The Writers Guild of America has reached a tentative settlement with studios and streamers. This may enable the development of Bond 26 to proceed. Naturally, the blog has questions.
How does this affect Bond 26? You can get a hint by looking at the past. Previous WGA strikes had major effects on Licence to Kill and Quantum of Solace.
With Licence to Kill, veteran 007 screenwriter Richard Maibaum had to drop off the project after the treatment stage and Maibaum didn't work on the final script. Michael G. Wilson, the movie's co-producer, essentially crossed the picket line and did the script by himself.
The final film writing credit gave Wilson top billing with Maibaum second. Some early trailer credits only mentioned Wilson. Licence to Kill would be Maibaum's 007 finale.
With Quantum of Solace, Paul Haggis submitted a script hours before the WGA went on strike. Filming began while the walkout was still underway. When the strike was settled, Joshua Zetumer was hired to do last-minute rewrites. He didn't receive a credit. More recent accounts of the making the movie leave him out of the story.
Presuming the new WGA settlement is ratified, Bond 26 script development can proceed.
And where does Bond 26's script development stand? As recently as early 2023, Eon boss Barbara Broccoli said there was no script. Then again, she didn't say there was no development material. Years ago, Broccoli Ben Whishaw hadn't been cast as Q (even though he was). With Broccoli, it's caveat emptor.
So when does Bond 26 get underway? Hold on there, Tex. As far as we know, there's no director in place. You need that before a new Bond actor is cast.
The WGA settlement has the potential to remove an impediment to Bond 26. But there's a lot that needs to be done.
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