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  1. Films / 2006 - Casino Royale

    Michael G. Wilson Talks 'Casino Royale'

    By Tim Roth on 2005-05-18

    Variety has revised its article claiming Casino Royale would begin filming in
    "Summer 2006"; the article now reads "early 2006". Therefore,
    yesterday’s
    speculation     about Bond 21 to be pushed to 2007 now seems meaningless.

    Meanwhile, as the

    Daily Bulletin     reports, Michael G. Wilson has come out with some real facts. Speaking to
    Harvey Mudd students on the weekend about photography, Wilson said: "I know that
    many of you have questions about the next James Bond film. I generally get asked
    the same questions wherever I go. I’ve found that nine answers will take care of
    most of those questions."

    He then went on and said, without naming the questions: "I don’t know which
    actor; January 17; October 19, 2006; Aston Martin; ‘Casino Royale’; Martin
    Campbell; Prague and South Africa; yes, Judi Dench will be back; and no, Halle
    Berry won’t reprise, but I’d love to make another film with her."

    This means:

    • no actor for the role of James Bond casted yet
    • start of shooting: January 17, 2006
    • either end of shooting or release date: October 19, 2006
    • Bond will again be driving an Aston Martin car
    • the film will be called Casino Royale
    • Martin Campbell will be the director
    • locations will be Prague and South Africa
    • Judi Dench will reprise her role as ‘M’
    • Jinx will not be back

    While most of the now confirmed facts are not news to CBn readers, two points
    have to be looked at more precise: South Africa and October 19, 2006.

    South Africa was one of the first rumours surrounding Bond 21; CBn first had
    an article on it in July 2003. Later, insider "Pierce-B" from Absolutely James
    Bond     claimed that South Africa and Liverpool were being scouted by EON. Nothing
    more was heard about it until today.

    While Wilson gave mostly very precise replies, the only vague thing he talked
    about remains "October 19, 2006." Will it be the release date for Casino Royale
    or will this date only mark the final day of shooting?
    Previously
    it has been reported that the film will be released on November 17, 2006.

    Sadly, all other questions were blocked. Wilson admitted it’s more fun to
    talk about photography than about Bond, in part because there’s less pressure.
    Nobody’s blogging about the Wilson Centre for Photography. "I live in a
    fishbowl," Wilson said. "You can’t have a casual remark. So I am somewhat
    guarded speaking about Bond."

    Very true.

     

    Discuss this latest news in this thread on the CBn Forums. Thanks to forum member ‘Lady Templar’.

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  2. Films / 2006 - Casino Royale

    'Casino Royale' Pushed to 2007?

    By Tim Roth on 2005-05-17

    UPDATE: Variety has revised its article claiming Casino Royale would begin filming in “Summer 2006”; the article now reads “early 2006”. Therefore, the speculation about Bond 21 to be pushed to 2007 now seems meaningless.

    Variety reports today that the start of shooting of the 21st James Bond movie,
    Casino Royale, has again been delayed. “As word circulates along the Croisette
    that the next James Bond pic is set to move from its historic U.K. production
    base to Prague’s Barrandov Studios, sources close to the production have told
    Variety that Casino Royale will begin its shoot in the summer of 2006, rather
    than later this year as has been erroneously reported.”

    As a possible result the release date of Casino Royale could be pushed to
    summer 2007. Most fans will surely welcome the fact that there will be a 007
    film in year 2007, but on the other hand it will be the 2nd longest break in
    Bond history between two films, only beat by the 6 year interval between License To Kill (1989) and GoldenEye (1995).

    Meanwhile, Pavel Strnad, chairman of Czech producer’s association APAAPA,
    confirmed CBn’s
    recent
    article     about the production moving to Prague. He said: "It is great for
    such a high profile film to come to Prague. This makes it clear that the Czech
    Republic is still great value, despite current currency exchange problems. What
    is significant is not only are we successfully competing against countries like
    the U.K. and Canada, but we are successfully competing against countries in our
    own region which offer cost savings but do not have the quality of services and
    facilities to be found in Prague".

    Speaking from in front of the British pavilion on the Croisette, veteran U.K. producer Martin Bruce-Clayton deemed the reports “very, very sad. I know the Bond people had scouts in Bulgaria and other places and, let’s face it, this is all about money.”

    Eon Productions, in the meantime, stays tight-lipped. "We haven’t confirmed
    any of our locations for Casino Royale", said a spokesperson.

    Keep watching CBn for all the latest news on Casino Royale.

    Discuss this latest news in this thread on the CBn Forums. Thanks to forum members ‘HellIsHere’ and ‘BondSan’ for the tip-off.

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  3. Films / 2006 - Casino Royale

    'Casino Royale' Moving to Prague

    By Tim Roth on 2005-05-07

    In July 2004 Variety
    reported
    that Eon Productions are looking to film Casino Royale in the capital of the Czech Republic, Prague. However, there was no official confirmation. Later it was reported that Michael G. Wilson visited Prague for private reasons.

    Three days ago, fellow website
    Absolutely James Bond
    reported that it has been brought to their attention “that it is pretty much
    definite that some of Casino Royale will in fact be shot in Prague.” Today, the
    German James Bond Club
    goes a step further and confirms that there will be no shooting in Pinewood at
    all. Instead, the whole production is moving to Prague. CBn’s own sources have now verified this news.

    While there is no further information given, it is likely that Casino Royale
    will be shot in the legendary Barrandov studios. The 1931 built, 9254 m² big
    studios are the biggest ones of the Czech Republic. Several Hollywood movies
    were shot in Prague over the last 5 years, including Sean Connery’s League of
    Extraordinary Gentlemen    , Hugh Jackman’s Van Helsing and Roman Polanski’s Oliver
    Twist    . New Bond distributor Sony has also shot a bunch of films there, Vin
    Diesel’s XXX is the best-known.

