US James Bond Blu-ray 10-disc set arrives in November

Mixed news today for the many James Bond fans eagerly waiting for the remaining 007 films to debut on Blu-ray: we have news on a brand new Bond Blu-ray release coming in November… but it recycles all of the currently available titles.

James Bond 10-Disc Blu-ray CollectionDue for release in the US on 3 November 2009 is the James Bond 10-pack Blu-ray Collection. Retailing for $199.98, it includes the following already available Bond films: Dr. No, Live and Let Die, Die Another Day, From Russia With Love, Thunderball, For Your Eyes Only, Goldfinger, Moonraker, The World is not Enough and Quantum of Solace.

No new titles are present and the only omission from the official series is 2006’s Casino Royale.
As some fans will note, this exact same collection was available to purchase at Costco for a limited time earlier this year to mark the debut of Quantum of Solace on Blu-ray and DVD.

Who will own James Bond?

Earlier in the week, we reported the news that MGM had staved off interest payments on its debt to allow it to stump up its half of the cash to press ahead with production on the two Hobbit movies, that Guillermo del Toro is set to direct. Its involvement in the project had been thrown into some doubt by the revelation that the studio's financiers were not best pleased with the level of debt that it was carrying, and the lack of any imminent incoming new project to help attack it. The lacklustre box office performance of the Fame remake has done little to help
matters.

But while The Hobbit - in conjunction with the Warner Bros-owned New Line - is now safely funded, there's the small matter of the 007 franchise, which is arguably MGM's most lucrative. For much of the 90s, the only sniff of a hit that MGM had - outside of Hannibal and the Legally Blonde movies - was the succession of Bond movies that kept making more and more cash than the last. There's an argument that without 007 on board, there wouldn't have been much of an MGM left to even talk about.

Yet could MGM now be forced to sell its prized asset to help keep the boat afloat? Strong rumours at WeAreMovieGeeks suggest that it's doing a deal that would see the marketing and distribution for the next Bond movie, at the least, being handled by 20th Century Fox.

Fox, for the last two Bond films, has handled non-US work on the franchise as well as home DVD and Blu-ray distribution, and this broadening of the deal for at least the next project may just give MGM the breathing room it requires.
MGM will still be involved in the Bond saga, though, given its involvement in the production of the movie. And the next Bond movie is still being lined up for a release in 2011, once more with Daniel Craig on board.

If this turns out to be true, then the official announcement is reportedly due any day now. There certainly seems to be a strong whiff of credence to it all from where we're sitting...

Another James Bond theme for Shirley Bassey? Never say never…

Welsh superstar and three-time 007 theme song performer Shirley Bassey held a grand reception at The Ritz in London earlier this week to preview her eagerly-anticipated new album, The Performance.

Produced by current James Bond composer David Arnold, The Performance features songs penned by Manic Street Preachers, the Pet Shop Boys, Gary Barlow, KT Tunstall and Richard Hawley.

The album, due out on 9 November, also marks the reunion of Bassey with longtime Bond regulars John Barry and Don Black, who last collaborated together in 1971 for Diamonds are Forever.

As probably all Bond fans are aware, Bassey holds the record for the most 007 title tunes with Goldfinger, Diamonds and Moonraker. The Times was curious to see if she was at all interested in adding a fourth song to that list and posed the question to her at the London event.

'Of course,' she responded. 'After doing three, why not do one more? But it's not my choice, it's up to the producers and composers, sadly.'

Arnold, who was nearby, added in: 'It depends on the storyline. James Bond isn't about nostalgia, it's about the present and future. But trust me, if the the song is right for her, then it would be incredible to have her sing. Never say never.'

Order Shirley Bassey's The Performance from Amazon.co.uk In any event, Bassey looks to keep quite busy in the weeks ahead as the album's release nears. Paul Williams, Music Week magazine editor, commented: 'She could be on the verge of a very big comeback indeed.'

' Shirley Bassey is a truly iconic artist and one of the most successful British female singers of all time, but this new album gives her the potential of achieving the kind of commercial success she has not enjoyed in years.'

'A truly remarkable cast list of songwriters has been gathered for it, from the likes of John Barry and Don Black, who have been behind her past signature songs like Diamonds Are Forever, to more contemporary names including Barlow and Wainwright.'

'These great songwriters have brought out the best in Bassey's voice and it all adds up to both a contemporary and classic-sounding album, which, if it gets the right exposure, will appeal to her long-term fan base and could well deliver many new fans as well.'

'Given the number one record company, Universal, is behind this project, there is no doubt all the stops will be pulled out to make it a success and I know they are lining up some great promotion for her, including TV, to ensure word gets out about the album.’