If you follow the timeline of the Bond movies, we should be expecting the next adventure of 007, as played by Daniel Craig, this winter. Only that's not going to happen, given the decision to leave a three, rather than two, year gap between the movies. So Christmas 2011 is when, in theory, we'll next see James Bond on the big screen.

Only there might be a spanner or two in the works. That's because 007 is tied to MGM studios, the same MGM that's neck-deep in debt and trying to sell off its assets so that it can stay afloat. MGM is wary and probably unable to commit large chunks of finance to a film right now, given that it's set to be taken over at some point this year, with bids reportedly due in the next couple of weeks.

And one casualty of this process is the green light needed to get James Bond back into action. While there's little doubt that another James Bond film is coming, there's no sign just yet of a new movie going before the cameras. Talking to Total Film, the latest update from producer Michael G Wilson revealed that "Well... we've hired the writers and we've been working with them but it's just too early to say anything." The last update we heard of from Daniel Craig was that he expected to be filming at the end of this year, and that does make Christmas 2011 seem likely.

But it may yet be put back, pending the resolution of MGM's financial woes. A takeover isn't a quick process however, and while all concerned will, no doubt, be keen to get Bond moving as quickly as possible, we may yet have a bit of a wait on our hands. Again, Total Film, for its February issue, spoke to Michael G Wilson on the matter, and he did concede that "Well, our timeline's a little up in the air what with the situation at MGM, so we have to be flexible. We just don't know enough about the situation to comment, but we know it's uncertain."

We'll, of course, keep you posted.