Author Profile: David Leigh

An article on Bondstars.com have announced the death of Alan Hume, who worked on The Spy  Who Loved Me , For  Your Eyes Only, Octopussy and A View To A Kill. “We are very sad to announce the death of veteran cinematographer Alan Hume. For those of you who were lucky to meet Alan at […]

As expected, MGM’s lenders have agreed another debt extension according to The Wall Street Journal. “Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc.’s lenders agreed to give the film studio until Sept. 15 to repay interest and principal due on its bank debt, MGM said.” Read “MGM Lenders Extend Debt, Interest Payment Deadline To Sept 15” on The Wall Street Journal

According to an article in BusinessWeek, Lions Gate Entertainment has approached MGM’s creditors with the aim of acquiring the studio, although they will need the approval of Carl Icahn, the Lions Gate’s largest shareholder.The article notes: “Any agreement to buy Los Angeles-based MGM would have to be approved by Carl Icahn, Lions Gate’s largest shareholder. […]

James Bond arrives in Sardinia in The Spy Who Loved Me, where he and Anya Amasova – agent XXX of the KGB – check into Hotel Cala di Volpe on the Costa Smeralda. After visiting the base of Stromberg they are chased by his henchmen, culminating in Bond driving his Lotus Esprit into the water, […]

Reports have appeared in the press over the last few days stating that Bond 23 had been cancelled. The Mirror and other newspapers reported that production had been axed entirely, and the story quickly spread across the globe. However, the story is entirely without foundation; production remains suspended indefinitely while the problems stemming from MGMs […]

Variety reports that MGM is likely to ask its debtholders for another repayment extension next week when the current extension expires. Its fifth extension was granted on May 13th and runs through until July 14th. The article goes on to note: “During recent weeks, MGM’s believed to have met informally with top execs from Lionsgate, […]

More on the ongoing story regarding a possible merger between MGM and Lions Gate from the man trying to take over the latter: “Billionaire Carl Icahn said on Friday that Lions Gate Entertainment Corp, the company he has sought to control in a hostile takeover, has problems and should avoid merging with financially troubled Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.” […]

According to an article in BusinessWeek published yesterday Lions Gate Entertainment Corp has held merger talks with troubled studio MGM. The article states: “No offer has been made, and Vancouver-based Lions Gate won’t be able to move ahead without backing from Icahn, the largest investor with a 32 percent stake, said the person, who requested […]

Collectors of James Bond memorabilia may be interested in a 1:1 replica of the Scaramanga’s golden gun from The Man With The Golden Gun. The replica is produced by Factory Entertainment and components have been cast and machine from metal and plated in 19 ct gold. Just like the original it can be assembled and […]

Spyglass Entertainment and MGM are reportedly in talks to complete a deal before the studio’s fifth debt waiver expires in mid-July. A third of MGM’s debt is now in the hands of a small group of hedge funds who are looking for a pre-packaged bankruptcy in which they would take control. Having agreed to this […]

While the future of Bond 23 is currently uncertain, Activision confirmed details this week of the long rumoured release of GoldenEye 007 for Wii. The original version for Nintendo 64 it sold eight million copies worldwide and defined multi-player gaming for a whole generation. Originally released in 1997, it has long been regarded as a […]

One of the Aston Martin DB5s that appeared in Goldfinger is set to make an appearance at Stoke Park’s Midnight Classic on June 24th, scene of the golf match between James Bond and Auric Goldfinger. The car – which is kitted out with some of the gadgets that appeared in the film – will be […]

Bond 23 would come out “in November” if the head of MGM’s Worldwide Motion Picture Group had her way, according to a Reuters news report, although she certainly meant November 2011. One of the charges levelled at MGM is that its older management was just too laid back, while since Mary Parent came on board […]

In Skyfall (2012), a mission in Turkey goes badly wrong after a hard disc containing details of MI6 agents falls into the hands of a gun for hire. While attempting to retrieve the disc James Bond goes missing, presumed dead. In fact he has gone to ground while trying to exorcise his demons and coming […]

MGM’s only remaining movie now that Bond 23 and The Hobbit are on hold has been postponed from a November release according to the LA Times. Red Dawn is a remake from the 1980s and the first to be directed by Dan Bradley, second unit director on Quantum of Solace. Although principal photography has already […]

Dr Shatterhand recently caught up with Jeffery Deaver, announced by Ian Fleming Publications as the new continuation author of the book currently known simply as Project X. In this short video interview, Deaver explains a few of the details, such as this being a reboot of the literary series, with James Bond having been born […]

When Casino Royale was released in 2006, many Bond fans complained that it was missing the traditional gunbarrel sequence at the beginning. This bit of Bond-lore had been introduce with Dr No in 1962, although in that first film Bob Simmons stood in as James Bond when he walked across the stage. While later versions […]

Ever thought of what it would be like to live a night in the alluring world of James Bond?  Are you up to the challenge of testing your knowledge of 007 film and book trivia in competition against some of the most passionate aficionados anywhere? Mark your calendars for the weekend of September 10 through […]

Interesting to read in Business Week that MGM loans are now trading at 43 cents in the dollar, down from 65 cents at the beginning of 2010 and now valuing the company at $1.6 billion, just a shade above Time Warner’s reported bid of $1.5 billion. The studio’s lenders are now in a battle with […]

Ian Fleming Publications announced today details of Project X according to The Globe And Mail, which until today had existed only as a countdown timer on the IFP website that expired at midnight. “Project X” is the working title of a new James Bond continuation novel written by American author Jeffery Deaver, due to be […]