The other new Bond movie
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The motion filed in U.S. District Court was MGM's latest move to prevent
Sony from cashing in on Hollywood's most successful movie franchise. Since
MGM launched the series in 1962 with ``Dr. No,'' its 18 Bond movies have
earned more than $2.5 billion in box office receipts worldwide.
MGM sued Sony last November when Sony announced its intention to develop a
Bond film. MGM is now asking for a preliminary injunction because it
believes Sony actually has begun making the movie.
``We understand that Sony may be commencing their process a little faster
than we thought,'' said MGM attorney David Johnson. ``We don't want them
in the process of making movies while the suit is in litigation.''
Sony attorney Lou Meisinger declined to say whether work is under way on a
Bond film. The question would be answered in the studio's response to the
MGM motion, he said.
``The motion is remarkable only for its volume, not its merit,'' he said
of the 35-page filing.
MGM itself is currently developing the 19th Bond installment. A script is
being written for the film, which will star Pierce Brosnan, and a director
will be named soon, said MGM spokesman Craig Parsons.
The dispute hinges on the rights controlled by Kevin McClory, a writer and
producer who produced the Bond films ``Thunderball'' in 1965 and ``Never
Say Never Again'' in 1983. McClory said he had a relationship with late
Bond novelist Ian Fleming that predated MGM's deal.
MGM contends in its motion filed Tuesday that McClory's rights to
Fleming's material and characters were restricted by the 1963 settlement
of a breach-of-copyright lawsuit McClory filed against Fleming over
``Thunderball.''
In its lawsuit, MGM also accused John Calley, a former MGM executive who
is now president of Sony Pictures, of taking MGM trade secrets when he
left the company. The suit alleges that Sony is using the information in
its development of its Bond film.
By Erich Boehm
McClory owns the rights to the 1965 James Bond pic. In 1983, he reworked the Thunderball premise into Never Say Never Again, with Sean Connery back as 007 when the other Bond was Roger Moore. Now there are plans for another alternate Bond feature, Warhead 2000 A.D., once again based on Thunderball but this time set to rain on Pierce Brosnan's parade.
McClory has yet to reveal a star or backer for the film, but he has a history of dogged determination. He says he is in negotiations with an actor he would like to have for Bond, and that several major studios have expressed interest in the project.
"I'm back in the Bond business because I have a couple of films I want to direct and Bond can provide the finance," McClory says. "I didn't want to make another Bond film, but now that I've come this far, I'm enjoying it immensely."
The Irishman, now in his late 60s (he says he is not sure of his exact age due to the unsettled circumstances of his childhood) has showbiz in his blood. Both parents were actors, of the traveling troupe variety.
McClory's first ambition was also acting. But after dyslexia drove him from school at an early age, he ended up in the Norwegian merchant navy. His ship was torpedoed by a U-boat in the war, and McClory spent a year in the hospital recovering from frostbi
te and shock. It left him with a stammer that persists today.
In 1947, McClory joined the sound department at Shepperton Studios in England. He worked his way up from boom operator to assistant director on films such as John Huston's The African Queen. Huston became a lifelong friend.
In 1958, McClory co-wrote, directed and produced his own film, The Boy and the Bridge. The film attracted the attention of James Bond creator Ian Fleming.
"Fleming saw a rough cut and liked it," McClory says. "At the time he was frustrated that the Bond novels had not yet been made into films." The two agreed to collaborate on a Bond script. McClory was also to direct.
In 1959-60, McClory, Fleming and screenwriter Jack Wittingham cranked out the series of scripts that would become Thunderball. The storyline was not taken from one of the existing Bond novels.
According to McClory, working with Fleming was tough-going. "He was upper class and
Eton-educated, and I was an uneducated Irishman, despite my film experience; we clashed a lot," he says.
Without financing, the project died. Fleming, however, using ideas from the scripts, went on to write the novel "Thunderball" in 1961, but did not credit McClory or Wittingham. McClory took Fleming to court, and in 1963 was awarded the rights to all the o
riginal "Thunderball" treatments and scripts as well as the film rights to the novel. "I believe Fleming was dried up as a writer, so he took a chance," is McClory's perspective.
