DAD's Jinx spinoff movie - New Details Emerge

edited August 2018 in Bond Movies Posts: 4,400
I know that the idea of making a spinoff over the atrocious Jinx character was far from EON's best idea but what do we actually know about the project before it got cancelled?

It looked at one stage that Stephen Frears would have directed it, which would have been quite the coup.

I ask as I remember watching the CR Deluxe Edition's special features and on it it says that the Jinx script was apparently rather good with all parties very proud of it and rather hurt when MGM shut it down. According to the documentary it was a modern espionage story that also worked as an origin story for how Jinx became a secret agent.

The script apparently gave the producers faith in rebooting Bond and making CR an origin story. I can imagine that a lot of the elements from the ditched Jinx script found there way into P&W's CR script.

So what more info do we have out there about the film? And am I the only one disappointed that this never got made?
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Comments

  • I can't say I'm disappointed that this never happened, the character was truly awful but I do remember at the time that all the usual film rags were claiming she was the best Bond girl ever and that she stole the film and should definitley get a spin-off.
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 23,449
    Good Lord, never would I want any type of Bond spin-offs, let alone a Jinx spin-off. Spin-offs tend to dilute a franchise, give it a name of a blatant money-grabbing business and shamelessly reducing the quality of its main product. And even if they would ever do a spin-off, at least make it something that adds value to the franchise. The only thing about Jinx that could add value is to forget her...

    So it's a bloody good thing that they never dug up the trash of '02 for sloppy seconds. We have taken a taste of the food, it wasn't good.

    To put it in the words of the accused herself: "yo momma!" That's what I have to say to the whole idea of a Jinx spin-off. That, and a bucket of vomit.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    edited September 2013 Posts: 17,729
    I too was dead against this idea, but nonetheless I too would like to know more about it in all of its awfulness if we have any resident experts here on MI6 Community. We probably do, at that, considering how I'm the resident expert on John Gardner's Never Send Flowers (1993)!
  • oo7oo7
    Posts: 1,068
    I believe this rumour stems from the fact that Wai Lin was due to get a spin off after tomorrow never dies. a stronger character too. No one is actually sure about the development of the script on this one but Eon may have wished to capitalise on the success of some of the earlier jackie chan adventures which are at times influenced as much by bond as say chaplin.
    The jinx rumour took hold as western rumour mill ran with the story a spin off featuring a bond girl had been in production but halle berry had come into the production of die another day as a notable actress, most times bond girls reserve anonymity.
    a lack of gaps in berrys film career and no evidence of her character having an expanded background would render the rumour all but that a rumour, berry being infused with the wai lin hype.
    why would eon and mgm seek to advertise or push the character when they already are paying through the nose for bond...
  • Posts: 14,800
    A Jinx spin off was an awful idea. Awful character, nothing whatsoever to work on, like Dimi said it would have diluted the franchise. It would have been Bond Jr with a female lead, on the big screen.
  • TheWizardOfIceTheWizardOfIce 'One of the Internet's more toxic individuals'
    Posts: 9,117
    Dragonpol wrote:
    I too was dead against this idea, but nonetheless I too would like to know more about it in all of its awfulness if we have any resident experts here on MI6 Community. We probably do, at that, considering how I'm the resident expert on John Gardner's Never Send Flowers (1993)!

    Yeah but you're the only one here Draggers who has the front to admit to such things. Having an NSF fetish is one thing but who in their right mind would come out of the closet as a Jinx fan? There is just too much prejudice in the world for people to accept a Jinxophile.
    And a bloody good thing too. Admitting you're a paedo is less shameful frankly.

    I'm pretty sure P&W delivered a finished script and Berry was on board. I think this came quite close to getting greenlit to be honest and I suppose it would be interesting to see this script in the same awful way picking through the tangled metal and body parts of a plane crash to discover what happened is probably quite interesting.

    Christ alone knows what Babs and MGW were on to even consider this as viable.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 17,729
    Dragonpol wrote:
    I too was dead against this idea, but nonetheless I too would like to know more about it in all of its awfulness if we have any resident experts here on MI6 Community. We probably do, at that, considering how I'm the resident expert on John Gardner's Never Send Flowers (1993)!

    Yeah but you're the only one here Draggers who has the front to admit to such things. Having an NSF fetish is one thing but who in their right mind would come out of the closet as a Jinx fan? There is just too much prejudice in the world for people to accept a Jinxophile.
    And a bloody good thing too. Admitting you're a paedo is less shameful frankly.

    I'm pretty sure P&W delivered a finished script and Berry was on board. I think this came quite close to getting greenlit to be honest and I suppose it would be interesting to see this script in the same awful way picking through the tangled metal and body parts of a plane crash to discover what happened is probably quite interesting.

