Sebastien Foucan hired for 'Casino Royale'

Sebastien Foucan in action

Sebastien Foucan has been hired to appear in the latest James Bond movie,
Casino Royale,
urbanfreefloor.com reports. "A chase scene is planned which will unveil the
new Bond in the form of actor Daniel Craig. The sequence in question is
currently being shot in the Bahamas."

Foucan is considered as one of the pioneers of a new extreme sport called
"Parkour". According to
Wikipedia, it
is a "physical discipline of French origin in which participants attempt to pass
obstacles in a smooth and rapid manner. Parkour is said to be "l’art du
déplacement", or the art of moving (from A to B), consisting of uninterrupted
forward motion over, under, around and through obstacles (both man-made and
natural) in one’s environment.

Sebastien Foucan

Such movement may come in the form of running, jumping, climbing and other
more complicated techniques. The goal of the practice of parkour is to be able
to adapt one’s movement to any given situation so that any obstacle can be
overcome with the human body’s abilities". Parkour was subject of Luc Besson’s
movie Yamakasi – the modern Samurais in 2001, but has gone relatively unnoticed
by cinema audience up to now.

It’s also interesting to hear that the 2nd unit
seems to have started working on the Bahamas already – which actually is nothing
new: The surf scenes for Die Another Day were filmed in December 2001, official
start of shooting was in January 2002.

Funnily enough, in May 2005 a CBn forum member

mentioned a rooftop chase to be part of the script for Casino Royale, but
could not give more information on his sources. So, unlike many other rumours
these days, this one seems actually to turn out true…

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.

Discuss this news in this thread on the CBn Forums, the largest James Bond forum on the internet. Many thanks to forum user “Shrublands” for the alert!

'Casino Royale': Details on Bahamas Shooting

As the "Palm
Beach Post" today reports in its travel column, a
200-year-old mansion in Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas, is going to feature
in Casino Royale. The villa called "Buena Vista", contains a legendary
restaurant "where waiters in burgundy jackets serve charcoal-broiled lobster and
curried grouper to such illustrious patrons as Nicolas Cage, Michael Caine and
Julio Iglesias".

The Buena Vista

According to Stan Bocus, who owns the mansion for about 31
years, the old colonial building will be painted to make it look even older when
it is transformed into the embassy, where the new James Bond will take on bad
guys in the upcoming Casino Royale. The article specifies that the “Buena Vista” is going to double for the Liberian Embassy in Madagascar. So are the Bahamas doubling for Madagascar?

It is also said that filming on the Bahamas is not due before February 23. Last month, sources told different news outlets that filming
would commence on January 30 in Nassau. Over the last two weeks, however,
several sources reported that filming starts in Prague, not the Bahamas. There
are also rumours that the 2nd unit already started filming in the insular
state. Hopefully, we will officially know by tomorrow.

The official website of the "Buena Vista" restaurant can
be found here.

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.

Discuss this news in this thread on the CBn Forums, the largest James Bond forum on the internet.

German newspaper: Ludger Pistor in 'Casino Royale'

Ludger Pistor

German local paper “Westfälische Rundschau” reports that popular German TV actor Ludger Pistor has been cast in the role of a Swiss banker in Casino Royale. As no further information is currently available, here’s a translation of the original story:

He’s currently playing the sidekick in “Balko” (a German cop series in which he plays the role of Hauptkomissar Krapp, ed.), but he’ll soon have a partner of a different caliber: James Bond. The Berlin actor confirmed this on request of the Westfälische Rundschau (Saturday edition).

The news came while the actor was on a holiday in India: the production company who currently prepares the filming of Ian Flemings novel Casino Royale made their decision towards the German.

For Ludger Pistor it’s a child’s dream come true: “It’s no joke, I never missed a James Bond movie in the cinema.” Pistor will play “a Swiss Banker. That is quite a bigger role.” In the first version of the movie, this was a main role apart from secret agent 007.

Ludger Pistor hasn’t read the script yet: “I only know fragments of it. I don’t even know if I am on the good or on the bad side. They’re making a secret out of it. And that’s why I wouldn’t say anything about it, even if I knew.”

But he does know that he’ll have to pack his bags: “Shooting will take place in Prague, Italy and the Bahamas. I’ll be in front of the camera for 4 or 5 weeks, but I won’t be shooting all the time.”

Ludger Pistor was born on March 16th 1959 in Recklinghausen. He started his acting career in 1978 at the Max-Reinhardt-Seminar in Vienna, and later continued at the Herbert-Berghoff-Studio in New York. Pistor is a popular TV actor in Germany, best known there for his role as Hauptkommissar Krapp in the RTL cop series Balko, for which he was awarded the “Adolf-Grimme-Preis” (Germany’s highest profiled TV award) for best actor in 1996 and the Deutscher Fernsehpreis in 1999 for best actor in a TV series. He also played in a number of German movies, mostly in comedic roles.