By then, producers Albert (Cubby) Broccoli and Harry Saltzman of Eon Prods. were already making Bond pics. A deal was struck: McClory would be executive producer for the film Thunderball and Eon the producer. The deal also
required McClory to relinquish the right to pursue the Bond brand for 10 years.
For Never Say Never Again, McClory pursued Connery to the set of Huston's The Man Who Would Be King in Morocco, but the actor's initial response was, "Never again, never again." He finally enticed Connery by first inviting him to co-write th
e script. Through the process of writing, McClory says, Connery regained interest in the character. McClory credits Connery with many of the film's one-liners.
According to McClory, there was an attempt by United Artists and Fleming's estate to block the film. He says he expects some "noise" again this time out, but that all potential players are aware that there are no legal problems whatsoever.
All of which signals a forthcoming major multimillion dollar Battle
of the Bonds between his company, Spectre Associates, and the
other Bond-backers, United Artists and Eon Prods., who has
produced 17 Bond movies. These include Pierce Brosnan debut in GoldenEye, which has grossed a massive $345 million since
its premiere in 1995. "We are ready to go," the debonair McClory
told me last week as he shuffled around the West of Ireland.
"The film will be called Warhead 2000 AD and and actor has
been chosen to play Bond. But we won't announce it yet to keep
the competition in the dark."
"No, it's not Sean Connery. He's too old for the part now. But he has said he would play the villain in a James Bond film if the
price was right." He didn't, however, dismiss Tim Dalton as a
possible Bond. He played the character in Licence to Kill and
The Living Daylights.
"I haven't spoken to Pierce Brosnan for some time, so I don't
know if he is aware of the new Bond. I am anxious to make part
of the film in Ireland. The rest of it will be shot in the US,
Australia, and the Caribbean. Raising money for a Bond film is
never really a problem. A lot of people wondered where I
disappeared to for the last couple of years. I was in Amsterdam
writing the script."
McClory's fight to make his Bond movie goes back to the early
1960s when he and fellow writer Jack Whittingham, now dead,
successfully took Bond creator Ian Fleming to court over the
storyline of the novel Thunderball, which, they argued, was
based on the film script, Thunderball, the three had completed in
1960. In 1983, McClory reworked the picture's story into Never
Say Never Again. Fleming's estate later tried unsuccessfully to
block the release of the film, which marked Sean Connery's
return to his most famous screen role.
LONDON (Variety) / October 9, '96 -- Pierce Brosnan is getting ready to reprise his role as 007
for a project tentatively titled "Bond 18" which will be
directed by Roger Spottiswoode.
However, as the film's producers scout locations, another
filmmaker is close to announcing details of his Bond project
called Warhead 2000 A.D.
Speaking exclusively to Daily Variety from Ireland, producer
Kevin McClory revealed plans for the film but was reluctant to
give details, in order to keep "the competition" in the dark.
McClory said he will announce more substantial information on
funding and casting in 2 or 3 weeks.
No actor has yet been signed, but McClory says that a lead
has been chosen and while the ink is not on paper, it's close to
it. Similarly, financing is "as good as" in place.
McClory produced the 1965 Bond movie Thunderball and
re-worked the story -- with himself as executive producer --
into 1983's Never Say Never Again. The estate of Bond
creator Ian Fleming tried to block the latter picture, which
marked Sean Connery's return to the role after a 12-year
absence.
In an echo of Connery's return to the role, one possible
Bond for McClory is Timothy Dalton, who played the character in
1987's The Living Daylights and 1989's Licence to Kill.
McClory does not rule out Dalton as a possibility, saying he
considers him an extremely fine actor.
McClory says his reasons for initiating an alternative Bond
are twofold: "We have a damn good story, a Bond with a credible
story and a potent, ruthless enemy, and it will enable me to
fund the other films I want to make."
McClory acquired rights to Thunderball in a court case
in 1963. He and fellow writer Jack Wittingham (now deceased)
successfully took Fleming to court over the storyline of the
novel Thunderball, which they argued was based on a film
script the 3 had completed in 1961.
