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h/t @CorneelVF for a tweet that got me thinking about this.
James Bond fans may finally get to see the first trailer for No Time to Die next week. Naturally, the blog has some questions.
Is this the teaser trailer we heard about back in August?
In August, the James Bond & Friends podcast referenced a rough cut, or preliminary version, of a teaser trailer for No Time to Die.
However, a finished version of that trailer — whatever it contained — has yet to be shown. Meanwhile, the MI6 James Bond website, which produces James Bond & Friends, reported this week the trailer will go online Dec. 4 or 5, depending on what time zone you’re in.
If that comes to be, will this be the same trailer? Or will it be different?
What makes you ask that?
In August, there was still a lot to be be filmed. In late August, filming began in Matera, Italy, involving replica Aston Martin DB5s and other vehicles in a car chase. That got a lot of exposure thanks to tourists taking smartphone videos.
What’s more, filming ended in late October. So there is a lot of footage available to update the trailer — if the filmmakers decide to do so. At this point, there’s no way to know for sure.
Do you think we’ll really see a trailer (updated or not)?
Walt Disney Television, which owns ABC, put out a press release about guests who will be appearing on Good Morning America next week.
On Dec. 4, No Time to Die’s Daniel Craig, Rami Malek, Lashana Lynch, Lea Seydoux and director Cary Fukunaga are listed as scheduled guests. It would appear to be a natural their appearance would come at the same time as the trailer.
Also, in late April, there was a segment about the movie on Good Morning America. Anyway, we’ll see how it plays out next week.
The first trailer for No Time to Die may be released online as early as Dec. 4, the MI6 James Bond website said, without disclosing how it obtained the information.
The teaser trailer “has been scheduled for release online on December 4th or 5th (depending on your time zone),” the website said.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer said Nov. 21 on an investor call the bulk of the movie’s marketing effort would ramp up after Jan. 1. However, MGM didn’t specify dates for marketing elements such as trailers or advertising by companies with No Time to Die deals. For example, Advertising Age reported in 2018 that star Daniel Craig filmed a Bond-themed Heineken commercial related to the movie.
MI6’s James Bond & Friends podcast said in August that a preliminary version of the trailer, also known as a rough cut, had been prepared. However, that trailer has yet to be shown officially.
The teaser trailer “was very briefly leaked on Instagram a couple of months ago but was swiftly removed,” MI6 said.
“The studio and distributors are meeting this week to finalize the ‘No Time To Die’ marketing strategy,” MI6 said.
MGM is the home studio of the Bond series, which is produced by Eon Productions. No Time to Die is being released in the U.S. by United Artists Releasing, a joint venture between MGM and Annpurna Pictures. Universal is handling international distribution.
Daniel Craig is trying to promote his newest movie, Knives Out. But the question whether he had a future as James Bond beyond No Time to Die keeps coming up.
Earlier this month, Craig was interviewed by two European outlets, Express and HLN.
In each, according to English translations of the originals, Craig says No Time to Die will be his final James Bond film.
Then, on the Nov. 22 edition of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, Craig made an appearance to promote Knives out. The first of two segments of the late night show was Bond heavy. This was the same show that Craig used in 2017 to announce he would do one more Bond film.
COLBERT: Are you done with Bond?
CRAIG: Yes.
COLBERT: You’re done with Bond?
CRAIG: It’s done.
Well, it wouldn’t be the first time a Bond actor said something like that only to change his mind. After all, the 1983 non-Eon Bond film Never Say Never Again with Sean Connery was titled that for a reason.
Still, Craig has been consistent — at least so far. So maybe he means it. As usual, we’ll see.
Epix, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s premium TV channel, has scheduled a James Bond movie marathon over Thanksgiving.
The marathon begins early Thursday morning with Dr. No, Bond’s 1962 film debut.
The films are run mostly in order through Die Another Day, which will be telecast early Saturday, Nov. 30.
The showings will include Never Say Never Again, the 1983 movie with Sean Connery as Bond that was not produced by Eon Productions. That will be shown early Friday morning, following by Octopussy, the 1983 Eon-made film with Roger Moore as Bond.
In 1983, Octopussy came out first, with Never Say Never Again released a few months later.
The schedule, however, does not include the 1967 Casino Royale spoof produced by Charles K. Feldman. MGM has the rights to the two non-Eon Bond entries, which were originally released by other studios.
