Panama’s El Casco Antiguo (Old Quarters)

As already assumed, James Bond will head to Latin America in Daniel Craig’s second outing as Agent 007. Associated Press reports today, that shooting will begin in the middle of February in a colonial neighbourhood of the capital of Panama City.

Filming will take place in at least two sites of the so-called Casco Antiguo (“old quarter”) of the city on the Pacific coast, which has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. According to AP, the seat of the National Institute of Culture and some private buildings will be used for shooting. The filming will last about a week and will be conducted mainly in the afternoon and evening, according to Ariel Espino, director of the Office of the Casco Antiguo.

Espino met with the head of location scouting of EON Productions a month ago. "We offered full cooperation, helping to manage traffic and isolate the area of cars and people during the shooting", said Espino, who hopes that the finished Bond film attracts tourists from around the world to Casco Antiguo. Additional scenes for Bond 22 will also be shot in the province of Colon, north of the capital. As reported by CBn in December, approximately 700 Panamanian extras will be needed for shooting.

It is not yet known whether Panama will be Panama in the finished film or double for another, possible fictious South American country. To avoid problems with South American governments, the fictious country of "Isthmus" was created for 1989’s License To Kill. In 2002, after the release of Die Another Day, people from both Koreas demonstrated against the 20th James Bond film, as people felt that North Korea was portrayed as being an evil country. Furhermore, it was reported that Panama will double for a South American country back in September. In other words, there is a relative high possibility that Panama will not portray Panama.

Keep your eyes on the CommanderBond.net main page for all the latest news and details on Bond 22.