He may be known to an international audience for playing the role of Lagerkommandant Josef Liepold in Steven Spielberg’s Schindler’s List, and he also was in Run Lola Run, in which he played Lola’s father (Herr Meier). In addition to that, he can also be spotted alongside Sean Connery in The Name of the Rose as one of the monks.

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.

To discuss this event visit this thread on the CBn Forums, the largest James Bond forum on the internet.

Michaël Youn still in the race for 'Casino Royale' villain role?

French actor and comedian Michël Youn may still be in the race for a role in
Casino Royale. In an interview with Belgish newspaper "La
Dernière Heure", he confirmed that he has been screentested for a villain
role.

Michael Youn

"I have been screentested", he says. "They found me fitting for the part,
because the person I would have to play is a little crazy. It’s a villain who is
a bit like the "Joker" in Batman, but more serious. Of the 500 actors who have
been screentested worldwide, I made it among the final 5, and I’m very proud of
it…" he pauses for a moment as if he was biting his tongue for having revealed
too much and adds "…even if I don’t make it into the movie."

Youn has been rumoured before to have screentested for a villain role in Casino Royale. It was never quite clear wether it was for Le Chiffre himself or maybe a
secondary villain. After it was reported that French actor Simon Abkarian has
been casted for the role of "Demetrius", it was taken as fact that Youn was out.
But French media have already speculated that Abkarian and Youn had been tested
for different roles, given their different ages and physics (Youn is 31,
Abkarian is 43 years old), so it looks like a confirmation for that.

Michaël Youn ist one of France’s best known comedians. He started his career as
a radio DJ, then was dicovered for TV and became host of the popular "M6 Morning
Fun". In the last few years, he was sucessfully involved in a number of comedy
music and movie projects. His last movie role was the title role in "Iznogoud",
an adaption of the classic French comic.

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.

Discuss this news in this thread on the CBn Forums, the largest James Bond forum on the internet. Many thanks to Tim for the tip-off!

No Tux For Daniel's 007 in 'Casino'

New James Bond star Daniel Craig tells The Observer that he will not be wearing 007’s trademark tuxedo in Casino Royale. When asked if he had been fitted for a tux, Craig told reporter Jason Solomons, “Actually, he doesn’t wear one in this version. I’m not sure if I should tell you that, so there’s a scoop for you.”

The last film to not feature James Bond in a tuxedo was 1973’s Live & Let Die which marked the début of Roger Moore as 007. Sean Connery also went without black-tie in 1967’s You Only Live Twice.

Casino Royale is the 21st James Bond film produced
by franchise holders Eon Productions. The MGM/Columbia Pictures production
begins shooting on 30 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.

How do you feel about James Bond not wearing a tuxedo in Casino Royale? Sound off in this thread on the CBn Forums, the largest James Bond forum on the internet. Thanks to Tim007.

More 'Royale' Revelations from IGN

*** WARNING: ARTICLE CONTAINS SPOILERS ***

James Bond fans anxiously awaited throughout the day for an official announcement in regard to casting and production on Casino Royale, but the day came and went. However, IGN FilmForce scored a huge scoop on the upcoming 21st 007 film. With the opportunity to see eight script pages that were used for auditioning for the film, new information has been revealed about Bond girl Vesper Lynd, the villains, the gambling, and new characters.

Among the revelations is the first news that Casino Royale will be partially set in the Republic of Montenegro, as well as confirmation of two major CBn scoops about the featured card game and the primary threat. With that, and a major SPOILER WARNING…

IGN’s Exclusive First Look at ‘Casino Royale’

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.

To discuss this news on Casino Royale visit this thread on the CBn Forums,the largest James Bond forum on the internet. Thanks to CBn forum member ‘zencat’!

Bond to drive Aston Martin DBS in Casino Royale

Photo: Aston
Martin – Strictly Copyright

Aston Martin today announced via their

official website that James Bond will drive a new model called the Aston
Martin DBS in Casino Royale. Back in February 2004, Aston Martin chief designer
Henrik Fisker
had claimed that Bond was going to drive an Vantage V8 in what was then
called Bond 21.

Daniel Craig, the new Bond actor, visited the Aston Martin headquarters in
Gaydon, Warwickshire, on Friday last week to view the featured car. While there
he met Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Ulrich Bez, and members of the
workforce and also took the opportunity to take a short test drive.

The official Aston Martin website says: "In the true tradition of Bond, full
details of the car to be used in Casino Royale are being kept top secret but the
company did confirm that it would be a new model called the Aston Martin DBS."

