SPECTRE passes $790 million mark globally

SPECTRE passed the $790 million mark in global box office.

The 24th James Bond movie had its last major release, in Japan, on Friday.

SPECTRE’s global total is now at about $792 million, according to  BOXOFFICE.COM and BOX OFFICE MOJO.

In the U.S. and Canada, SPECTRE was No. 5 for the Dec. 4-6 weekend with $5.4 million, according to a TWEET BY EXHIBITOR RELATIONS. You can view it below. Meanwhile, Box Office Mojo puts SPECTRE’s total U.S.-Canada box office at $184.5 million, putting it at No. 10 for the year.

Top BO: #1 MOCKINGJAY PT 2 ($18M) #2 KRAMPUS ($16M) #3 CREED ($15.54M) #4 GOOD DINOSAUR ($15.51M) #5 SPECTRE ($5.4)

— Exhibitor Relations (@ERCboxoffice) December 6, 2015

Caveat Emptor: Ritchie floated as Bond 25 director

Guy Ritchie with Armie Hammer during filming of The Man From U.N.C.L.E. in 2013

The British press is floating the idea that Guy Ritchie could be the director of Bond 25.

It began with a story A STORY IN THE MIRROR and then THE STAR JUMPED IN, essentially rewriting the Mirror.

The Mirror story says Ritchie got on the radar screen for Bond 25 following The Man From U.N.C.L.E. movie. he directed and co-wrote.

“Insiders say ­execs loved U.N.C.L.E, starring Henry Cavill and based on the TV series created by Bond writer Ian ­Fleming.

“Guy and Bond actor Daniel Craig are believed to be friends too, which could work very much in Guy’s favour .”

A couple of issues with that passage: 1) Ian Fleming didn’t create the television series, though he contributed to the character of Napoleon Solo. 2) Ritchie and Craig “are believed” to be friends? You don’t know? Who believes this anyway?

Also, there’s this quote from the Mirror’s source that suggests none of this is exactly nailed down. “The (U.N.C.L.E.) film had many of the elements associated with 007. Guy created a world of espionage and action with a bit of comedy. He’s the frontrunner for the next Bond movie – for now.”

The magic words, “for now,” indicate no decision is imminent. Meanwhile, the Star’s story waits until the fourth paragraph to indicate the information is from the Mirror.

U.N.C.L.E. lost money despite its modest $75 million production budget. IF Ritchie really is in the running for Bond 25, he wouldn’t necessarily have the strongest bargaining position. He currently has a movie in post-production, Knights of the Round Table: King Arthur, due out in summer 2016.