One Week of UK Shooting for 'Casino Royale'
The BBC today reports that filming for Daniel Craig’s debut James Bond film, Casino Royale will only take place in the UK for one week.
Daniel Craig as
James Bond
Pinewood Studios played home to Pierce Brosnan’s two most recent 007 films, but uncertainty concerning Britain’s tax credit policy has forced Casino Royale and other film productions abroad (Financial Director reports that the Batman Begins sequel may also wind up shooting outside of the UK).
Filming, as previously reported, will instead take place in the Czech Republic, the Bahamas and Italy. Soundstage work that would ordinarily have taken place at Pinewood Studios will now occur in Prague. Last month, producer Michael G. Wilson touted Casino Royale to be “very much a location based film”.
UK Culture Minister, Tessa Jowell said in May that “everything possible” was done to woo Casino Royale‘s producers to shoot in Britain; nevertheless, filming is set to move abroad.
In August, Pinewood announced that operating profits were down to £1.6 million for the first half of 2005, compared with £6.6 million for the same period in 2004. Meanwhile, the fifth Harry Potter film remains the only big-budget movie to be shot in the UK next year.
Casino Royale will begin shooting in January for release in November 2006.
Keep watching CBn for all the latest news on Casino Royale.