Fans will no doubt be aware that MGM has been facing financial issues and has made a move to take bids on long-serving big cat. Not only does MGM hold the back catalogue of James Bond films but other big franchises, including The Hobbit and Pink Panther are awaiting stability. For Bond, this means that we cannot realistically expect a new film until 2011.

Today co-producer of the James Bond movies, Michael G. Wilson was quoted by the Express to say that even the Bond-makers are uncertain about their distributor’s movements. “We just don’t know enough about the situation to comment but we know it’s uncertain,” said Wilson.

UPDATE: According to James Bond site MI6, the full quote, as given to Total Film Magazine (UK) was “Well, our timeline’s a little up in the air what with the situation at MGM, so we have to be flexible. We just don’t know enough about the situation to comment, but we know it’s uncertain.”

Additionally, the story carried the claim that pre-production on James Bond 23 had been halted with no time periods specified and the Express appears to fear for 007′s life, claiming “the future of the Bond franchise hangs in the balance”.

This may be a somewhat sensationalized version of the truth, and while James Bond will have to ride out this ‘limbo’ period, so far all pointers indicate that Bond 23 will proceed much as expected with shooting beginning towards the end of this year and a release in 2011.

Bond fans, don’t panic!

On the writing and pre-production process Michael Wilson was also quoted to have said: “I think we’re at the stage where a lot of ideas are floating around that sound very good, but whether they make the final cut, who knows?”

About Skyfall – James Bond 23 (2012)

The new Bond movie will star Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Berenice Marlohe, Albert Finney and Judi Dench, produced by Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli. The 007 screenplay will be written by regular James Bond scribes Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, working with John Logan (Gladiator & The Last Samurai). Director of American Beauty and Road To Perdition, Sam Mendes will be directing the new James Bond movie. MGM and Sony Pictures Entertainment in a joint statement on 2nd June 2011 announced that “Bond 23″ will go on release in the UK on Friday, 26th October, 2012 and in the USA on 9th November 2012. The first major announcement from EON Productions and Sony Pictures came on 3rd November 2011 in London when the principle cast was announced, along with a rough plot line. In Skyfall, Bond’s loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.