Scott Z. Burns to Rewrite Bond 25 Script for Cary Fukunaga

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

The Playlist reported earlier today that Scott Z. Burns will rewrite Cary Joji Fukunaga's upcoming BOND 25. The latest installment in MGM's secret agent series will be pushed back two months, changing its release date from Valentine's Day, February 14th, 2020 to the new date of April 8th, 2020, the Wednesday before Easter. As previously reported, TRUE DETECTIVE helmer Fukunaga has stepped in to direct after Danny Boyle's departure over creative differences.

According to the site, sources close to the project say that the renowned script doctor has been courted by BOND producers for months, but Burns has been busy with his own directorial effort, THE REPORT — a movie which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival to much critical acclaim and was quickly purchased by Amazon Studios for around $15 million. Burns is currently in London and will spend the next four weeks rewriting the script that Neal Purvis and Robert Wade originally penned. Here's hoping he can work his magic in time for that production date.

BOND 25 is going to need quite the facelift, and the deadline is swiftly approaching. Luckily, Burns is just the surgeon to call in a crisis like this. Since writing Paul Greengrass' 2007 contender BOURNE ULTIMATUM, Burns has gained a reputation for his miracle-working rewrites, working uncredited on films like OCEAN'S 12 and ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY, in addition to CONTAGION, Steven Soderberg's upcoming THE LAUNDROMAT, and being an early consultant on Ridley Scott's BLADE RUNNER 2049. The writer was HBO's choice to replace Terence Winter as showrunner on VINYL's second season, but the show was sadly cancelled before he got the chance. Burns is also the award winning producer of AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH.

In other words, Burns is the guy you bring in when your script needs a little punching up — or when you want to win an Oscar or two.

It's going to be a pretty challenging rennovation, especially considering the release date that looms ever closer on the horizon, but MGM has definitely picked the right man for their overhaul. What do you think? Will BOND 25 make its April 2020 release date? Will the combined powers of filmmaking legend Fukunaga and script doctor guru Burns make for an exciting new addition in the longstanding franchise? Sound off in the comments section below and let us know your thoughts!