Bond 25 questions: The MGM call edition

No Time to Die teaser poster

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.

MGM says No Time to Die marketing gears up in early 2020

MGM’s Leo the Lion logo

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.”