Jinx Movie Set for Nov 2004 Release

The spin-off film Jinx, featuring Halle Berry as the title character, is rumoured to be slated for a November 2004 release internationally. The film had originally been slated for a 2005 release date.

Currently under the working title of Jinx, the film has been in the early stages of production since the release of Die Another Day in November 2002. Various sources have, however, reported that Robert Wade and Neil Purvis have penned the script and that the film will move in to production early next year.

Filming is expected to start soon after Berry completes work on Catwoman, another spin-off film but in that instance from the Batman series.

Should the film be handled by Eon Productions, the production team behind the James Bond series, it is likely that the next Bond film, currently working under the title of Bond 21, will not reach theatres until late 2005.

Source: Yahoo Movies

Sideshow Unveils Q Figure

Sideshow Collectibles, who exclusively make James Bond 12″ figures, have unveiled a Q figure.

The 12″ figure is based upon Major Boothroyd, the former head of Q Branch, immortalised by actor Desmond Llewelyn. Llewelyn appeared as Q in 17 of the James Bond films, 1999’s The World Is Not Enough being his last. He passed after shortly after the films release.

Sideshow Collectibles released the following information on the figure;

Major Boothroyd, a.k.a. Q, is the man responsible for the creation of all the spy gadgets used by James Bond. Bond often frustrated Q by not paying attention during his briefings of gadget operation. However, James could always count on Q’s inventions to save him and the mission.

To date, three actors have played the part of Q. It is Desmond Llewelyn, however, that made the role his own by appearing as the character in 17 Bond films. Llewelyn died tragically in an automobile accident shortly after the release of ‘The World Is Not Enough’ in 1999.

This Limited Edition 12 inch Q is a US domestic web site exclusive and can only be purchased directly through Sideshow Collectibles. He comes with over 30 points of articulation allowing for full human movement. He is outfitted in his signature suit seen throughout most of the 17 missions he appeared in. Q comes with a box full of his signature gadgets that he created throughout his career.

The figure will be released in limited quantity, with a number yet to be determined. It will retail for US$50.00.

Further information can be found at SideShow Collectibles.

Rentals Hit $29.8 million In US

Figures for Die Another Day‘s second week on the rental market have been released.

Yesterday CommanerBond.Net revealed that rental figures had reached US$16.5 million in the United States. The second week saw earnings drop to US$13 million, meaning the latest Bond film has reached rental figures of US$29.8 million in the United States alone.

In the consumer market, Die Another Day has dropped to the third most bought DVD for the week. Old School and Tears Of The Sun have taken first and second places respectively.

To discuss the figures visit this thread of the Die Another Day Forums. Thanks to Rich for the tip-off.

DVD Rental Hits $16m In First Week

Rental and sales figures for Die Another Day, the latest James Bond film on DVD and VHS, have exceeded US$16 million in the United States alone.

The film too approximately US$16.5 million dollars in the rental market in its first week, making it top rental film of the week. Figures for the second week of the films release to the rental market are yet to be released.

Over 8 million copies of Die Another Day on DVD were shipped to stores to supply the home consumer market in the United States. Of those, it is estimated that over 5 million copies were sold in the first week.

To discuss the figures visit this thread of the Die Another Day Forums. Thanks to Rich for the tip-off

Die Another Day, An Introduction

Wal-Mart Give Away Bond Cars

To promote the forthcoming release of Die Another Day on DVD the Radio Grille snack bars at Wal-Mart stores are giving away seven James Bond Johnny Lightning cars.

To get a complimentry Johnny Lightning car you need by buy a ‘pretzel and icee’ for $2.00 at one of the Radio Grille snack bars. The cars are, however, all in the same package so it may require more than seven visits to complete the set.

The set includes the Dr No Sunbeam, the Toyota from You Only Live Twice, the Hornet from The Man With The Golden Gun, the Lotus Esprit from For Your Eyes Only, the Hispano-Suiza from Moonraker, Die Another Days Vanquish and the Lotus Esprit from The Spy Who Loved Me; the latter is said to be the hardest to find in the collection.