The producers of "Bond 18", working with the estate's
backing, declined comment on McClory's plans. Their film is due
to roll in February. Design and set construction are scheduled
to start at the end of this month. Genre:
Action/Adventure.
Studio:
Unknown.
Project Phase:
Development Hell.
Who's In It:
Unknown.
Premise:
Unknown.
Release Date:
Unknown.
Comments:
With the recent success of Pierce Brosnan as the new 007, the Bond franchise has been
revived. As pre-production work continues on Brosnan's next film outing, former Bond
producer Kevin McClory wants to develop and release another James Bond film - but
with a different actor portraying 007.
Rumors:
Unknown.
Scoop Feedback:
October 9, 1996... Kevin McClory, the producer of Thunderball and Never Say Never Again wants
to make another Bond picture titled "Warhead 2000 A.D." As with NSNA, this film would fall outside the auspices
of the Broccoli/EON productions (true Bond fans consider NSNA non-canon material.) McClory says he's close to
signing his Bond: and, Reuters speculates, it could be none other than Timothy Dalton! [Scoop provided by 'mkingsl'.]
October 9, 1996... In a Daily Variety feature, McClory said that a lead has been picked but not signed yet.
Details on the nature of the plot are being kept secret to keep "the competition" in the dark. McClory also stated that his
Bond team had an excellent story and a "ruthless" enemy. Further information should become avaliable in two to three
weeks.
How exactly can there be two James Bond franchises? Good question. It seems that McClory and Jack Wittingham took Ian Fleming to
court back in 1963 over the story content in Fleming's Thunderball novel, which the former pair argued was based upon
material the three had collborated on. McClory and Wittingham won the case.
This allowed McClory to do a re-make of the Thunderball material in 1983 with Never Say Never Again. But does McClory
have the right to make a completely new storyline with Fleming's character? The producers of the Brosnan franchise declined to
comment about the McClory news; time will tell if court papers will be served. [Scoop filed by 'imho'; orignally appeared in
Daily Variety.]
October 10, 1996... "The rights to Bond belong to United Artists via the late Albert "Cubby" Broccoli, but there is a loophole
big enough to drive an Aston-Martin through," says producer Kevin McClory when asked as to how he plans to start up a second
Bond franchise of films. The New York Post reports that McClory, when he developed the original storyline for Thunderball
(called "Latitude 78 West" at the time), a clause was hidden in the contracts which stated that McClory could remake Thunderball within
a ten-year time. Thunderball was released in 1965, and McClory had to start development of the film by 1975 - which he did. Eventually
McClory aquired the backing from Warner Brothers, and the result was 1983's Never Say Never Again.
Does McClory have another 'ace', a hidden clause or loophole associated with the Bond character? It certainly seems that way.
[Scoop reported by 'rpouria'.]
October 22, 1996... A better understanding of what McClory may be up to starts to emerge, with the James Bond
aficionados with the widest knowledge base. Apparently this is not the first time Kevin McClory has
announced production on a 'renegade' Bond film. He's done it three or four times before, but the only project to see the light of day was Never Say Never
Again. Other project announcements for alternate Bond films have come both before and after NSNA but these never came about. In the words of this
scoop reporter, "With [McClory's] track record, his announcement for 'Warhead 2000 A.D.' should be taken with a grain of salt. Incidentally, it is generally accepted
on alt.fan.james-bond that 'Warhead 2000 A.D.' is supposed to be a *second* remake of Thunderball." [Scoop filed by 'ss1'.]
October 28, 1996... Numerous letter writers report that none other than Sean Connery may be the 'new' Bond for the
picture. [Scoops submitted by 'Gazza', 'SDL' and anonymously.]
October 29, 1996... Tying into the above scoop, additional information concerning the possible storyline for
Warhead 2000 surfaces. Sean Connery was rumored to have helped develop another similar storyline from the Thunderball premise back when he was
attached to the renegade 80s Bond project; instead, Never Say Never Again was made as a result of arising legal problems with the concept. The original concept for
the NSNA project involved a group of robotic 'sharks' armed with torpedos and directed at public structures, such as the Statue of Liberty. The sharks were controlled by one
of those nefarious pure-evil, billionaire bad-boy corporations or a SMERSH-like counterpart. The scooper doesn't mention the rumors surrounding Connery being attached to the McClory
project - but the announced name of the project seems to indicate a possible link... [Scoop provided by Brent Lynch, 00-in-training.]
