Naturally, with “Skyfall” having established itself thoroughly in the upper echelon of Bond films — not to mention also raking in a boatload of box-office for its trouble — a project that takes a nostalgic look backward at the franchise’s legacy has risen in relevance and could prove an entertaining journey as well. Beyond Craig, Connery, and Moore sits the brilliant man behind the creation, and now a new project brewing on U.K. TV has a spotlight set to shine right in that direction.
A four-part miniseries on Bond creator/author Ian Fleming, tentatively titled – what else – “Fleming,” is in the works for U.K. outlet Sky Atlantic, with actor Dominic Cooper (“The Devil’s Double”) cast in the lead role and Annabelle Wallis ("The Tudors," "Pan Am") as Muriel Wright, who Fleming had an affair with, and may have inspired the Bond Girl archetype. Written by John Brownlow ("Sylvia") and Don Macpherson ("The Avengers" with Ralph Fiennes and Uma Thurman) and helmed by Mat Whitecross (“Sex And Drugs And Rock And Roll,” the straight-to-DVD "Ashes"), the story will focus on the author’s WWII posting in the British Naval Intelligence — from which experiences he first garnered the idea for 007 and his numerous adventures.
The miniseries will be coming second in line for the subject, however, as “Moon” director Duncan Jones has been developing a Fleming biopic based on the same period for quite some time. His is also the only project currently to be fully approved by the author’s estate, so we’ll see if the new production has enough of a unique approach to earn the same goodwill. The subject matter’s certainly there, and Cooper remains a solid actor still looking for his breakout role, but we’ll see if “Fleming” does the trick when production starts in the U.K. and Budapest this year. [Variety/Deadline]