Daniel Craig: 'Bond is looking for his quantum of solace…'

The Guardian has just posted a new report filled with several new details regarding Quantum of Solace, the 22nd James Bond film starring Daniel Craig as 007.

The title, taken from a short story included in Ian Fleming’s 1960 For Yor Eyes Only collection, has already received a few puzzled looks at it’s mention.

‘It’s grown on me,’ said Craig. ‘I was unsure at first. Bond is looking for his quantum of solace and that’s what he wants, he wants his closure. Ian Fleming says that if you don’t have a quantum of solace in your relationship then the relationship is over. It’s that spark of niceness in a relationship that if you don’t have you might as well give up.’

As previously mentioned by producer Michael G. Wilson, Quantum of Solace will feature ‘twice as much action’ as 2006’s Casino Royale. ‘It’s pretty much jam packed,’ he added.

Quantum of Solace sees James Bond out for revenge on a mission that takes him to Austria, Italy and South America.

According to the synopsis, Bond girl Camille, played by Ukrainian-born Olga Kurylenko, leads the secret agent to Dominic Greene, member of a mysterious organization and a ruthless businessman, seeking to control huge natural resources.

Greene is played by Mathieu Amalric, who starred in the Oscar-nominated The Diving Bell and Butterfly. The plot follows on directly from Casino Royale as Bond aims to uncover the truth about Vesper, the beauty who betrayed him, and discovers that she had been blackmailed. ‘James Bond is after revenge, and Camille is after revenge and they have slightly different goals, but in the end they are going to have to collaborate,’ Kurylenko told reporters.

Judi Dench, who earlier stated that the relationship between Bond and M will be ‘pretty prickly’ in this film, said she will have a much bigger role and we ‘will also get to hear her husband, if not see him.’ Of the film, she says: ‘It’s terrific. I learn to do a few more gadgets.’ Q and Moneypenny will not feature in Quantum of Solace.

Gemma Arterton, who plays the role of MI6 Agent Fields in the film, further discussed her role as well. ‘She doesn’t do anything too advanced, it’s not like she’s killing people.’ In response to the big question, she says: ‘Yes I do kiss Daniel Craig. The kiss has happened and yes … it was quite incredible. It was all a bit of a daze. I felt such a giggly girl because he’s such a man.’

Arterton also revealed that she had been previously warned by another Bond girl to open her post with a letter-opener now that she has kissed Craig. ‘You get hate mail, apparently.’

Mathieu Amalric plays the villainous role of Dominic Greene and plans to keep this Bond baddie down to earth. ‘There’ll be no metal jaw, no white hair, no scar, no eye with blood. Just my face,’ he said. ‘The director saw something in me that had to do with the devil. That was a compliment.’ Speaking about his character in the film, Amalric said Greene has ‘the smile of Tony Blair and the crazy eyes of Nicholas Sarkozy.’

When asked if it took much persuasion to accept the role, he simply said: ‘It’s impossible to say to your kids that I could have been in a Bond film but I refused.’

Last, but not least is Olga Kurylenko as the main Bond girl of Quantum of Solace, Camille. After earlier stating her character was a fighter and ‘on her own mission and driven by revenge,’ Kurylenko also said: ‘At the beginning she is an opponent but they are going to have to collaborate. We’ll see if she’s a villain.’

‘James Bond didn’t get to Ukraine,’ said Kurylenko. ‘[But] I’ve got a big box of DVDs and I’m going to be an expert.’ She revealed has not yet started filming, but spend the last three weeks learning how to fight, fire a weapon and body fly (a form of indoor skydiving).

CBn will be updating throughout the day for all the latest news and complete coverage of Quantum of Solace–just keep your eyes on the main page.