Bonds--James Bonds
LONDRES _ Sean Connery tiene posibilidades de protagonizar muy pronto, a pesar de sus 66 años, un espectacular regreso a la pantalla grande encarnando a James Bond,
el mítico agente secreto que le dio fama y riqueza, reveló
el Daily Mail.
Un productor norteamericano, Kevin McClory, se puso
en contacto con el veterano actor escocés y le ofreció el
papel del legendario agente 007 en un nuevo filme.
Hasta ahora las 17 películas sobre las aventuras de Bond
fueron realizadas por el productor Albert Broccoli, muerto en junio, pero McClory logró recientemente el asentimiento de la justicia para romper el monopolio.
El actual James Bond (el actor Pierce Brosnan) empezará a rodar una nueva película de la serie oficial (producida
por la hija de Broccoli, Barbara), a principios de 1997.
McClory asegura tener ya lista la financiación, el guión
y el título Warhead 2000 AD para la película alternativa.
El siempre fascinante Sean Connery quien encarnó
por última vez a James Bond en 1983, en Nunca digas
nunca jamás desmintió hace algunos meses insistentes
afirmaciones de la prensa, según las cuales, iba a regresar
a la zaga del agente con licencia para matar interpretando
al super malo de turno.
A partir de 1962, con Dr. No, Connery se metió en la
piel del personaje inventado por el novelista Ian Fleming
en siete ocasiones, y aún hoy es considerado casi unánimemente por el público y la crítica como el mejor James
Bond de la historia.
Den amerikanska tidningen Variety uppger att producenten Kevin McClory - som producerat de gamla Bondfilmerna "Thunderball" och "Never Say Never Again" - har ett eget Bondprojekt på gång kallat "Warhead 2000 A.D".
James Bond har fått en rival - seg selv. Det er nemlig to nye
James Bond-filmer på vei. Den ene, med Pierce Brosnan som den britiske
agenten, begynner man å filme i februar neste år med Roger
Spottiswoode som regissør; den har foreløpig ikke fått
noen tittel, men er kjent som James Bond 18. Den andre Bond-filmen
skal produseres av Kevin McClory, mannen som sto bak Sean Connerys comeback
som superagenten i Never Say Never Again. Planen er at filmen skal
hete Warhead 2000 AD, men ingen vet hvem som skal spille Bond ennå.
Muligheten er tilstede for at Timothy Dalton, mannen som var Bond i The
Living Daylights og Licence To Kill, skal spille superagenten.
Duelling Bonds (Oct. 14, '97) I'm Bond - James Bond; No, you're nuts - really nuts (Oct. 14, '97) Cybersleaze report (Oct. 13, '97) Columbia Pictures to Produce New James Bond Series (Oct. 1
3, '97) Tuesday October 14 8:17 AM EDT Sony Spies Chance To Battle For Bond By Rex Weiner HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - It's spy vs. spy at the box office as Sony Pictures prepares to launch a James Bond movie in competition with MGM, which
holds the 007 franchise. Sony announced Monday that its Columbia Pictures studio will activate a James Bond motion picture franchise, based on story rights owned by producer Kevin McClory. McClory produced the 1965 Bond picture "Thunderball," based
on a story by him, Jack Whittingham and Bond creator Ian Fleming; McClory also produced a 1983 remake of the film, "Never Say Never Again," for Warner Bros. Calling the studio's move "delusional," MGM chairman Frank Mancuso, has hired high-powered lega
l gun Pierce O'Donnell to challenge Sony's right to Bond. Sony Pictures is headed by John Calley, who resurrected the 007 franchise with 1995's "Goldeneye" when he was president at MGM's United Artists. He joined Sony last year. "There have been a n
umber of great Bonds over the years," Calley told Daily Variety, denying that his move represents a personal challenge to his alma mater. "We are satisfied that McClory has the right to make James Bond." He said there is no script as yet, no star or di
rector attached, but he has set 1999 as the release year for Sony's first Bond picture. Mancuso, Calley's former boss, was less than thrilled. "Any claim that (McClory) can create a James Bond franchise is delusional," Mancuso declared in a terse st
atement. "We hope that Sony has not been duped by Mr. McClory's deception. Today, more than ever, we will vigorously pursue all means to protect this valued franchise that United Artists and the Broccoli family have nurtured for more than three decades."
