SPECTRE script rewritten to seal $20M Mexico tax break

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Mexican authorities asked for changes to the SPECTRE script in exchange for up to $20 million in tax incentives, according to the website Tax Analysts, citing memos leaked during last year’s Sony hack.

Possible spoiler: click here to reveal

The Mexico government requested several elements rewritten and the casting of a known Mexican actress in one of the roles; it has recently been announced that Stephanie Sigman has been cast as Estrella.

Acutely aware of Mexico’s reputation for drug cartels and gang violence, it also  stipulated:

  • The nationality of an assassin pursued by 007, Sciarra, could not be Mexican.
  • The target of the assassin, the governor of Mexico City, be replaced by an international leader.
  • The Mexican police be replaced by a special police force.
  • Arial shots to show the modern side of Mexico City.
  • The replacement of a cage fight with a chase through the Day of the Dead celebrations.

Although the article makes a big deal about how Mexico has compromised the artistic integrity of the next Bond film, those changes seem pretty minor to me. Similar in scale to receiving permission or not to film at various locations in Italy and the UK.

Source: Tax Analysts

David Leigh founded The James Bond Dossier in 2002. A fan of 007 since the age of 8, he is also author of The Complete Guide to the Drinks of James Bond. You can order a copy here if you don't own it already.

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