To view the Epix schedule, CLICK HERE. There’s a calendar icon toward the top of the screen. You can look up the schedule for specific days.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer doesn’t comment very often about the James Bond film series. Occasionally, 007’s home studio discusses the franchise when reporting its quarterly financial results.
Well, No Time to Die came up this week when MGM talked to investors about third-quarter financial results. Naturally, the blog has a few questions.
What did MGM say about No Time to Die’s marketing?
Not that much. The studio said No Time to Die’s marketing will ramp up shortly after Jan. 1.
However, MGM didn’t say much more than that. At this point, No Time to Die doesn’t have a first trailer out. A rough cut, or preliminary version, was completed by August, according to the James Bond & Friends podcast. But a final version hasn’t been released yet.
To be sure, there’s a lot more to marketing than trailers. But it’s clear Bond fans aren’t seeing much marketing yet for No Time to Die.
How important will No Time to Die be for the company?
Very important. MGM is draining cash this year as it invests in new movie and TV projects as well as investing in its Epix premium TV channel.
An MGM executive referred to the company’s 2020’s feature film plans as a
“James Bond-led revitalized film slate.”
Is there something else we should be aware of?
I have listened to MGM investor calls for seven years now. Rarely do investor ask about Bond films specifically. The calls are intended to discuss MGM financial results generally.
However, this time out, MGM executives got two Bond questions.
One concerned whether MGM had consulted with Danjaq (the parent company of Eon Productions, which actually produces Bond films) whether 007 films could come out more often.
Also, MGM was asked about whether the studio has sought a new Bond actor now that Daniel Craig has said No Time to Die will be it for him.
Listening to a recording of the call, MGM execs were not prepared for either inquiry.
After the first question, there were three seconds of dead air. After the second, there were six seconds of silence.
Doesn’t sound like a lot? On most investor/Wall Street analyst calls, executives pipe up with all sorts of jargon and blather. They don’t stay silent for seconds.
What does that mean?
It means the Bond franchise has major questions to be resolved after No Time to Die arrives at theaters in April 2020.
It also means that MGM isn’t ready to discuss those issues now. MGM and Danjaq (the parent company of Eon) have joint custody of the Bond film franchise.
The entertainment industry is changing rapidly. On the MGM call, new streaming TV shows from Star Wars and Marvel Studios were referenced in questions.
Put another way, the lack of a No Time to Die trailer may not be that important in the long run. We’ll see.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer said this week that No Time to Die’s marketing will gear up in early 2020.
The film “wrapped filming in October and is on track for its Easter 2020 release,” Christopher Brearton, MGM’s chief operating officer, said on a quarterly call with investors.
“Marketing is slated to swing into high gear early in the New Year,” he said. “And we couldn’t be more excited about what we have in store for Bond fans around the world.”
The executive didn’t provide any additional details about the 25th James Bond film. There has been fan speculation when the first trailer for No Time to Die will be released. The James Bond & Friends podcast said in August that a rough cut of the trailer existed at that time.
Brearton’s remarks covered other upcoming projects, including a 2021 sequel for MGM’s recent Addams Family animated film (Brearton said Addams Family “will develop into a family franchise.”), Creed III and a new Tomb Raiders movie. Brearton also talked about MGM’s television business.
Also on the call, Chief Financial Officer Kenneth Kay said the company expects No Time to Die to help generate cash for the company. In 2019, MGM has been spending money on the Bond film and other projects as it increases film and TV production as well as investing in its Epix TV channel.
Kay referred to MGM’s movie business in 2020 as a “James Bond-led revitalized film slate.”
Unanswered Questions
Executives dodged two Bond-related questions on the call. The first was whether MGM had conferred with Eon Productions whether the Bond series could produce films on a more regular basis (“maybe every two or three years”) or move into streaming television the way Marvel Studios and Star Wars have. The last 007 film, SPECTRE, came out in fall 2015. MGM and Danjaq, Eon’s parent company, control the Bond franchise.
Brearton replied that MGM is focused on No Time to Die for now. “We’re in constant communication with Barbara (Broccoli) and our partners on the best way to maximize the value of the franchise,” he said.
The MGM executive was also asked about finding the next James Bond actor. Daniel Craig has said No Time to Die is his Bond finale.
“We’re very focused on this film, No Time to Die, in April,” the COO replied. “Going forward, we don’t speculate on that.”
Men’s Health is out with a long feature story about actor Henry Cavill. He was once up for playing James Bond (losing out to Daniel Craig), played Napoleon Solo in a movie version of The Man From U.N.C.L.E. and was Superman in three films.