Moore Wants To Save Black Bears From Crown Cullings

London – Having been taken ill hasn’t stopped actor Roger Moore, star of dozens of films but best known for his role as British super-spy 007 in the James Bond movie series, from being active as an advocate for animals: Moore has signed a petition from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) calling on Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and the Ministry of Defence to adopt a fur-free policy and switch to faux fur for the Household Guards’ bearskin hats.

It takes the entire hide of one to two bears to make just one Guard’s headpiece. The skins come from bears shot in Canada—many are shot several times before they die, while some escape the hunters only to bleed to death. When mother bears are killed, orphaned cubs who cannot survive on their own are left behind.

‘Ordering the killing of hundreds of magnificent black bears—whose only desire is to remain free and with their families—sounds like a dastardly plot that the British government would immediately send James Bond to foil,’ says PETA UK’s Dawn Carr. ‘With faux-fur substitutes available, the Ministry of Defence has no excuse for continuing in the role of villain.’

Mr. Moore joins Morrissey, Julian Clary, the Dowager Duchess of Bedford, Twiggy, Jilly Cooper, Amanda Holden, Brian Sewell, Haley Mills, Ian Cawsey MP, Jerome Flynn and others in calling for a ban on bear fur in Guards’ headwear.

For more information, please visit PETAUK.org.

Pierce Brosnan To Lend Voice To New Game

Actor Pierce Brosnan will lend more than his image to 2003’s Bond game James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing, he’ll also be lending his voice.

The confirmation comes in the form of a press release from Electronic Arts who confirmed that Brosnan “will lend his cyberscanned likeness and voice to the character”.

Brosnan’s image was used for the creation of James Bond in the last gaming outing, NightFire. NightFire was release in 2002 across the PC, X-Box, Gamecube and Playstation 2 consoles. Everything or Nothing will not be release on PC but will, however, be release on Playstation 2, GameCube, X-Box and Game Boy Advance consoles.

First DAD DVD Reviews Hit The Net

The first reviews for the Die Another Day DVD have begun to hit the Internet.

DVD Answers have scored the exclusive first review of the two disc set, reviewing the Region 2 release of the film.

The review looks at the extras on the DVD in extra, revealing previously unknown information about them, including some of the content. For instance, it is revealed that the audio commentry with Pierce Brosnan and Rosamund Pike was filmed seperately, so the audio tracks are joined and the two actors aren’t actually talking to each other at any time. Pike also doesn’t join in the commentry until her character appears in the film.

Overall, they’ve given the two disc set eight out of ten, with the extras receiving nine out of ten.

Amazon UK have also posted a review of the DVD’s extras, albeit a small one.

Die Another Day will hit DVD in the UK on May 2 and can be pre-ordered from Amazon UK. The Region 1 edition will be released June 3 and can be pre-ordered from Amazon US.

If you’d like to discuss the reviews please visit this thread of the Die Another Day Forums. Thanks to Simon and DLibrasnow for the tip-offs.

Easter Egg Details Released

Details on the ‘Easter Egg’ to be included in the Die Another Day DVD have hit the Internet.

The easter egg will allow Bond fans, particularily the male ones, watch Halle Berry exit the sea in multiple angles.

The scene, which is a homage to Ursula Andress’ exist from the sea in 1962’s Dr No, was filmed in Cadiz in Spain but is set, in the film, in Cuba.

The Easter Egg is on Disc Two of the Die Another Day DVD. To access it one needs to select ‘Image Database’ from the main menu, then select ‘Sets And Locations’. The seventh picture in the series is of Berry exiting the sea, select enter on the remote to be taken to the secret menu. From there you can select one of the three angles, or switch between them during play mode by using the angle button on your DVD’s remote control.

If you’d like to discuss the easter egg visit this thread of the Die Another Day Forums. Thanks to john007 for the tip-off.

Source: DVD Answers.