MGM watch: Lions Gate offers to combine operations with MGM

The Associated Press IN A STORY YOU CAN VIEW BY CLICKING HERE reports that Lions Gate Entertainment is offering to combine its operations with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. Here’s how the story starts:

NEW YORK — Lions Gate is offering to combine its business with MGM in a deal supported by billionaire investor Carl Icahn, who owns stakes in both studios.

Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. said Tuesday it has sent a proposal for a combination with financially troubled Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.

Lions Gate said the combined company would be owned by its shareholders and by MGM’s creditors. These include Icahn.

Terms weren’t disclosed, though a report in the Los Angeles Times said the deal would give MGM’s lenders a 55 percent in the combined company. Lions Gate and MGM declined to comment.

Spyglass Entertainment on Oct. 7 began seeking support from MGM creditors for a plan where Spyglass’s top executives would take command of MGM after a “pre-packaged” bankruptcy. MGM’s secured creditors (meaning they have some sort of collateral) have until Oct. 22 to weigh in on that proposal.

For 007 fans, more fun, more complications. Remember the line in 1971’s Diamonds Are Forever where Willard Whyte played Monopoly “with real buildings”? 007’s fate depends on people like that.

A Bourne movie without Bourne? Here’s hoping Eon doesn’t copy that idea

Eon Productions has been “inspired” by the Jason Bourne franchise in its last two James Bond films starring Daniel Craig. 007 has been grim, not showing much in the way of humor and, with Quantum of Solace, there were lots of shaky camera shots and it even had Bourne’s second-unit director Dan Bradley.

The Bourne franchise is about to make its boldest move yet, as EXPLAINED IN THIS YAHOO MOVIES STORY:

The next film will be called “The Bourne Legacy,” but even though the name’s in the title, the film will have no Jason Bourne. Thus, no Matt Damon. Interestingly enough, the book “The Bourne Legacy” does have Jason Bourne (though it wasn’t actually written by Robert Ludlum, the creator of the book series).

On the Hollywood Elsewhere Web site, new director Tony Gilroy describes it like this:

“The easiest way to think of it is an expansion or a reveal,” Gilroy says. “Jason Bourne will not be in this film, but he’s very much alive. What happened in the first three films is the trigger for what happens. I’m building a legend and an environment and a wider conspiracy…the world we’re making enhances and advances and invites Jason Bourne’s return [down the road].

OK. Grim avenger Bond? That’s one way to play the part. Shaky camera? It’s kind of an in-thing among filmmakers these days. But we would not be interested in a James Bond movie without James Bond just to explain what the criminal organization Quantum is all about. (And yes, we can already hear a joke one of our 007 friends would tell based on this posting.)