The man with the stolen script: Spectre script leaked in Sony hack

15 Dec 2014

James Bond himself might have the upper hand in his next encounter, in the upcoming film Spectre, after an early script draft was leaked online with the recent email hack of Sony Pictures.

The realisation that the draft was part of the now infamous hack came on Saturday, according to Reuters, who say that the producers realised the potential harm of the hack on the 24th film in the franchise due for release towards the end of next year.

As is common practice with upcoming films, just the basic details were revealed recently prior to the beginning of filming with Christoph Waltz, Director Sam Mendes and the futuristic Aston Martin DB10 all confirmed to be involved in the film.

Perhaps some of the most revealing details of the leak concern the line-up of enemies that Bond is likely to face in the new film, but Sony Pictures and the franchise’s production company, Eon Productions, are certainly more concerned with what it considers its own enemies online.

In a brief statement to the press, Eon Productions confirmed the leak and their own fears of what the original hackers’ intentions are, “Eon Productions is concerned that third parties who have received the stolen screenplay may seek to publish it or its contents.”

However, claims that the film could be scrapped as a result of the leak have been dismissed by Sony Pictures with a spokesperson saying the film will proceed as planned.

Hollywood is becoming increasingly fearful of leaks such as these given that earlier this year, legendary director Quentin Tarantino had said he was planning on shelving his upcoming film, The Hateful Eight, after that script managed to make its way online, but since then, the film has once again entered production.

James Bond gun barrell image via Shutterstock

Colm Gorey was a senior journalist with Silicon Republic

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