With Bond 24 set to start production this October, we’re finally beginning to hear a bit more about the project. Though it’s still currently without a title, we do know that the filmmakers plan to continue the themes that were introduced in the last instalment, Skyfall.
While speaking to Empire in a recent interview, screenwriter John Logan revealed that the first draft of the script is nearly done and that he’s very excited about it.
“Right now the first draft is almost done. I’m terrifically excited about it! I’ve been working very closely with Sam [Mendes], and it’s been joyous to pick up from our work on Skyfall and just continue on with the storytelling. The new movie continues the themes of Skyfall. Some of the characters and themes that we began to introduce in Skyfall will play out, I hope successfully, in the next movie.
Daniel’s very involved, too. It behooves no-one to write a character that the lead actor doesn’t want to play, so having worked so closely on Skyfall, I have my own sense of what I think Dan responds to, as does Sam, [and producers] Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson of course.”
He was then questioned about S.P.E.C.T.R.E., the super-villain group that’s rumored to be making an appearance in the film. As expected though, he would neither confirm or deny if they will factor into the story.
“There might be [a presence of S.P.E.C.T.R.E.]! Honestly, not being evasive, but the great thing about Bond is that I have fifty years of movies – 23 movies and all the Ian Fleming novels and short stories, all of which are fodder. And when I’m working on the new Bond I’m constantly going back to Fleming and the other movies – what are the bits and pieces, what are the resonances? One of the things we learned in Skyfall is that the audience really enjoyed those, they enjoyed when they saw the Aston Martin, they enjoyed when we had references to things they grew up with, either from Ian Fleming or from the other movies, and that’s always been a part of my thinking about Bond.”
Finally, and perhaps the most exciting bit of news, was when Logan was asked if Bond 24 would be as big as Skyfall, to which he replied, “You ain’t seen nothing yet!” Considering how well-received the last entry into the franchise was, that’s a pretty bold claim and as a lifelong James Bond fan, I can only hope that Logan isn’t over-hyping his upcoming film.
Bond 24 will shoot its way into theatres in the UK on October 23rd, 2015 and November 6th, 2015 in the United States. Are you excited by Logan’s comments? Sound off below!