Calley's move could not have come at a more sensitive time for MGM. The company, owned by Australia's Seven Network and Kirk Kerkorian's Tracinda Corp., is preparing to launch a $250 million public offering that is timed to coincide with the Dec. 18 re
lease of the 18th Bond picture, "Tomorrow Never Dies." As a lure for investors, the studio is highlighting Bond as MGM's flagship asset; "Goldeneye," starring Pierce Brosnan, grossed more than $350 million worldwide. Sony teamed up with Sony a year
ago after studio executives read an interview with the 71-year-old producer in Daily Variety. In that interview, McClory said he was planning a Bond picture called "Warhead 2000 AD," exercising rights to Bond gained from an early collaboration with Fle
ming and Whittingham that resulted in Thunderball, the fourth Bond picture filmed in association with Albert "Cubby" Broccoli. McClory's rights were exercised once again with "Never Say Never Again," starring Sean Connery and produced at Warner Bros.,
where Calley presided as head of production. McClory would not comment on how much the deal was worth or how many pictures would be made. While "Warhead 2000 AD" is unlikely to be the title of the new picture, he denied that any new picture would be es
sentially a remake of Thunderball. Reuters/Variety There's a battle of the Bonds heating up in Hollywood. Sony Pictures Entertainment announced on Monday that
it had signed a long-term agreement to produce a new series of films featuring suave British secret agent James Bond with producer Kevin McClory, who produced two Bond flicks, 1965's Thunderball and 1983's Never Say Never Again. There's just one problem:
M-G-M/UA, the studio that has released most of the other Bond films, says that it owns the rights to the franchise and the character created by novelist Ian Fleming. M-G-M has threatened legal action against Sony to stop a potential box office face-off of
dueling Bond pictures. Sony said its new Bond movie would be based on original works created by McClory, late author Fleming, and screenwriter Jack Whittingham. The three men collaborated on a screenplay in 1959 that Fleming eventually formed into the
novel Thunderball. "Although they [M-G-M] are trying to depict us as interlopers, we were in fact innovators," McClory said in an interview with the Associated Press. "M-G-M's rights came after our rights. There is no doubt about this: We created our wor
k with Fleming." M-G-M has made eighteen Bond films, most recently Goldeneye, with Pierce Brosnan in the lead--the fifth actor, after Sean Connery, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, and George Lazenby to assume the role. That film, released two years ago, g
rossed $350 million worldwide. The next Bond film, Tomorrow Never Dies, is set for release on December 18. M-G-M says that its films, which were made with producer Albert "Cubby" Broccoli and his heirs, have grossed more than $3 billion worldwide. "Kev
in McClory's claims of ownership of rights to James Bond have been disputed for over ten years," Frank Mancuso, chairman of M-G-M Inc., said in a statement. "Any claim that he can create a James Bond franchise is delusional." He added, "We hope that Sony
has not been duped by Mr. McClory's deception. Today, more than ever, we will vigorously pursue all means to protect this valued franchise that United Artists and the Broccoli family have nurtured for more than three decades." In a statement, Sony Pict
ures President John Calley, who most recently headed up United Artists, said, "The new James Bond films emphasize our commitment to create motion picture franchises that serve as tentpoles for our release schedule and create business opportunities through
out the Sony family." Uh-huh. The first Bond pic from Sony is due to hit theaters in 1999, but no casting decisions have been made. Stay tuned to see which Bond triumphs. MGM and Columbia set to duel over competing James Bond movies CULVER CITY, Calif. (October 13, 1997 9:28 p.m. EDT http://www.nando.net) -- MGM is not about to take Columbia Pictures' plans to make competing James Bond movies lying down. Columbia,
a division of Sony Pictures Entertainment, announced Monday it is making a series of new Bond movies -- stunning news to MGM, which believes it owns exclusive movie rights to the globetrotting English secret agent. The Columbia films will be based on wr
