Not surprisingly, the producers of the James Bond franchise have put the brakes on developing and producing the next installment of the 007 spy series because of the ongoing drama plaguing the franchise’s home studio, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc.
“We do not know when development will resume and do not have a date for the release of ‘Bond 23,’ ” producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli of Eon Productions said in a prepared statement, referring to the sequel to 2008’s “Quantum of Solace.”
The sequel was previously scheduled for release in late 2011 or in 2012 to coincide with the franchise’s 50th anniversary. Director Sam Mendes had been helping develop the script with an eye toward potentially directing the movie. A production start date had not been set. Century City-based MGM had no official comment on the development.
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