Bond 23 scribe Peter Morgan ("The King of Scotland") says the next film will be darker than Darth Vader's doona cover.

Speaking to long-running bond fansite MI6, Morgan said he and co-writers Neal Purvis and Robert Wade (who wrote the previous two films in the series) have come up with "a shocking story" for the new film.

He didn't elaborate, in fact, he didn't really say anything else about the story other than that - that it'll be "shocking" - but I think we can all agree that after the dissapointing "Quantum of Solace" it's reassuring to know the uber-talented Morgan is onboard, and, if his words are anything to go by, planning on offering up a story a little more stimulating than the lukewarm yarn told in "Solace".

Pre-production on Bond 23 begins in February, at which time the financially-****ed MGM should have a new buyer. It's believed the Lion's new owner will immediately greenlight Bond 23 to help recoup some of the coin they've just shelled out on buying the company. Expect the film sometime late 2011.

http://www.mi6.co.uk/sections/articles/bond_23_report_dec09.php3?t=&s=&id=02434