I loved her gentle yet a bit gravelly lilt from smoking lots of Marlboro Reds, especially when intimate and in the dark ;) ). She spoke fluent Gaelic, and showed me pictures of her home town near the coast and the county was wonderfully scenic with mountains, shorelines, castles, etc, it sounds like it would be a nice location.

    Plus @CraigMooreOHMSS could get a job out of it!

  • Samuel001Samuel001 Moderator
    Posts: 13,355
    @CraigMooreOHMSS, you should see if you can get in on Penny Dreadful and in with the Bond crowd!
  • Posts: 9,843
    I would be happy with Ireland in bond 24
  • RC7RC7
    Posts: 10,512
    the county was wonderfully scenic with mountains, shorelines, castles, etc, it sounds like it would be a nice location.

    It's a beautiful country, but very similar to Scotland. Naturally it has it's own identity, I would say it's slightly more lush, where Scotland can be very barren. I guess it depends what other locations it would be offset with. I'm sure they'd avoid the palette and tones of SF, so perhaps it would be ok. I'd personally be happy to see what they could with it. It would be a decent pre or immediate post-titles location, before Bond finds himself in a more exotic locale (please EON).
  • doubleoego wrote:
    We had huge portions of SF taking place in London and Scotland; besides the obligatory MI6 office scenes and possibly a look at Bobd's flat (which I doubt) I really want the next few films to stay away from the UK and Ireland and I most certainly don't want to delve into connections into M's past. We've had way too much of this close, personal ties. Just send Bond overseas for a cracking adventure.

    I tend to agree with this. There needs to be sharp disparity from Bond film to Bond film. A brief stop in Ireland could be okay, but as a major setting it would be too similar to Scotland. There are dozens of locations that would be more suitable for B24, IMO.

  • oo7oo7
    Posts: 1,068
    large.jpg
    more Guinness that's where they were going wrong
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