David Arnold still optimistic about Bond 23

David Arnold, the composer for James Bond movies since 1997, told the BBC on Aug. 13 he’s still optimistic about Bond 23.

“It won’t be next year,” he said of the next entry in the 007 film series. He said in an interview that Bond 23 would come in 2012 if studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s financial situation gets sorted out. “It’s freed up the next year for me,” he said. “There will be a good eight or nine movies for me between Quantum of Solace and the next one.” He described that period as “a little bit of a breather” for him to pursue other projects. If Arnold is correct, four years will separate Quantum and Bond 23.

But he also made clear to the BBC he’s still jazzed about Bond. “There’s still as much energy and enthusiasm and love for it,” the composer told the BBC.

To listen to the interview, you can CLICK RIGHT HERE. The interview with Arnold begins roughly around the 1:05 mark and comments about Bond 23 begin around the 1:14 mark.

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Times, in its Company Town blog, reported Aug. 18 that progress is being made where Spyglass Entertainment will take over management of MGM. The article starts thusly:

A plan by Spyglass Entertainment to take over management of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer has taken a major step forward and is now being considered by all of the struggling studio’s lenders.

Spyglass chiefs Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum first began discussions with a handful of MGM’s top debt owners several months ago.

But this week Spyglass and the MGM leading debtors subcommittee hammered out all the details of a mutually agreeable plan, according to two people familiar with the situation.

If that scenario comes to pass, Arnold’s projection of a 2012 release for Bond 23 may come to pass. To read the entire article, just CLICK HERE.