Dr Ulrich Bez said: "It is great news that Bond will drive an Aston Martin
again and we have built him something special to enable him to do his job in
style."

On a side note; this definately rules out all the rumours about a period
piece, which are still floating around on websites and discussion forums.
Although the involvement of Aston Martin now is official, it is still not known
if and what part the
Fiat Panda
is going to play in the movie.

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.

Discuss this news in this thread on the CBn Forums, the largest James Bond forum on the internet. Thanks to our forum member zencat for the tip-off!

Daily Mail: Rose Byrne is Vesper

The Mail on Sunday is reporting today that Rose Byrne has landed the role of Vesper Lynd in Casino Royale. Byrne is best known as the spirited slave girl who captured the heart of Brad Pitt in Troy. She also appeared in Wicker Park and Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones.

Rose Byrne

The paper reports that director Martin Campbell and Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson are expected to confirm her in the role on Friday.

The 26-year old Australian-born actress was given a cloak-and-dagger introduction to Bond when she auditioned at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire. One insider said: “She had to give a special password, Alcazar, to get into the audition. People were joking that they didn’t want Daniel Craig’s mum to find out and spill the beans like she did when her son was cast.

All the actresses had to perform a bedroom scene with Daniel where Bond says he is leaving the service to be with Vesper Lynd. Barbara Broccoli was particularly impressed by Rose.”

The Daily Mail was the paper to first break the news that Pierce Brosnan was out. The paper was also the first to report that Craig had landed the role of James Bond #6. Have they scored a third scoop?

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.

Discuss this news in this thread on the CBn Forums, the largest James Bond forum on the internet. Thanks to forum member ‘blueman’ and AJB forum member ‘Moore Not Less’

Simon Abkarian, Caterina Murino and Seydina Balde Signed Up

*** WARNING: ARTICLE CONTAINS SPOILERS ***

Simon Abkarian, Catrina Murino and Seydina Baldi

Yesterday
CBn reported that French actor Simon Abkarian is rumoured to play the role of
Demetrius, who more and more looks like to be the ‘real’ villain in Casino Royale. Reliable French newspaper Le
Parisien today confirms that Abkarian has
signed up to play the role of the villain!

According to the paper, Romain Duris turned down the role and Simon Abkarian
was chosen over Michael Youn for the part. As Le Parisien reports, it seems that
Abkarian has signed up for the role of the main villain. Do producers indeed
replace Le Chiffre with Demetrius? In the
IGN report
it was said that Demetrius is a  "reckless Mediterranean in his forties.
Sleazy sort who lives the high life as a gambler and money launderer." Indeed,
sounds a bit like Fleming’s Le Chiffre…

Together with Abkarian, Italian actress Catrina Murino is said to have signed
up for the role of Solonge, Demetrius’ girlfriend. The 27 years old actress had
an audition in Rome last week and was, according to the newspaper, "approved by
Barbara Broccoli". Murino is said to need to travel to the Bahamas and Barrandov
Studios in Prague.

Additionally, another French has scored a part in Casino Royale; a guy
called Seydina Baldi. In France, he’s known for his karate and fighting shows. Speculation is that he was signed up for the role of
Solari; a role that pop star Seal originally was planned to play.

A scan of the article can be found

here. CBn will keep you up-to-date!

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.

Discuss this news in this thread on the CBn Forums, the largest James Bond forum on the internet. Thanks to forum member ‘Abdel’!

Casting Tidbits

*** WARNING: ARTICLE CONTAINS MINOR SPOILERS ***

CBn today can bring you two short Casting tidbits to throw into the big
Casino Royale rumour pot: French magazine
Allocine claims that
Michael Youn’s agent has confirmed to them that the French actor was
screentested for the role of the villain (side note: again, the villain is not
being refered to as "Le Chiffre"). Additionally they claim that another French
actor was screentested last week; a guy called Simon Abkarian. Rumours are that
he auditioned for the role of Demetrius (see CBn’s news from
yesterday).

Icelandic actor Björn Hlynur Haraldsson, who has been rumoured to play the
role of Massus, has confirmed to the Icelandic paper

Visir, that he indeed travelled to London last week to meet with casting
agents for Casino Royale. He then auditioned for the role of a henchman, but he
claims that he is not even sure that his part is going to be in the movie, as
script doctors seem still to be working on the script. "It would be a honour to
be killed by James Bond", the actor said. On an interesting side note it is said
that Björn Hlynur Haraldsson is part of a group called "European Shooting
Stars", a group that contains 21 young actors. A group, some time ago a certain Daniel Craig was a part of…

CBn will keep you informed!

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.

Discuss this news in this thread on the CBn Forums, the largest James Bond forum on the internet. Thanks to Allocine.fr!