As the latest James Bond movie Spectre debuts on November 6 this year in theatres, its studio distribution rights is also laid down on the table, up for grabs not only to Sony.
Reports are circulating that 007 might move to a different home -Warner Bros - because of the close ties between MGM chief Gary Barber and Warner Bros. CEO Kevin Tsujihara. The two companies have recently produced the "Hobbit" trilogy, "Hot Pursuit" and the upcoming Rocky Balboa spin-off, "Creed" together.
In an interview with Variety, Sony Pictures Entertainment Motion Picture Group Chairman Tom Rothman confirmed that the fight for James Bond will not be easy.
"The reality is that Sony's had a fantastic run with the Bonds. Sure we're going to compete for (the rights), but let's be honest, so is everybody in the business," said Rothman.
Sony was able to extend its contract to co-finance and distribute "Spectre" and "Skyfall" in 2011.
"This Bond is going to be great and...hopefully we'll do as good a job as we did on the last one. (Skyfall) was "by far and away the highest that any Bond had ever done," said the Sony Head.
Recently, an earlier script for "Spectre" leaked out in the Internet because of the hack attack on Sony, which eventually cost Rothman's predecessor Amy Pascal her job.
Earlier this week, Mirror also reported Jason Statham claiming to be a "decent" 007.
"Could I do it? Abso-f***ing-lutely. Would I do it? Abso-f***ing-lutely. Is Daniel Craig a great Bond? Abso-f***ing-lutely. Yeah, I'd make a decent Bond. But it'd be very, very different if I did it," the "Spy" star said, admitting that his version would definitely be different than Daniel Craig's.
Aside from its James Bond film on November, Sony is also working on Spider-Man (together with Disney/Marvel Studios), Paul Feig's Ghostbusters reboot, and Robert Langdon's third instalment, Inferno, reported by Coming Soon.
