James Bond, 007 | featured news

A new James Bond novel by British novelist William Boyd will be released in England on Sept. 26. The book will star a 45-year-old Bond and be set in 1969, the "classic Bond" era.

James Bond's "Skyfall" has extended its worldwide box-office rule to North America, hauling in a franchise-record $87.8 million in its first weekend at U.S. theaters. Adding in $2.2 million from Thursday night previews at IMAX and other large-format theaters, "Skyfall" has taken in $90 million domestically, according to studio estimates Sunday.

After already banking $321M overseas in a couple of weeks, “Skyfall” has finally landed in U.S. yesterday, taking in a massive $30.8M, an opening day record for the fifty year franchise according to BoxOfficeMojo.com. With Thursday’s revenue from midnight and IMAX screenings, its total is $33M so far. For the weekend, it’s projected to pull in $80M-$90M, also a new opening record for the franchise.

Dramatically gripping while still brandishing a droll undercurrent of humor, this beautifully made film will certainly be embraced as one of the best Bonds by loyal fans worldwide and leaves you wanting the next one to turn up sooner than four years from now.

He's come a long way in the 50 years since the release - on Oct. 5, 1962 - of a modestly budgeted spy movie called "Dr. No." It introduced a dapper but deadly secret agent who wore Savile Row suits, drove an Aston Martin, liked his martinis shaken, not stirred, and announced himself as "Bond, James Bond."

Fittingly for the launch of the new authorized James Bond novel “Carte Blanche,” there was a luxury car, champagne on tap, crack British troops rappeling from the rafters and a long-legged girl on a vintage motorbike. The promotion of crime writer Jeffery Deaver’s book about 007 and his latest escapades, which hit shelves on Thursday, was more like Hollywood than the usually more low-key world of publishing.

James Bond is staying put with the studio that distributed his last two big-screen adventures. Sony Pictures has signed a deal with MGM to co-finance and distribute the 23rd film in the super-spy franchise, due in theaters Nov. 9, 2012. Daniel Craig will be back for the third time as British agent Bond.

James Bond film back on track, MGM confirms to EW; Sam Mendes still to direct, John Logan to write screenplay.

Chill the vodka and dust off the martini glass. A new novel featuring the world's most famous secret agent is set to be published next year, nearly 60 years after the publication of "Casino Royale," the first book to feature 007.

The big-screen adventures of James Bond are on hold because of the financial woes of MGM, the studio that distributes the movies, producers said. The 23rd Bond film was in pre-production for a release next year.