    Christ alone knows what Babs and MGW were on to even consider this as viable.

    I just want to make clear that my love for NSF is in no way sexual. I'll say that now.
  • doubleoegodoubleoego #LightWork
    Posts: 11,139
    I can't say I'm disappointed that this never happened, the character was truly awful but I do remember at the time that all the usual film rags were claiming she was the best Bond girl ever and that she stole the film and should definitley get a spin-off.

    Go to that 80/90s interview thread. There's a link where you'll find the DAD premiere where all those in attendance were laughably praising the movie. Utter madness.
  • No comment on a movie featuring Jinx. Too potentially hideous to consider any further.
  • The thought of seeing the DAD Jinx in another film was truly a terrifying prospect, but what interests me are comments like these by P&W:
    http://www.hmss.com/films/casinoroyale/interview/

    Jinx was always going to be more akin to CR than DAD and that may have been something I would have really wanted to have seen.
  • TheWizardOfIceTheWizardOfIce 'One of the Internet's more toxic individuals'
    Posts: 9,117

    Notably no one claims authorship of this laughable article. I wonder if he/she is still working in the film reviewing business?
  • RC7RC7
    Posts: 10,512

    Notably no one claims authorship of this laughable article. I wonder if he/she is still working in the film reviewing business?

    There were loads of reviews like this at the time...

    Brosnan's best mission as Bond yet, and the most satisfying installment of the franchise in recent memory.

    One thing remains the same -- the vital fun that a Bond movie brings.

    What makes this the best Bond in years is the surefootedness of Brosnan's performance, as well as Tamahori's fanboy insistence on covering all bases.

    Die Another Day is both skillful and playful, and that's about as high a compliment as I can give a 007 film.

    This isn't to say these reviewers still feel the same, but I do find it interesting that DAD is utterly berated, more so than any other in the canon, despite the fact a lot of non-Bond fans actually seem/ed to find positives in it. It's trajectory is rather like an accelerated OHMSS in reverse. A DAD retrospective book would be very interesting imo.
  • edited September 2013 Posts: 11,189
    I admit I enjoyed it at the time, though realised even back then that the special effects were pretty rubbish. The problem is its aged horribly so the effects look even worse now than they did in 2002.

    I still maintain though that there are some decent sequences in the film.
  • saunderssaunders Living in a world of avarice and deceit
    edited September 2013 Posts: 987
    I watched DAD yesterday in the vain hope that enough time had passed to objectively find some good points, sadly if anything, the film has got much worse with age and Jinx (who at the time I considered to be both really hot and the only good thing in the movie) is dreadful, a badly scripted and acted character with no sense of depth and not really that hot after all. Do I want to see a Jinx spin off movie? Yeah why not, on the proviso that 1) Jinx is killed off in the first minute and 2) Her death is a particularly painful and humiliating one!
  • saunders wrote:
    I watched DAD yesterday in the vain hope that enough time had passed to objectively find some good points, sadly if anything, the film has got much worse with age and Jinx (who at the time I considered to be both really hot and the only good thing in the movie) is dreadful, a badly scripted and acted character with no sense of depth and not really that hot after all. Do I want to see a Jinx spin off movie? Yeah why not, on the proviso that 1) Jinx is killed off in the first minute and 2) Her death is a particularly painful and humiliating one!

    That doesn't leave much to fill the remainder of three hour running time.
  • pachazopachazo Make Your Choice
    Posts: 7,314
    I can remember being strongly against the idea back then and was thrilled that it never happened. I wouldn't want a spinoff for my favorite Bond girl much less Jinx.
  • Samuel001Samuel001 Moderator
    Posts: 13,350
    Here's what Tamahori said of it way back when:

    "Die Another Day" director Lee Tamahori can't speak highly enough of the new female James Bond he believes Jinx embodies: “I could write and make the movie tomorrow for her. She’s an American version of Bond. They’ll meet again, or she’ll have her own movie.”

    http://www.mi6-hq.com/sections/articles/bond_20_jinx_spinoff.php3
  • saunderssaunders Living in a world of avarice and deceit
    Posts: 987
    saunders wrote:
    I watched DAD yesterday in the vain hope that enough time had passed to objectively find some good points, sadly if anything, the film has got much worse with age and Jinx (who at the time I considered to be both really hot and the only good thing in the movie) is dreadful, a badly scripted and acted character with no sense of depth and not really that hot after all. Do I want to see a Jinx spin off movie? Yeah why not, on the proviso that 1) Jinx is killed off in the first minute and 2) Her death is a particularly painful and humiliating one!

    That doesn't leave much to fill the remainder of three hour running time.