Various entertainment outlets have chewed up the story into bite-sized pieces about various topics. Here’s a roundup.
On auditioning for Bond in Casino Royale: Cavill was in his early 20s when he tested for the role of Bond. Chances are he didn’t stand much of a chance given how Eon Productions boss was pushing for Daniel Craig. The story has this passage:
To screen-test, he had to walk out of a bathroom wrapped in a towel and reenact a scene from one of the Sean Connery–era films. “I probably could have prepared better,” Cavill says. “I remember the director, Martin Campbell, saying, ‘Looking a little chubby there, Henry.’ I didn’t know how to train or diet. And I’m glad Martin said something, because I respond well to truth. It helps me get better.”
Sounds like he was probably talking about the seduction scene of From Russia With Love, which is one of the standard Bond screen test scenes.
On The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (2015): The article says the movie, while not a big hit, helped Cavill’s career.
It wasn’t until the big-screen remake of the TV show The Man from U.N.C.L.E. that viewers got an idea of the actor’s innate playfulness. Cavill played a swanning, conning American agent named Napoleon Solo. And although it wasn’t a hit, it marked a crucial moment in his career. As Solo, he was droll, at ease, and effortlessly sexy.
Watching U.N.C.L.E., says director Christopher McQuarrie, led him to cast the actor as the evil-genius villain of Mission: Impossible—Fallout. “Something in Henry’s comic timing told me he had talents that weren’t being exploited,” says McQuarrie. “I found he had a charming sense of humor—at which point I knew he could be a villain. The best villains enjoy their work.”
Whether he’s still Superman: Cavill played Superman in Man of Steel (2013), Batman v Superman (2016) and Justice League (2017). There are no outward signs whether he’ll be back. An excerpt:
“I’ve not given up the role. There’s a lot I have to give for Superman yet. A lot of storytelling to do. A lot of real, true depths to the honesty of the character I want to get into. I want to reflect the comic books. That’s important to me. There’s a lot of justice to be done for Superman. The status is: You’ll see.”
James Bond, whether the literary or screen version, always attracts writers wanting to examine the character.
Author Mark Edlitz’s new book, The Many Lives of James Bond: How the Creators of 007 Have Decoded the Superspy, has widened his attention to cartoons, video games, television, radio and other media.
The book is billed as offering “the largest ever collection of original interviews with actors who have played Bond in different media.” That includes performers beyond the six actors who played Bond in the long-running film series produced by Eon Productions.
The book also interprets creators broadly, including actors, directors, writers, song writers, artists and, in one case, a dancer.
The Many Lives of James Bond has five parts: Bond on Film, Bond in Print, Being Bond, Designing 007 and Bond Women.
In this interview, Edlitz discusses why he took on the book and the effort involved.
SPY COMMAND: There have been many books written about the literary and film James Bond. As you planned your book, what did you feel you could add? What areas needed to be addressed?
MARK EDLITZ: There have been many fantastic books about the cinematic and literary Bond; I have many of them. In fact, I assume that my ideal reader is a Bond fan who has read all of the books. Of course, books and films are the most visible part of the franchise, but they are not the only parts. So, I certainly cover both of them in detail. But I also explore the character of Bond in video games, radio dramas, television shows, and comic strips.
The Many Lives of James Bond is a couple of things. One, it’s the most extensive collection of interviews with actors who have played Bond. But it’s not always the Bond you’d expect. Two, it’s also a look at the character as he is interpreted in different media by the artists who created them.
SC: How long did you work on the book? It has interviews with directors (Martin Campbell, among others), actors, and an academic. When did you start and when did you finally have a manuscript you could submit?
EDLITZ: The book took me a few years to write. Tracking down actors, writers, directors, and other artists can be a slow process. But my strategy was to take the book one chapter at a time. Eventually, you write enough chapters, put them all together and think, “Yup, this actually might be a book.”
Having said that, writing The Many Lives of James Bond took less time than my first book How to Be a Superhero, which was a collection of interviews with actors who played superheroes over the last seven decades. How to Be a Superhero took a whopping ten years to write. The Many Lives of James Bond took about three years.
The Many Lives of James Bond is a collection of interviews with the creators of Bond films, books, audio dramas, books on tape, poster artists, and more. I spoke to three Bond directors — Martin Campbell, Roger Spottiswood, and John Glen.
