The new James Bond film "Spectre" is the latest victim in the recent hacks on Sony Pictures Entertainment.
Hackers stole an early version of the script for the 24th Bond film "Spectre," according to a statement by Eon Productions. MGM and Danjac, a family-owned business, hold the rights to the Bond movie.
Eon's statement reads as follows:
"EON PRODUCTIONS, the producers of the James Bond films, learned this morning that an early version of the screenplay for the new Bond film SPECTRE is amongst the material stolen and illegally made public by hackers who infiltrated the Sony Pictures Entertainment computer system.
"Eon Productions is concerned that third parties who have received the stolen screenplay may seek to publish it or its contents. The screenplay for SPECTRE is the confidential information of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios and Danjaq, LLC, and is protected by the laws of copyright in the United Kingdom and around the world. It may not (in whole or in part) be published, reproduced, disseminated or otherwise utilised by anyone who obtains a copy of it. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios and Danjaq LLC will take all necessary steps to protect their rights against the persons who stole the screenplay, and against anyone who makes infringing uses of it or attempts to take commercial advantage of confidential property it knows to be stolen."
Director Sam Mendes announced the official title, cast and Bond's new car (an Aston Martin DB10 designed specifically for the movie) in a livestream event on Dec. 4. SPECTRE is the name of the global terrorist organization in the Bond films.
ICYMI: Day 1 #SPECTRE pic.twitter.com/3vmhtzZ7FW
— James Bond (@007) December 8, 2014
Filming began on Dec. 8, but the script was still going through revisions as late as November, according to hacked Sony emails obtained by Gawker's Defamer. Most concern for the script had to do with the third act.
"You guys set me up for a let down on climax," Jonathan Glickman, the president of MGM's film division, wrote in an email on Oct. 9. "So I was not surprised."
In the movie, Bond will receive a cryptic message from his past that sends him on a trail to uncover a sinister organization. While M battles political forces to keep the secret service alive, Bond peels back the layers of deceit to reveal the terrible truth behind SPECTRE.
"Spectre" will arrive in theaters on Nov. 6, 2015.
