As Punisher007 said, they were trying to avoid bankruptcy. The studio was having serious financial woes between 09 - 10. They were affected by the GFC which impacted on the stable income they receive from the rights of their back catalogue. At the time, they were around $3.7 billion or so in debt. Their interest was $250 million each financial year.
From Casino Royale onwards, we were supposed to get a new Bond film every 2 years (Casino in 06, Quantum in 08, Skyfall in 2010 etc.) But MGM didn't sort out their financial situation until late in 2010. Skyfall officially entered development/production a month or so later in January 2011. The series was supposed to be back on track again with Spectre originally set for 2014. But Mendes scheduled meant it was delayed a year until 2015.
So apparently the plot involves a scientist being kidnapped and Felix needs Bond's help, but Bond is semi-retired in Jamacia. (Wonder how the pre-credit scene is going to work out with Bond retired?) and the villain has some 'deadly weapons' or something like that.
Seems like a sort of somewhat more traditional Bond plot in a way; the bad guy has some superweapon or dangerous device. A good chunk of the Roger Moore films (MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN-the stuff with the agitator-SPY WHO LOVED ME, MOONRAKER, FOR YOUR EYES ONLY etc) and Brosnans (GOLDENEYE, DIE ANOTHER DAY), used that plot.
Also kind of full circle that it's Bond and Felix together in Jamacia; makes me wonder if Wright's Felix will suffer the fate of his literary and pre-Craig film counterpart.
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Something will have to happen to Felix in order to coax Bond out of his retirement. I don't see him willingly giving up his retired life if it was Felix or M rocking up on his doorstep. If the above rumour is on point, maybe Felix gets captured or even killed outright (if he is, I could see the American Government cutting him loose as a result.) James will find out about it and will likely want to get in on the action. But, being retired, he won't receive help from MI6. So he goes off on his own. Might also be cool if M sends other 00 agents after him to bring him in before he jeopardizes whatever mission Felix was on or even MI6 have running to bring in Malek's bad guy.
Again, it combines many elements from previous films. Since this is Craigs last outing, makes me wonder if they'll pull the trigger and actually kill him off. Thus capping his entire series.
I also see Scott Z Burns was involved with scriptwriting duties. THAT is what has peaked my interest. That guy is responsible for Bourne Ultimatum and Contagion. Both are films i enjoyed immensely.
so is Blofeld still in jail? Still possibly manipulating things?
In the novels, Felix loses his arm early on in LIVE AND LET DIE but continues to help Bond with a prosthetic or hook in later missions.
The films of course used this scene in LICENSE TO KILL, although Felix's injuries were far worse, hence him being replaced by Wade in the Brosnan films.
So yeah, Felix getting maimed might happen.
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