Swatch Group To Create James Bond Watches

'Brandweek' has reported that the Swatch Group, who contain both Swatch and Omega, are to produce a series of special watches commemerating the 40th Annivesary of the cinematic James Bond series.

The collection that Swatch will release will consist of 20 watches (seemingly one for each film, include James Bond 20). Each watch will be released at a different time of the year throughout 2002. There is no word yet on if there will be one big release in November of all the watches in a special collection. However, one thing seems sure; the watches will be popular collectors items.

The designs of only two watches have surfaced so far. The Dr No seems the most impressive of the two (and the most futuristic). This pictures comes from The007TV.

Thanks to Tim from all time high [the 007 generation] and 'John007' for letting me know about the article.

Beanstalk Group Appointed to Bond Licensing Program

The Beanstalk Group have been been appointed to manage key aspects of the licensing program for the James Bond films. The Beanstalk Group describe themselves as "the world’s leading trademark licensing and promotional products agency and consultancy. Current Beanstalk clients include AT&T, The Coca-Cola Company, Harley-Davidson, Ford Motor Company, The Stanley Works, Mary-Kate and Ashley, McDonald’s, and Master Lock" which are obviously some of the bigger clients an agency could have on board.

“James Bond has captured the world's imagination for 40 years as the most famous secret agent of all time, becoming a truly powerful brand,” explained Keith Snelgrove, SVP of Bond Marketing Inc., the licensing arm of Eon Productions. “In the past year more than 15 licensing partners have signed on with the new program through Bond Marketing, including Mattel, Corgi, Boxtree Publishing, Sideshow Toys, and Swatch.”

In an effort to expand the licensing program further, Bond Marketing (who are a branch of Eon Productions) will be working with The Beanstalk Group to source licensees in a number of lifestyle product categories, including electronic ‘gadgets’, luxury barware, men’s grooming products, leather accessories, outerwear, collectibles and toys such as board games and action figures. “After a review of potential agencies, Beanstalk was the one company that understood that we are marketing a long term brand not a short term movie property. We knew they would be the ideal partner to ensure that our already successful 2002 licensing program could reach even higher levels,” Mr. Snelgrove noted.

It seems that with so many products on the market Bond mania may finally return. And personally, I can't wait!

'Diamonds Are Forever' Lithograph

Date Illustrated: July 2001

Edition: 750

The Assignment: Connery's last EON produced Bond.

The Solution:I wanted to focus on the strength and power of the star. Connery's image is the biggest of any litho to date and his menacing pose shows him at his cruellest best. I wanted to depict the films 2 great chases, the Mach 1 Mustang and Moon Buggy scenes and just focus on 3 co-stars. This keeps the design from getting too busy. The glowing diamonds behind the stars captures the spirit of the remarkable Robert McGinnis one sheet.

Price: US$80.00
Available at www.spyguise.com

'Thunderball' Lithograph

Date Illustrated: March 2001

Edition: 1500

The Assignment: The Biggest Bond Of All.

The Solution:So many images, so much fun, how do you cram all of that into a 16 x 20? One of the classics, this Bond caper has it all. Creating 2 different lithos for this one title would have been easier than narrowing down actors and moments for one. The ocean and sky color was a must for this design. It allowed me to weave the underwater images all through the design. Largo and Domino are dressed formally, but 007 is barechested and ready for the deep. The illustration is jam packed with people and places, but then again, so was the film.

Price: US$80.00
Available at www.spyguise.com

'You Only Live Twice' Lithograph

Date Illustrated: January 2001

Edition: 1500

The Assignment: Welcome To Japan Mr. Bond.

The Solution: The one sheets that where created for the 1967 film are so magnificent, that the assignment to re-invent a design was a bit overwhelming. The Robert E. McGinnis illustrations of Connery as Bond are superb. The one variation I came up with was 007 in his Commanders uniform. The rest of the action and subjects flow around our hero. One of my favorite parts of the illustration is Donald Pleasence as Blofeld. I kept hearing the classic line,"Good bye Mr. Bond."

Price: US$80.00
Available at www.spyguise.com

'Dr. No / From Russia With Love' Lithograph

Date Illustrated: March 1999

Edition: 500

The Assignment: Double your double-0-seven.