itings by the late Bond novelist Ian Fleming, writer-director Kevin McClory and producer Jack Whittingham, the studio said. Columbia said it plans to release its first Bond film in 1999. Casting and story details were not announced. McClory produced the B
ond films "Thunderball" in 1965 and "Never Say Never Again" in 1983. MGM said Columbia is "delusional" if it believes it can make any Bond movies. MGM's United Artists division has made 18 Bond films, the longest-running film franchise in Hollywood hist
ory. The MGM films, made with producer Albert Cubby Broccoli and his heirs, have worldwide theatrical grosses exceeding $3 billion, and none have lost money. There have been five actors in the name role, the most recent being Pierce Brosnan. Columbia Pi
ctures say it is convinced it has a legal right to produce the Bond movies. "We've done due diligence and there's no doubt Kevin McClory has the rights to make a series of James Bond films and he has licensed those rights to Sony Pictures," said Peter Wil
kes, a Sony Pictures spokesman. MGM found the explanation ludicrous. It will release the 18th Bond movie, "Tomorrow Never Dies," on Dec. 19. "Kevin McClory's claims of ownership of rights to James Bond have been disputed for over 10 years. Any claim t
hat he can create a James Bond franchise is delusional," Frank Mancuso, MGM's chairman, said in a statement. "We hope that Sony has not been duped by Mr. McClory's deception. Today, more than ever, we will vigorously pursue all means to protect this val
ued franchise that United Artists and the Broccoli family have nurtured for more than three decades," Mancuso said. McClory said he, Whittingham and Fleming collaborated on several movie ideas in 1959. "Although they try to depict us as interlopers, we
were in fact innovators," McClory said in an interview. He said Fleming's "Thunderball" was based on a movie idea he helped develop with the novelist. "MGM's rights came after our rights," McClory said. "There is no doubt about this: We created our work
with Fleming." McClory's deal with Columbia was negotiated under the guidance of Sony Pictures President John Calley, who most recently ran United Artists. "The new James Bond films emphasize our commitment to create motion picture franchises that se
rve as tentpoles for our release schedule and create business opportunities throughout the Sony family," Calley said in a statement. --By JOHN HORN, AP Entertainment Writer CULV
ER CITY, Calif., Oct. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Columbia Pictures, a Sony SOURCE Columbia Pictures CONTACT: Peter D. Wilkes,
310-244-8982 THE TALE OF THE COMPETING BONDS: In the meantime, today's NEW YORK POST reports that Sony PICTURES has announced it will, "release a series of new James Bond features, with an as-yet unannounced star playing the role of 007." Appa
rently Sony claims that writer/producer KEVIN McCLORY, who produced the Bond film THUNDERBALL in 1965 and the NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN film in 1983 (with SEAN CONNERY reprising his original role), has every right to make a new series of original films based
on the character created by the novelist IAN FLEMING. Meanwhile, as you can imagine, UNITED ARTISTS, the company that releases the current series of Bond pictures starring PEIRCE BROSNAN, is completely apoplectic about the possibility of a competing franc
hise and has labeled Sony's plan as "delusional," which leads us to believe that they are not at all happy about it. In fact, UA chairman FRANK MANCUSO released a statement saying, "We hope that Sony has not been duped� Today, more than ever, we will vigo
rously pursue all means to prfsotect this valuable franchise." So, it looks like both side's lawyers will probably have an absolute field day with this one and become very rich. Now, of course, the immediate buzz was - Who would be the other BOND? And let
me just say that my money would be on ENGLISH PATIENT star RALPH FIENNES who apparently has been absolutely pining to play the part of Bond ever since he was a kid. Now, I would definitely pay to see that. Perhaps two competing Bonds would be good for th
e franchise. |
