Multiple Oscar winner Peter Morgan is co-scripting the Bond movie — he and Sheen have worked together on numerous occasions, including “The Queen” and “Frost/Nixon”. This long standing writer-actor relationship gives some significant weight to the rumor; and we already know Morgan has the Midas touch when writing for Sheen — this could be good, very good.

Blofeld portrayals

The Sun are continuing with their already debunked Danny Boyle to direct rumor. Maybe Dev Patel will be the next Bond?

‘While Danny says he always has and always will enjoy the Bond movies he has no plans to direct one. Danny is naturally flattered to be thought of!’

Before speaking directly with Entertainment Weekly:

‘I enjoy the Bond movies, always have and always will, but I have no plans to direct one. I don’t know who came up with the story, but please tell them I’m very flattered to be thought of!’

A source said: “Danny is the man of the moment and he is being bombarded with offers from studios.
“He has been offered the chance to direct the 23rd Bond film by Barbara. The EON team love his vision and think that it would work perfectly for the new look of Bond.
“Danny has always insisted he is more interested in the film than the money.
“However, with Daniel Craig’s involvement and the way the films are now structured — with the emphasis on the characters and plot rather than gags and gadgets — it is right up Danny’s street.
“Everyone on the EON team thinks Danny would be a fantastic addition to the Bond family.”

Via /Film

“They offered me the next one, but at this point the pressure is so intense — it’s a year of not having a life. And I don’t know if I want to do that again. It’s literally not having a life, and I mean that, it’s not exaggerated. I feel like life is short, you have to find a balance.”

Who should direct the next Bond movie?

* There has been a suggestion that Olga Kurylenko may return in this movie or the next Bond movie after.

* Producer Michael G. Wilson has stated that preliminary work will start on this movie in January 2009.

* Ian Fleming’s short story “OO7 in New York” is rumored to going to be the basis for this film. It was first published in the The New York Herald Tribune in 1963 and then in the US edition only of Fleming’s ‘Thrilling Cities”. It was first published in the UK in November 1999 in The Sunday Times magazine supplement as a tie-in with the film release of the Bond movie The World Is Not Enough (1999). It’s working title was “Reflections in a Carey Cadillac” and it’s original title was “Agent 007 in New York” when published in the NY Herald Tribune. The story features a Bond Girl called Solange, a name which was used for a character in Casino Royale (2006). For the first time in 2002, the short-story was added to the “Octopussy and The Living Daylights” compendium which includes these two short stories plus “The Property of a Lady”. This was the first time that the short story was published alongside other Bond short stories. “OO7 in New York” is the shortest and also arguably the least well-known of all the Ian Fleming James Bond short-stories. The story is famous for representing two story elements: (1) it includes James Bond’s only literary shopping expedition and (2) it includes his recipe for scrambled eggs.

* It is likely that the criminal organization QUANTUM will feature in this film after being introduced but anonymously in Casino Royale (2006) and also appearing but revealed in Quantum of Solace (2008). The producers have stated that it is their intention for QUANTUM to feature as a regular foe of James Bond.

* Quantum of Solace (2008) director Marc Forster has mentioned that he isn’t planning on signing-on to direct this movie.

* There have been apparently conflicting reports relating to whether this movie will be released in 2010 or 2011, the studio favoring the former with producer Michael G. Wilson mentioning the latter.

* This will be the 23rd James Bond movie in the EON Productions official series and the 26th James Bond film overall.

* Daniel Craig is contracted to do three pictures with an option for a fourth and so this will likely be his third time playing James Bond. It is possibly the case that this movie could be Craig’s final playing James Bond. Reportedly, an October 20, 2008 interview appearing in Hollywood.com states “Craig could stay on for a fourth movie as well, but it’s not likely” with Craig quoted as saying: “I can’t see doing it beyond another movie”.

* If Judi Dench returns for this movie, it will be her 7th outing as M. It has been touted that this might be Dench’s last time playing M in the series.

