Columbia Pictures confirmed to the Hollywood Reporter on Thursday that “Bond 22″ — the yet-to-be-named James Bond film that will be produced after November’s “Casino Royale” - will open November 7th 2008, rather than the original date of May 2nd 2008.

According to the report, Sony Pictures Entertainment vice chairman Jeff Blake said the studio, along with partners MGM and British production company EON Productions, are in talks to bring on a new director after Roger Michell (”Notting Hill”) bowed out of the project. No new names have been mentioned.

The new date also gives the filmmakers the standard two years to complete the next film — the usual time between Bond movies. “Eighteen months was a very short window,” Blake said. “We’re going to stay the course.”

Daniel Craig, who will be seen for the first time in the fall as the newest James Bond, already has signed for a repeat performance for the 22nd Bond film. He is contracted for three films.

The story and title for the 22nd James Bond film has yet to be announced.

MI6 exclusively reported on August 15th that British screenwriter Richard Curtis was rumoured to be penning the story for Bond 22, and that regular Bond scribes Neal Purvis and Robert Wade were no longer on the project.

Back on July 20th, Eon Productions issued a statement on Bond 22: “As we wrap production on CASINO ROYALE we couldn’t be more excited about the direction the franchise is heading with Daniel Craig. Daniel has taken the origins of Ian Fleming’s James Bond portraying, with emotional complexity, a darker and edgier 007,” said Wilson and Broccoli.

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