The Kaiserbad – Casino Found?
Mühlbrunnkolonnade
Today, German regional paper "Mitteldeutsche
Zeitung" (produced in Halle/Saale, near the Czech border) reports some
interesting tidbits about filming Casino Royale in the Czech Republic.
As CBn
revealed back in October, filming will mostly take place in the Spa town of
Karlovy Vary. The article of "Mitteldeutsche Zeitung" now confirms this, quoting
a spokesman for the Czech town. Additionally it is said that shooting will not
exclusively take place in Karlovy Vary, but also in the neighbouring town of
Loket and in the nearby town of Plana.
Location scouts have visted the hospital at Plana and found the operation
rooms to be very appropriate, as liquidator Jan Spelina confirmed. The hospital
had to be closed three years ago because of high debts. Shooting could bring in
as much as 700 Euros a day. The city council’s speaker Michaela Mertlova says:
"I heard of negotiations, but nothing is set in stone. It’s an interesting
possibility to make Plana better known and attract tourists. But – Bond or not –
rather than being used as a movie location, I would prefer to see the building
used for what it was originally intended: a hospital."
Wihle the newspaper then goes on and confirms what CBn revealed in a spoiler
report back in October (see
here), "reports
about Seal playing a henchman could not be confirmed in Prague".
The Kaiserbad – Casino Royale?
Shooting itself in Karlovy Vary has been confirmed to the "Mitteldeutsche
Zeitung" to take place at the "Mühlbrunnkolonnade" (see picture) and at the
historic "Kaiserbad", (see picture) which very much looks like a casino. The
city will be paid about a 1000 Euros a day, and it is a part of the contract
that the name of Karlovy Vary has to be mentioned in the worldwide marketing
campaign. Still, it is not known if the town of Karlovy Vary will double for
another location or if the actual action takes place in the Czech Republic.
Casino Royale is the 21st James Bond film produced
by franchise holders Eon Productions. The MGM/Columbia Pictures production
begins shooting in January and is due for release worldwide on 17 November 2006.
Starring Daniel Craig as James Bond, it will be filmed in the Czech Republic,
the Bahamas, Italy and the UK.