* Whether this film is released in 2010 or 2011, it should be noted that 2012 is the 50th Anniversary of the EON Productions James Bond franchise. There will no doubt be some celebrations of this birthday milestone as there was with the series 40th Birthday when Die Another Day (2002) was released forty years after Dr. No (1962).

* This movie is not expected to be a direct follow-on from Quantum of Solace (2008) and Casino Royale (2006) which the former was a direct sequel to the latter. Producer Barbara Broccoli has said that the series “will go on to other different stories from now on.” However, there still is likely to be the appearance of the QUANTUM organization, but with different villains. Moreover, Broccoli has also hinted at the possibility of a trilogy, which means a connection with Casino Royale (2006) and Quantum of Solace (2008), saying that “I think in some way, he will go after the [Quantum] organization. So in that sense, it may become a trilogy, but we haven’t really structured it that way.”

* It has been touted that this film will be shot in New York. In the published Ian Fleming stories, James Bond goes to New York in “Live And Let Die”, “Diamonds Are Forever”, “Goldfinger” and the short story “007 in New York”. In the movies, he went there previously in Live and Let Die (1973).

* Reportedly, this is expected to be the first James Bond movie released after the Sony-MGM studio partnership. This is allegedly due to a legal agreement which was made when Sony formed a consortium to buy the MGM studio four years ago in 2004. Quantum of Solace (2008) and its precursor Casino Royale (2006) have both been MGM / Columbia Pictures co-productions and both studio logos are seen at the start of each film. For Bond 23 (2010), MGM is expected to return to being the Bond franchise’s sole exclusive studio. However, it has been touted that Sony may be staying on.

* With the use Quantum of Solace (2008), an original Ian Fleming James Bond story title for the Bond movie made prior to this, there now remains only four unused original Fleming titles that could possibly be used as a title for this film. These are “The Property of a Lady”, “The Hildebrand Rarity”, “Risico” and “007 in New York” (aka “Agent 007 in New York”).

* There has been a strong suggestion that this film may be filmed in New York. Interestingly, the 007 Magazine has reported a time when in the early days of trying to film what would become Never Say Never Again (1983), the following 1975 Bond movie New York location scout occured: “In 1975 McClory [i.e. Kevin McClory], accompanied by Sean Connery, traveled to New York in order to scout locations for their new 007 project then entitled James Bond of the Secret Service. The script, co-written by McClory, Sean Connery and Len Deighton (thriller writer and creator of the Harry Palmer character immortalised on screen by Michael Caine) included scenes inside and outside the Statue of Liberty, where the villainous SPECTRE has a secret base from where they launch robotic sharks to keep away any prying intruders.”

* The characters of Miss Moneypenny and Q, who have not appeared in the last two Bond movies Casino Royale (2006) and Quantum of Solace (2008), are said to be returning in this movie. Samantha Bond, the last actress to play Moneypenny, has said that she won’t be returning to the role. As such, a new actress would likely be cast when/if her character returns to the series. Producer Michael G. Wilson has allegedly hinted that Moneypenny will return but Q may/will not.

* Variety columnist Liz Smith wrote this in her column on Wednesday 10th September 2008. The piece is about this movie being filmed in New York using its Primola Restaurant as one of it’s locations: “WHO WAS that blond stunner who froze forks mid-air at the posh Primola eatery in N.Y.? Oh yes indeed, it was Daniel Craig, 007 himself. The studly Daniel was accompanied by his producer Barbara Broccoli. (She is the daughter of ‘Albert “Cubby’ Broccoli’, who co-produced all the James Bond films until his death in 1996. Barbara took over and now has a “license to film.”) Daniel and Barbara talked about the next Bond epic, part of which will be filmed — for the very first time! — in New York [sic, Live and Let Die (1973) was partially filmed in New York]. Primola itself will have a little cameo. Maybe Daniel just wanted to see if the restaurant could handle those shoulders of his.”

* Writers are scheduled to begin the film script by the end of January 2009.