    Whatever they fill it with has to an improvement on having a couple more excruciating hours with Jinx. ;)

    On a more serious note and related to this discussion, what are your views on Jinx's boss Falco, I've always assumed that he was going to be a reoccurring character that eventually would be shockingly revealed as a major villain in a later film, I can't remember if I read it somewhere or if I just came to this conclusion all by myself. Does anyone know if this was the original idea planned by the writers or if it's just my overactive imagination?
  • Posts: 14,800
    saunders wrote:
    I watched DAD yesterday in the vain hope that enough time had passed to objectively find some good points, sadly if anything, the film has got much worse with age and Jinx (who at the time I considered to be both really hot and the only good thing in the movie) is dreadful, a badly scripted and acted character with no sense of depth and not really that hot after all. Do I want to see a Jinx spin off movie? Yeah why not, on the proviso that 1) Jinx is killed off in the first minute and 2) Her death is a particularly painful and humiliating one!

    That doesn't leave much to fill the remainder of three hour running time.

    Then the NSA could try to find the killer to congratulate and thank him.
  • Posts: 14,800
    saunders wrote:
    saunders wrote:
    I watched DAD yesterday in the vain hope that enough time had passed to objectively find some good points, sadly if anything, the film has got much worse with age and Jinx (who at the time I considered to be both really hot and the only good thing in the movie) is dreadful, a badly scripted and acted character with no sense of depth and not really that hot after all. Do I want to see a Jinx spin off movie? Yeah why not, on the proviso that 1) Jinx is killed off in the first minute and 2) Her death is a particularly painful and humiliating one!

    That doesn't leave much to fill the remainder of three hour running time.

    Whatever they fill it with has to an improvement on having a couple more excruciating hours with Jinx. ;)

    On a more serious note and related to this discussion, what are your views on Jinx's boss Falco, I've always assumed that he was going to be a reoccurring character that eventually would be shockingly revealed as a major villain in a later film, I can't remember if I read it somewhere or if I just came to this conclusion all by myself. Does anyone know if this was the original idea planned by the writers or if it's just my overactive imagination?

    I always thought Falco was meant to be an American version of M, without the intelligence. More like the incompetent boss of the American hero, if they had the idea of a Jinx spin off from early on.
  • saunderssaunders Living in a world of avarice and deceit
    edited September 2013 Posts: 987
    Ludovico wrote:
    saunders wrote:
    saunders wrote:
    I watched DAD yesterday in the vain hope that enough time had passed to objectively find some good points, sadly if anything, the film has got much worse with age and Jinx (who at the time I considered to be both really hot and the only good thing in the movie) is dreadful, a badly scripted and acted character with no sense of depth and not really that hot after all. Do I want to see a Jinx spin off movie? Yeah why not, on the proviso that 1) Jinx is killed off in the first minute and 2) Her death is a particularly painful and humiliating one!

    That doesn't leave much to fill the remainder of three hour running time.

    Whatever they fill it with has to an improvement on having a couple more excruciating hours with Jinx. ;)

    On a more serious note and related to this discussion, what are your views on Jinx's boss Falco, I've always assumed that he was going to be a reoccurring character that eventually would be shockingly revealed as a major villain in a later film, I can't remember if I read it somewhere or if I just came to this conclusion all by myself. Does anyone know if this was the original idea planned by the writers or if it's just my overactive imagination?

    I always thought Falco was meant to be an American version of M, without the intelligence. More like the incompetent boss of the American hero, if they had the idea of a Jinx spin off from early on.

    I'm not completely convinced that there ever was a potential Jinx spin off, it sounds a bit too much like the sort of media fodder the publicity department would churn out to generate interest and excitement in a uninteresting and dull film, the rumours stopped dead when the promotional tour finished.

  • Posts: 12,506
    Had said it before and will say it again. There should never ever be a Bond spin off movie! Regardless of whoever the character was? And no matter how popular or fun they may be.
  • RogueAgent wrote:
    Had said it before and will say it again. There should never ever be a Bond spin off movie! Regardless of whoever the character was? And no matter how popular or fun they may be.

    This is indeed correct but if there was a spin-off surely Jinx would be well down the pecking order behind JW Pepper.
  • Posts: 11,189
    I think the producers have learned their lesson from DAD. Somehow I can't see a future spin-off happening anytime soon.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 17,729
    BAIN123 wrote:
    I think the producers have learned their lesson from DAD. Somehow I can't see a future spin-off happening anytime soon.

    Indeed. Nor will we see a repeat of the excesses of DAD ever again either, with any luck.
  • saunderssaunders Living in a world of avarice and deceit
    Posts: 987
    Dragonpol wrote:
    BAIN123 wrote:
    I think the producers have learned their lesson from DAD. Somehow I can't see a future spin-off happening anytime soon.

