Again Deadline have the scoop that 007 may be roaring back into life with a little help from its old friends at Sony Pictures. The production company was involved in the distribution of Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace and was set to stand down – handing the reigns over to MGM – after the 22nd adventure.
But… what with the financial crisis the Big Cat has found itself in, MGM executives were on the prowl for a producing parter again.
It was rumoured earlier in the year that MGM’s new top brass were playing interested parties off against each other in order to get the best deal for MGM, long term.
Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum who are now the Co-Chairmen and CEOs of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer have convinced Sony to use the new James Bond movie as leverage on a number of other productions. Sony and MGM are currently negocitating the details of this joint venture.
Insiders at the major studios previously negotiating with MGM described Barber and Birnbaum as “enjoying” the process of dangling James Bond like a carrot in front of studios such as Fox or Paramount.
Deadline has learned that Pascal and Lynton have already found a title on the Sony slate for MGM to co-finance.
It is understood that hot contender Paramount has recently bowed out of negotiations.