The Bond 25 script is getting a rewrite from The Bourne Ultimatum scribe Scott Z. Burns. Daniel Craig’s final outing as famed secret agent 007 has encountered quite the bumpy road on its path to the big screen. Originally, Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle was set to call the shots, but he stepped down last summer reportedly due to a dispute over the film’s villain. Boyle’s version of Bond 25 was penned by his Trainspotting writer John Hodge, meaning the a new screenplay needed to be completed before production could start. In came longtime Bond veterans Neal Purvis & Robert Wade to handle those duties, and Cary Fukunaga was hired to direct.

But even with a new creative team in place, things didn’t get easier for Bond 25. Pegged for a February 2020 premiere, the film was recently pushed back two months to April 2020. At the time, it simply looked like the studio’s desire to take advantage of the Easter weekend, where movies like Batman V Superman and Furious 7 debuted to huge numbers. Unfortunately, the release date shift may also be a byproduct of more behind-the-scenes trouble. Bond 25 is getting a massive rewrite.

According to The Playlist, Burns is coming in to give Bond 25 an “overhaul,” since the powers that be aren’t exactly happy with the way the project’s shaping up. Burns has been courted by Bond producers in the past, but this is the first time the writer had time in his schedule to lend his talents to MI6. In addition to Bourne Ultimatum, Burns is best known for his Steven Soderbergh collaborations, like Side Effects and Contagion. His latest film, The Report, screened to much acclaim at Sundance.

Given the mixed reception to Spectre, it’s understandable why EON would want to start over and revamp the Bond 25 script. With this being Craig’s farewell tour, everyone involved wishes to see the actor ride off on a high note. While Craig himself has always delivered strong performances as 007, the films around him are of varying quality. The incredible heights of Casino Royale and Skyfall are dampened a bit by lackluster outings Quantum of Solace and Spectre. It would be a shame if audiences’ last memory of Craig as Bond was another underwhelming installment. Especially after Mission: Impossible - Fallout, a case can be made Bond has fallen down the spy franchise hierarchy, and EON would like a massive hit to put their prized property back in viewers’ good graces.

Burns’ résumé indicates he’s the right man for the job (Bourne Ultimatum is one of the best action films of its era), but this development is still concerning. Bond 25 is targeting an April filming start date, meaning Burns has precious time to work his magic and get the movie back on track. The situation honestly bears eerie resemblance to Spectre, which doesn’t bode well for Bond 25. Hopefully, things work out and the upcoming sequel can be a much-needed return to form.

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Source: The Playlist

  • Bond 25 Release Date: 2021-10-08