The 'Royale' Couple
In an interview with USATODAY.com, Casino Royale director Martin Campbell spoke at length about the relationship between James Bond and fellow agent, Vesper Lynd in the upcoming film.
Martin Campbell
“[Vesper]’s the one who forges him into the Bond that we all know and love,” Campbell said. “He certainly falls in love with her, and it does change him forever. It’s a genuinely deeper relationship. The film deals much more on a personal level with Bond.”
Campbell said the relationship will also exhibit some of the “embryonic” traits of Bond (Campbell has already revealed Casino Royale will hint at the origins of Bond’s martini preference and why he prefers Aston Martin cars).
“[Bond] talks about how it’s too boring to have a relationship. You meet, and it’s all exciting, then it starts to fade, and you go through the uncomfortable part of having to get rid of the girl, etcetera. It’s a very interesting observation, given his sort of misogynistic views.”
Campbell said casting for Vesper will take place soon. “We were so wrapped up getting Bond, that’s what we have to do now.”
More generally, Campbell reiterated the fact that the new film will echo the Bond adventures of the 1960s. “We’re going toward a much more realistic Bond, much more From Russia With Love than we’ve had in the past,” Campbell said.
“[The villain, Le Chiffre] has to mount a card game in order to win the money back. Bond is sent in to make sure he doesn’t win.”
According to the article, Campbell is in the process of going over the film’s action scenes with screenwriter Paul Haggis.
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.