The Solution: This was the first time I just had to use an existing BOND advertising graphic. Those early poses that Connery struck with his Walther are just perfect. I wanted to anchor all my other art with that memorable image. The other moments and faces are built among tri-color brush strokes. I really adored the double feature campaigns of the 60's. Really fun stuff to revisit.

Price: US$80.00
Available at Spy Guise

Sideshow Announces Several 12 Inch James Bond Figures

SideShow Toys have announced the first set of their 12" James Bond Action Figures that they shall release in 2002.

They are:

From DR NO:
Sean Connery / Bond
Joseph Wiseman / Dr. No

From THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN:
Roger Moore / Bond
Christopher Lee / Scaramanga

The information obviously notes that more figure details are to follow. So stay tuned!

A big thanks to Zencat for alerting us to the news.

'Dr. No' Commemorative Lithograph

Officially licensed by the 007 producers, EON Productions, this beautiful 16" x 20" lithograph commemorates the 35th anniversary of the American premiere of the first James Bond film, Dr No.

Only 1,500 of the Dr No lithorgraphs were ever produced and each item comes individually numbered and hand-signed by artist Jeff Marshall.

The first in a series of licensed lithos based on the Bond films, Dr. No is printed on high grade, acid-free paper. The litho is custom matted and ready to frame.

Details:
Measurement: 16" x 20"
Signed: Yes, by Jeff Marshall
Limitation: 1500 made
Individually Numbered: Yes
Cost: $80
Available Stores: SpyGuise

Sideshow's Press Release For 12 Inch James Bond Figures

SIDESHOW TOY have just issued this press release on the 12" figures they will be releasing in 2002 at the New York Toy Fair. Remember, you read it first at CommanderBond.net.

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA – October, 2001 – Sideshow Toy is proud to announce the acquisition of the James Bond license and their participation in the celebration of 40 years of 007.

The Sideshow Toy team will create a broad line of 12" collectible figures in the likeness of all five actors who have played James Bond, key villains and some of the famous women. The 12" figures will be created with a focus on character likeness, tailored clothing, authentic looking weapons, and will be packaged in special 40th anniversary collector boxes.

The 19 acclaimed James Bond films have created the most successful franchise in cinema histroy. The 20th installment, produced by Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli of EON Productions will be directed by Lee Tamahori and is due to start shooting next January for a release in November 2002.

The Bond films have become synonymous with glamour and style. Adventure, exciting stunts, beautiful women, exotic locations, fast cars and innovative gadgets have become the trademark of the James Bond films. There have been five 'Bonds' through the secret agent's forty years of film experience. The series began in 1962 with Sean Connery, followed by George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton and the current James Bond, Pierce Brosnan, who will star in his fourth appearance as 007 secret agent in Bond 20, (the title for which is to announced).

Now Sideshow Toy plans to honor the Bond legacy and the first of these likeness character figures will be debuted at the 2002 NY Toy Fair, held at the Jacob Javitz Convention Center in New York City.

Founded in 1993, Sideshow Toy is a specialty market manufacturer of licensed and proprietary collectible figures. Sideshow products have been highlighted in national trade and specialty toy publications where their action figures and 12" dolls have been awarded Best of the Year by various trade publications. Sideshow products are currently sold worldwide in the specialty, trend, collectible and comic markets, as well as on the Internet at www.sideshowtoy.com.

DVD Box Set To Be Released In The US

Last Wednesday we revealed some news about the new DVD Box Set to be released in the United Kingdom. We'll today we're back with more news, it seems the box set is headed for the United States!

CommanderBond.net Forum user Walther sent us in this report about the Box Set being released in the United States.

It’s Walther. I was at a local Best Buy over here in the States and I asked them about the box set and they said they should be getting it around mid-October. From the pics I saw of the box and DVD art, this is going to be a must have. But over here, it will be running around $300+.

For those of you who are disappointed that the box set won't be released without the DVD's, that is you can't just buy the box, there is always the online petition asking MGM to release it separately. Or you can just buy an alternate box set as James Page pointed out in the Collecting 007 Forums. You'll have to visit the CBn Forums to find out more details but it retails at $50 and is made of aluminium.

A big thanks to Walther for sending in the news!