I talked with Bond screenwriters, novelists, comic book writers, and lyricists. I also interviewed some amazing Bond poster artists, including the legendary Dan Goozee and Robert McGinnis. The two of them created some of the best and most unforgettable art from the entire series.
SC: How many of these are original interviews? How many are compiled from other sources? I ask because Sean Connery has been mostly out of public view for some years.
I conducted all of the full interviews in the book. There is also an appendix for sourced quotes from people who had either passed away or were not available to me. But that’s just a small portion of the book.
The lion share of interviews are brand new. My self-imposed rule was if I could find the Bond actor and they would talk to me, I would devote an entire chapter to their work. I didn’t speak to Sean Connery. Of course, I tried. But I’m not sure I would have been able to learn something new from him that he hasn’t already revealed.
I think the book’s strength is that I spoke to people who Bond actors who don’t typically get approached for interviews. For example, I interviewed the performer who played James Bond in the Oscars at the tribute to Albert R. Broccoli and the franchise. He played 007 while Sheena Easton sang “For Your Eyes Only.”
(Spy Command note: This took place at the 1982 Oscars when Broccoli received the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award. A video of the Easton performance is below. The Q&A resumes underneath the video.)
SC: What was your biggest surprise you found as you researched the book?
EDLITZ: There were several surprises. In The Many Lives of James Bond, I solve a longstanding Bond mystery. Bond fans have wondered about Bob Holness’s performance as Bond in the South African Broadcast Company’s production of Moonraker in the ’50s. No one recorded the production, and there is very reliable information about it.
I was able to track down Holness’s daughter, who gave me some very valuable information that proves once and for all when the production took place. And Brain McKaig of The Bondologist Blog shared his personal correspondence with Holness. That letter also sheds light on his performance.
Another surprise is Connery’s feelings about the part. We all know that he has complicated feelings about playing Bond. And that’s true. But there are some remarkable stories in the book about Connery returning to the role for his performance in the video game From Russia with Love.
I don’t want to spoil it, but he went through the arduous process of recording his dialogue for the day, and something happened to the audiotape. It was gone. The recording was gone. What happened next showed how loyal and magnanimous Connery can be.
SC: Do you think people take Bond for granted? The first novel came out in 1953. The film first came out in 1962. I think some fans think it’s guaranteed Bond will go on. But from what I’ve read, 007 has had some close calls over the years.
EDLITZ: I think there are probably elements of the Bond franchise that people take for granted. The general public probably doesn’t realize just how entertaining the Fleming novels are to read. There have been several periods where pundits said that Bond was done for.
In some cases, they were talking about the films. But Eon finds a way to change things up and make Bond continually relevant. In the periods between films, Bond fans read continuation novels and comic books to hold them over. While we wait for the next movie, Bond fans gather in message boards on websites and on podcasts, where they can talk and share information.
SC: Your book includes comments from the likes of Barry Nelson (who played an American Bond on CBS in 1954), Bob Holness (who played Bond in a radio production), and Bob Simmons (Sean Connery’s stunt double who also did the first gun barrel image). What did those guys bring to the party? (I actually defend the 1954 TV production, which many fans insist upon comparing to the films; for me, it’s something different.)
EDLITZ: Most casual Bond fans will say that only six people played Bond. They are, of course, talking about Connery, Lazenby, Moore, Dalton, Brosnan, and Craig. A slightly more serious Bond fan will mention David Niven or Barry Nelson. But the true Bond fans know that many actors have played Bond in different media.
I wanted to help shed light on some of their unique contributions. That’s why I tracked down actors who played Bond on the radio, on the cartoon James Bond Jr., and in the video games, to name a few. Each of these performers has contributed to Bond’s legacy and I wanted to honor them for it.
As an aside, I also agree with you about the merits of 1954’s Casino Royale. When you read Barry Nelson’s comments about the production, you get the sense that he was disappointed with it. Of course, the live production took many liberties and wasn’t always faithful to Fleming’s novel. But what they did was pretty unique; especially for a live production in the ’50s.
SC: What do you think accounts for Bond’s durability?
That’s a good but tough question. It’s almost unanswerable.
The artists I interviewed in the book each have their own theories. The producers’ ability to change with the times plays a big part. I also think he’s possible because Fleming created an endurable character, who isn’t completely knowable.
(Screenwriter) Richard Maibaum made him slightly more accessible, added irony and Bond’s wit. But in all iterations; he retains his mystery. But he’s malleable enough that he can be interpreted and reinterpreted by so many different artists and in many various forms.