    Indeed. Nor will we see a repeat of the excesses of DAD ever again either, with any luck.

    Though Bond history has a habit of repeating itself, the same sentiments were probably said after MR.

  • Posts: 14,800
    saunders wrote:
    Ludovico wrote:
    saunders wrote:
    saunders wrote:
    I watched DAD yesterday in the vain hope that enough time had passed to objectively find some good points, sadly if anything, the film has got much worse with age and Jinx (who at the time I considered to be both really hot and the only good thing in the movie) is dreadful, a badly scripted and acted character with no sense of depth and not really that hot after all. Do I want to see a Jinx spin off movie? Yeah why not, on the proviso that 1) Jinx is killed off in the first minute and 2) Her death is a particularly painful and humiliating one!

    That doesn't leave much to fill the remainder of three hour running time.

    Whatever they fill it with has to an improvement on having a couple more excruciating hours with Jinx. ;)

    On a more serious note and related to this discussion, what are your views on Jinx's boss Falco, I've always assumed that he was going to be a reoccurring character that eventually would be shockingly revealed as a major villain in a later film, I can't remember if I read it somewhere or if I just came to this conclusion all by myself. Does anyone know if this was the original idea planned by the writers or if it's just my overactive imagination?

    I always thought Falco was meant to be an American version of M, without the intelligence. More like the incompetent boss of the American hero, if they had the idea of a Jinx spin off from early on.

    I'm not completely convinced that there ever was a potential Jinx spin off, it sounds a bit too much like the sort of media fodder the publicity department would churn out to generate interest and excitement in a uninteresting and dull film, the rumours stopped dead when the promotional tour finished.
    Well I never thought there was anything worthy in the character, not as a Bond girl, sidekick so let alone a spin off. How serious they were is of course entirely speculative.
  • TheWizardOfIceTheWizardOfIce 'One of the Internet's more toxic individuals'
    Posts: 9,117
    saunders wrote:
    I watched DAD yesterday in the vain hope that enough time had passed to objectively find some good points, sadly if anything, the film has got much worse with age and Jinx (who at the time I considered to be both really hot and the only good thing in the movie) is dreadful, a badly scripted and acted character with no sense of depth and not really that hot after all. Do I want to see a Jinx spin off movie? Yeah why not, on the proviso that 1) Jinx is killed off in the first minute and 2) Her death is a particularly painful and humiliating one!

    That doesn't leave much to fill the remainder of three hour running time.

    Hang on there's a three hour running time to fill? Then why is Jinx dying in the first minute?

    JINX THE MOVIE (first draft)

    PTS - The film opens in a dark dungeon. Various surgical instruments, power tools and medieval farm implements are laid out on the table. There is a cage of rats in one corner. The camera pans around to JINX. She is firmly manacled to a chair and looks petrified.

    Enter: THEWIZARDOFICE - he is carrying a hammer and a chisel. He places the chisel on one of JINX'S kneecaps and hits it firmly with the hammer. JINX screams in agony and passes out. THEWIZARDOFICE splashes some water in her face and slaps her.

    THEWIZARDOFICE: Come on; wake up. We've got 3 hours if this and we've only just started.

    cue OPENING TITLES (title song 'Make it last all night' from FYEO)
  • saunderssaunders Living in a world of avarice and deceit
    Posts: 987
    saunders wrote:
    I watched DAD yesterday in the vain hope that enough time had passed to objectively find some good points, sadly if anything, the film has got much worse with age and Jinx (who at the time I considered to be both really hot and the only good thing in the movie) is dreadful, a badly scripted and acted character with no sense of depth and not really that hot after all. Do I want to see a Jinx spin off movie? Yeah why not, on the proviso that 1) Jinx is killed off in the first minute and 2) Her death is a particularly painful and humiliating one!

    That doesn't leave much to fill the remainder of three hour running time.

    Hang on there's a three hour running time to fill? Then why is Jinx dying in the first minute?

    JINX THE MOVIE (first draft)

    PTS - The film opens in a dark dungeon. Various surgical instruments, power tools and medieval farm implements are laid out on the table. There is a cage of rats in one corner. The camera pans around to JINX. She is firmly manacled to a chair and looks petrified.

    Enter: THEWIZARDOFICE - he is carrying a hammer and a chisel. He places the chisel on one of JINX'S kneecaps and hits it firmly with the hammer. JINX screams in agony and passes out. THEWIZARDOFICE splashes some water in her face and slaps her.

    THEWIZARDOFICE: Come on; wake up. We've got 3 hours if this and we've only just started.

    cue OPENING TITLES (title song 'Make it last all night' from FYEO)

    You've sold the idea to me, it could be called Hostel 3: The Jinx Effect. :)
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