The Buzz: Director loses all Bond with number 22

Report by Mr Smith

Director of 'predictable romantic comedy' Notting Hill, Roger Michell has stormed out of negotiations over what would be Daniel Craig's second outing as James Bond, codenamed Bond-22. This departure was due to 'creative differences' and will cause a problem with the producers as they already have a release date for the next 007 film - May 2, 2008.

One of our sources allegedly caught up with Roger Michell and asked what was his sudden change of heart. He replied, "I wanted to work with Hugh Grant again, and also to a lesser extent Julia Roberts. The story I had in mind involved the superspy as Hugh, bumbling through his missions much akin to Inspector Clousseau of the Pink Panther movies. He would have also bumped into an evil super villian, Julia. The plan was for him to fall in love with her and then for her to reveal herself as a man (by taking off her skirt), and for a dramatic finale fight (in the form of conversation of course) to ensue. Suprisingly the producers didn't take to it, therefore I quit!"