The comic book Bond is different from the Bond of the video games, who is different from the Bond on the radio. Bond is also a perfect vehicle for our fantasies. (Screenwriter) Bruce Feirstein said that any guy who has ever put on a tuxedo thinks he’s James Bond. I agree.
SC: What was your reaction when you finally finished? Elation? Relief? Some other emotion?
EDLITZ: I’ll take D, all of the above. Also, I’m a bit wistful. I had a lot of fun writing it, and I’m a little sorry to let that go. However, I’m thrilled to share the book with my fellow Bond fans.
Many of those Bond fans have been generous, kind, and supportive to me during this process. For many Bond fans, the films and novels are just the tip of the iceberg. The way we deepen our love of the character is by reading books, magazines, and message boards about Bond. So I really hope that Bond fans enjoy The Many Lives of James Bond.
To see the Amazon listing for The Many Lives of James Bond, CLICK HERE.
Henry Ford II (1917-1987) in front of portraits of his father, Edsel Ford (1893-1943) and grandfather Henry Ford (1863-1947).
Obviously, this is a spoiler for Ford v Ferrari.
This weekend, the top box office movie in the U.S. is Ford v Ferrari, a depiction of how Ford beat Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race in the 1960s. It also has a peculiar James Bond reference.
Early in the film, Lee Iacocca (Jon Bernthal) is trying to persuade Ford Motor Co. boss Henry Ford II (Tracy Letts) to get involved in international auto racing to boost the company’s image.
As part of Iacocca’s presentation he shows two slides of Sean Connery as James Bond — one a publicity photo for Goldfinger of Connery with the Aston Martin DB5, the other a still from Thunderball. “James Bond doesn’t drive a Ford,” Iacocca says.
“That’s because he’s a degenerate,” Henry Ford II, aka “Hank the Deuce,” scoffs.
This is a little odd for a few reasons.
In Goldfinger, Ford already supplied a fleet of vehicles. Ford Motor wouldn’t own Aston Martin until 1987. But the movie was the movie debut of the Ford Mustang (driven by Tilly in Switzerland).
The film also had a Lincoln Continental (crushed with the body of Mr. Solo inside), a Ford Thunderbird (with Felix Leiter as a passenger) and a group of Ford trucks (driven to Fort Knox).
Ford’s presence was even more prominent in Thunderball.
There was another Thunderbird (driven by Largo to SPECTRE headdquarters in Paris), two Lincoln Continentals, a Ford Fairlane (driven by Count Lippe when he meets his demise via rockets fired by Fiona Volpe) and another Mustang (driven by Fiona when she picks up a hitchhiking Bond).
On top of all that, Henry Ford II himself was an extra in the movie during the Nassau casino sequence, according to The Complete James Bond Movie Encyclopedia by Steven Jay Rubin. The auto executive’s fee was $35, according to that book.
He was the international playboy who did as he liked, starring in the jet set gossip columns and making headlines as master of revels at famous watering holes in the Bahamas, Mexico and the Riviera.
“Never complain, never explain,” he said when questioned about a 1975 peccadillo.
Ford Motor had a long, on-and-off relationship with the Bond film series. Other Bond films with Ford vehicles include On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, Diamonds Are Forever, A View to a Kill, Die Another Day, Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace.
Three brands formerly owned by Ford, Aston Martin (sold in 2007) and Jaguar and Land Rover (sold in 2008) continue to appear in the series.
The King’s Man, the prequel to two Kingsman films, has been pushed back seven months to Sept. 18, 2020 from Feb. 14, 2020, Exhibitor Relations Co. said Friday in a Twitter post.
The change was one of a series of moves by Walt Disney Co. that also included setting dates for five untitled movies from Marvel Studios, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
20th Century Fox, now part of Disney, put out a trailer for The King’s Man in late September. The movie depicts the origins of “the first independent” intelligence agency and stars Ralph Fiennes. It’s directed by Matthew Vaughn, who helmed the first two Kingsman movies.
Exhibitor Relations tracks box office data and business developments in entertainment. The company, in a separate Twitter post, noted Disney “just dropped a boatload of FOX UNTITLED dates.”
There has been speculation whether Disney would maintain Fox as a separate brand, including its iconic 20th Century Fox logo and accompanying 20th Century Fox fanfare. That music was originally composed by Alfred Newman in 1933, and then expanded when Fox introduced CinemaScope, a wide-screen format, in 1953.
In any case, here’s the original trailer for The King’s Man.
The Spy Command 