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Welcome, Bond fan, to The James Bond Dossier's February 2024 Newsletter.

Let's get going!

Well, here we are at the beginning of February and there's still not even a suggestion of a ripple in the ether that would point to Eon being close to signing a director for Bond 26. 

To allow enough time for Bond 26 to be released in 2025 - which is what we were all hoping for based on Barbara Broccoli's comments in 2022 - they should have a director on board about now - I expect a director to be signed first, then the next Bond actor cast with the director's involvement.





Obviously Eon doesn't need to announce when they have a director. But I'd expect to have heard whispers suggesting that has happened. And I've heard nothing credible.

Christopher Nolan has come up a few times, and I know many Bond fans would welcome him with open arms. But the reality is that his working style and the control he would demand would clash directly with Eon's own. It's not going to happen. 

Twice recently he has denied involvement - here's the first denial. I didn't even bother adding his second denial to the website but Deadline's Baz Bamigboye asked him at the Golden Globes in January:

The rumors are “bollocks,” he insisted. “Pure bollocks,” in fact.

Bamigboye has a long history of solid reporting on Bond from when he worked at the Daily Mail. While the Mail isn't exactly known for quality journalism, Bamigboye proved time and time again that he had the right industry contacts.

That doesn't stop many fans from insisting that Nolan will do Bond 26 anyway. "He would say that", seems to be a frequent refrain. And no doubt they'll continue in that line until a director finally is announced. When ever that turns out to be.
 

News

We may be eagerly awaiting the smoke to emerge from Eon's chimney that signals - well, anything positive regarding Bond 26 I suppose. Hopefully not the smoke from burning a subpar script 😁 - but that doesn't mean nothing is happening at all in the world of James Bond.



Ian Fleming Publications unveiled their ambitious plan for book releases in 2024. These include a Raymond Benson ebook omnibus, a paperback edition of Charlie Higson's On His Majesty’s Secret Service with exclusive new content, a 60th anniversary of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and new hardback editions of all Ian Fleming's Bond books.
 

Features

I've got a couple of new features for you this month. 

In the first, Javier E. Trujillo reviews the sixth and final issue of Dynamite’s newest James Bond thriller in comic book form, 007: For King and Country!
 

The second is a look at the cars from George Lazenby’s single entry in the Bond franchise, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. James Bond cars: the George Lazenby era takes an in-depth look at the cars from the film, helping fill out The James Bond Dossier's coverage of cars.

There are more car articles to come. Currently they are available to Patreon subscribers only - you can gain access them for less than the price of a coffee.

 

YouTube

So far I haven't posted any new videos on YouTube this year but hope to do so soon. It's surprising how much time it takes to edit even a few minutes of video and just lately I've been short of time. I hope to get back into it soon though.

But you might like the videos below in which I discuss the state of Bond 26:

• No actor yet! What's happening?
• Barbara Broccoli said WHAT!?
• Bond 26: Nolan denies he'll direct

I produce these videos every now and then but if you like my videos then be sure to subscribe to The James Bond Dossier's YouTube here!

And if there any specific topics you'd like me to tackle then let me know. I don't promise to do a video of everything I'm asked, but I will consider everything.
 

Well that's all for now. Don't forget that if you pre-order MI6 Confidential magazine for 2024 from my friends at MI6 HQ you'll benefit from better pricing and priority shipping. If that sounds like something you're interested in then check out MI6 Confidential's 2024 pre-order deal here.

Non-Bond, but don't forget it's 🌹 Valentine's Day next Wednesday. And if you're in the UK, it's pancake day on Tuesday (🥞 yay!).

I'll be back next month - have a good one!

David Leigh
The James Bond Dossier

 

 

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