James Bond 23 has been put on hold while MGM awaits bids from other studios to help assist in production costs for the long awaited big screen return of 007. This means that we may not see Daniel Craig's third turn behind the tuxedo in November of 2012 as previously promised by MGM.

In a recent interview, producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli explained that the project's timeline was up in the air, and despite MGM's push to have James Bond 23 on screens by the end of 2012, they knew they were going to have to be flexible with the impending release date.

While pre-production may have halted, the screenplay is still being written at this time. Peter Morgan, Neal Purvis, and Robert Wade are currently collaborating on the first draft, though no story details have been released. Purvis and Wade previously collaborated on the screenplays for both 007 adventures Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace.

The first bids for MGM's assets are expected to be submitted sometime this month, with the studio already having received several non-disclosure agreements from potential bidders. The studio will either stand alone in producing James Bond 23 when the time comes, or it will form a strategic partnership with its 140 debt holders if an agreement can be decided upon.

While Daniel Craig is expected to return for James Bond 23, no director has been attached to the upcoming spy adventure yet.