Entertainment · Books & Arts · 3 hrs ago
Ian Rankin says he turned down a chance to write a James Bond novel
Ian Rankin, the Scottish author of the Inspector Rebus crime novels, says he turned down an offer to write an official James Bond novel.
He said Ian Fleming’s estate approached him a few years ago.
Rankin said he declined because he would receive only half of the royalties.
He said he had a good idea for a possible plot but did not want to discuss it further.
Lee Child, who writes the Jack Reacher books, also turned down a Bond offer over the royalties.
Other authors have continued the Bond series since Fleming’s death, and historian Dan Jones has been commissioned to write a new Bond novella.
Rankin has said he could imagine Richard Osman taking over Rebus after he retires, but no handover has been announced.
Ian Rankin said he turned down an offer from Ian Fleming’s estate to write an official James Bond novel.
He said he was offered only 50 per cent of the royalties.
Rankin said he had a “pretty good idea” of what the plot would be.
He described his reasons for declining as “identical” to those of Lee Child, who also turned down a Bond-writing offer.
Rankin has published 25 novels featuring his detective John Rebus.
- Who
- Ian Rankin, author of the Rebus novels.
- What
- He turned down an offer to write an official James Bond novel because he would receive only 50 per cent of the royalties.
- When
- A few years ago.
- Where
- Not stated
- Why
- He would receive only 50 per cent of the royalties.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Let’s not go there.
Why would I do Bond books for 50 per cent of the royalties, when I can get 100 per cent with the Reacher books?
They came back and asked me a second time and I said no again.
Ian Rankin was asked by Ian Fleming’s estate to write an official Bond novel and turned down the offer.
Lee Child revealed that he had turned down an offer to write Bond novels.
The Ian Fleming estate commissioned historian Dan Jones to write a new Bond novella.
Charlie Higson’s latest 007 novel, King Zero, was released.
- Royalties offered
- 50 per cent
- Rebus novels
- 25
- Rebus series began
- 1987, with Knots and Crosses
- Bond novella commissioned
- All In, by Dan Jones
- Bond novella occasion
- National Year of Reading; honours Diamonds Are Forever, published 70 years earlier
Sources
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