James Bond Update
 

I would think Fox would want to finish up the home video releases before it's contract expires at the end of the year, but maybe they think it's too risky without a "new" movie in theaters:

MGM close to "Bond" distribution deal with Sony

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – MGM appears to be nearing a deal with Sony Pictures to release its upcoming James Bond film after talks with Paramount broke down, according to sources familiar with the negotiations.
But the situation remains complicated for MGM, struggling to rebuild after bankruptcy.
The studio had hoped to convince Fox to renew its video deal with Fox Home Entertainment, which expires later this year. But a source says Fox is uninterested in extending that agreement without the Bond film.
Though MGM's new chiefs Roger Birnbaum and Gary Barber are close to the top Paramount executives, Bond producer Barbara Broccoli is on good terms with Sony Pictures co-chairman Amy Pascal after the studio released the last two Bond films, 2006's "Casino Royale" and 2008's "Quantum of Solace."
According to a studio source, Paramount declined to go below an 8% distribution fee for the Bond film and also rebuffed MGM's request to partner on one of its summer films, such as the next "Transformers" installment, opening July 1, or "Super 8" from J.J. Abrams and Steven Spielberg. MGM was determined to get involved with an ongoing project to boost its depleted cash flow.
While it appears that Sony has met MGM's terms, it is unclear which of its upcoming films it will share with MGM. One possibility is the big-budget live action/computer-animated family picture "The Smurfs," set to release in August.
Still untitled, the 23rd Bond film, once again starring Daniel Craig, is to be directed by Sam Mendes with a targeted November 9, 2012 release date.

Re: James Bond Update
 

I hope they get this ironed out so they can re-release the single disc editions on DVD. I only need OHMSS to finish my collection, and that one sadly got a single disc right around the time the license was thrown into limbo and quickly went OOP.

Re: James Bond Update
 

As speculated, this probably means anyone who was hoping to collect the rest of the bond blus in the same package design is screwed. The good news is that since MGM controls the video rights to Q.O.S. once the contract with fox runs out Sony will able to release it along with ALL of the other films. With next year being the 50th Anniversary of Dr. No, I'm sure there will be some mega set for us to buy ;o)
Glad I waited to by any of the bond blus ;o)

Re: James Bond Update
 

I'm just resigned to the fact that my Bonds ain't gonna match. Between the Blu-ray steelbooks, the couple of Blu-rays that didn't have steelbooks released, and the new Craig films, it's kind of a cluster. The quality is top notch though, and will not be double dipping to have matching packaging.

Re: James Bond Update
 

Not having matching packaging is a small price to pay for the ridiculously cheap Amazon deal that a lot of us got in on :)

Re: James Bond Update
 

Honestly...I just want all the Connery films and Goldeneye...w/ QoS, which is something I'll get at some point.

Re: James Bond Update
 

Thank you for being honest.

I knew the Roger Moore thing was a lie!

Re: James Bond Update
 

I screwed myself with matching by buying the singles for the first wave and the box set of the second (the first reports were that it had individual cases) so whatever at this point. I also have the Best Buy special set so it's a hodgepodge of cases.

Re: James Bond Update
 

As long as I have all the movies in high quality presentations with good special features, they could be packaged in brown paper bags for all I care.

Re: James Bond Update
 

Amen. I'd love to see them try to match up the artwork though. I thought they looked pretty good. I sold my steelbooks from the first wave when Amazon had that crazy deal.

Re: James Bond Update
 

Fixed.

Moore ftw.

But seriously, with MGM barely making it out of their bankruptcy situation alive, it's going to be awhile until we see the rest of these on Blu.

Re: James Bond Update
 

I think this is the biggest piece of the entire article that went by unnoticed by everyone so far.

Fox has actually done a decent job at putting out MGM titles on Blu-ray. Who would've ever thought Last House on the Left, Poltergeist II and Troll II would have a HD release before most big catalog titles?

Re: James Bond Update
 

hey! Troll II is a "modern movie classic" - don't knock it...

:D

Re: James Bond Update
 

I own two of the three titles I mentioned! :D

Re: James Bond Update
 

Fox has no say in what gets released. MGM still controls its own catalog and makes those decisions. Once MGM decides what it wants to release, Fox handles the actual distribution.

Re: James Bond Update
 

Here's the story from the L.A. Times

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is reportedly on the verge of signing a new deal with MGM to distribute the studio's films on Blu-ray, as well as all other digital mediums. The studio, which has just recently emerged from bankruptcy, currently has a distribution deal with Fox Home Entertainment which is set to expire in September. If the deal is approved, Sony will take over digital distribution of all future MGM films.

Also part of the proposed deal, Sony will co-finance the next two Bond films, providing 50% of the funding for "Bond 23" and 25% for a sequel, "Bond 24". MGM has also reportedly shown interest in co-financing some upcoming Sony films, including David Fincher's Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and possibly the upcoming Spider-man reboot.

Blu-ray historians will note that Sony originally had distribution rights to the MGM library when the studio was sold to a consortium of investors, including Sony, in 2005. Soon after, MGM's management terminated that deal due to slow sales of MGM catalog films. Sony also co-financed the Daniel Craig Bond films Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace as part of that acquisition, but up until now were not slated to be a major player in "Bond 23".

Sources close to the deal state that while an agreement is very close, a few more details need to be ironed-out before the deal can be competed.

Re: James Bond Update
 

Sigh...

I'll just have to accept the fact that none of the remaining Bond films will get steelbook releases to go along with the ones I've got...

Re: James Bond Update
 

Surprised no one has brought this up yet, but durring yesterdays Skyfall press conference a reporter asked about plans for next years BOND year exactly entail whether it will include theatrical re releases or dvd combo packs with new features.
and Michael G Wilson while not going into a lot detail does mention they are working on a new documentary
http://bcove.me/a5gxzj68
its a little after the 18 min mark

Re: James Bond Update
 

Pfft, there was nothing talked about in that!

Re: James Bond Update
 

at around the 18 min mark, Michael G wilson while answering the question about what a "Bond Year" entails mentions they are working on a documentary on the 50 years of bond.

Re: James Bond Update
 

Hi,

I was just on Amazon and there was a brief ad for pre-release ordering of a Bond 50 collection - all 22 bond films in a blu ray collection. The ad was gone a minute later and there is no search result for such a collection, so I think they were just getting ready for the release. I wasn't able to get any further information...

Anna

Re: James Bond Update
 

supposedly there is going to be some Bond bluray news at CES tomorrow:

Via Digital Bits on Facebook...

"Fox and MGM set to announce Complete James Bond Blu-ray box tomorrow at CES event in Panasonic booth (to be telecast live on CNet - stay tuned tomorrow for details)..."

Re: James Bond Update
 

I hope they have some individual release news too... that would blow for anyone that bought the current ones and have been waiting for more.

Re: James Bond Update
 

Yep!

Re: James Bond Update
 

No way I'd buy a complete series set, after already buying 2/3 of the Bond catalog on Blu-ray.
I'll just wait for the individual releases.