    Barrandov Studios in Prague

    Barrandov Studios in Prague

    One can only speculate about the reasons for moving to Prague.
    Nothing’s been confirmed yet, but it seems that  Barrandov studios are much
    cheaper than legendary Pinewood. Additionally, taxes are not as high as in
    Britain.

    In a recent interview with

    Prague Post    , director Roman Polanski called Barrandov studios, “The best studios I
    have ever shot in. I have worked in practically all of the studios of the world
    and at least visited many of them, and I think this is the finest. This is
    really an exceptional tool in our profession. Nowhere else could we have made the film in such a way as we
    did here.”

    Barrandov is unique in Europe, for having one of the
    largest back lots where outdoor sets can be constructed right next to the
    studios for indoor sets.

    Keep watching CBn for all the latest news on Casino Royale.

    Discuss this latest news in this thread on the CBn Forums.

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  4. Films / 2006 - Casino Royale

    Craig's 'Casino' Connections

    By Matt Weston on 2005-05-04

    Daniel Craig, star of Layer Cake and a much-touted candidate for the role of James Bond, has spoken candidly about his association with Casino Royale.

    Daniel Craig

    Daniel Craig

    The media has recently been swamped with rumours suggesting Craig had landed the part, resulting in an initial denial from the actor’s camp. However, the latest interviews to emerge have suggested that casting for the role of 007 has fallen into a state of paralysis, as Pierce Brosnan put it when Eon opted not to renew his contract for the new film.

    Speaking with HoustonChronicle.com, the actor appeared very coy about his current position with the role. “If I was to be [Bond], and I’m not saying I am, I couldn’t tell you anyway. Believe me, I couldn’t tell you. So the answer is … I’m in a group of names. It’s a high-class problem to have.”

    “But I do know them and I have talked to them, but there’s no decision made as yet,” said Craig.

    However, in an interview with IGN.com, Craig addressed the subject in surprising detail, suggesting conflict between the studio and Eon over casting for the film. “It was a surreal time to have the studio phoning you up saying you’ve got the job and then the Broccolis saying nothing,” said Craig. “I just let it go. I’m a big believer that if they want you? you don’t want to fight, you want to all be on the same page from the very beginning. I think I would have probably been a bit too radical for it.”

    “I don’t know what the deal is [with Bond], I don’t know,” continued Craig. “There’s a lot of rumours floating around. It’s not a bad position to be in … There’s been some sort of move in my direction but there’s been a move in a lot of people’s direction. Possibly it’s a way of trying to raise debate. They throw out some names and then people start discussing it and then they can make a decision.”

    So would Craig accept if offered the role? “I don’t know. That’s the truth of it, I really don’t know. It would be difficult not to give it really serious thought.”

    Craig, 37, has starred in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, Road to Perdition and The Jacket. The actor is also said to be a personal friend of Bond producer Barbara Broccoli.

    Craig can currently be seen in Layer Cake, directed by Matthew Vaughn, who also had a brush with Casino Royale, before GoldenEye‘s Martin Campbell signed onto the project. Also speaking to IGN.com, Vaughn’s statements of creative differences between the studio and Eon echoed those of Craig.

    “It was a strange situation,” said Vaughn. “The truth of the matter is I was offered it by MGM but not by the Broccolis. There was smoke or there was fire.”

    Cameras are set to roll on Casino Royale early next year for a November 2006 release.

    Yea or nay for Craig? Discuss this latest news in this thread on the CBn Forums.
    Thanks to “Stax”.

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  5. Films / 2006 - Casino Royale

    "It definitely will not be Pierce Brosnan"

    By Matt Weston on 2005-04-17

    “We haven’t even started preproduction. There is no James Bond yet cast. All we can confirm is that it definitely will not be Pierce Brosnan, the film will be called ‘Casino Royale’, it is being written by Neal Purvis and Robert Wade and it will be directed by Martin Campbell. If you want anything more, ring back in a couple of months.”

    – Eon spokesperson

    In three short sentences, speaking to the UK’s Guardian Unlimited, an Eon spokesperson summed up the current status of Casino Royale and categorically stated that Pierce Brosnan is out as James Bond.

    Pierce Brosnan

    Pierce Brosnan

    Despite denial from Pierce Brosnan’s people, rumours of a potential return to the role of 007 have continued to circulate in the media in recent weeks (Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang! recently reported on some of the latest articles on that front).

    While this only confirms the suspicions of most Bond fans in that the latest round of Brosnan rumours were poppycock, this is perhaps the most forward Eon has been to date regarding the Brosnan Axed saga. In the only news release to emerge from the production company, Eon played their cards close to their chest, simply stating, “No decision has yet been made regarding casting for the role of ‘James Bond'”. Interviews with director Campbell, writers Purvis and Wade and composer David Arnold had all indicated Brosnan was out, but Eon themselves had never been overly forward in saying a fifth film for Brosnan was out of the question.

    With articles quoting representatives from the production company emerging more frequently, Eon spokespeople have been slightly more vocal in recent times, after more than a year of hearing next to nothing from the company. So, why the slight change of tact? In the past couple of months, the Bond rumour pot has boiled over, with a new candidate alledgedly being considered by the production company every other day. From a PR standpoint, any publicity’s good publicity, but when the rumours are being run as fact, as has been the case in recent times, a bit of damage control on Eon’s behalf would not go astray.

    Indeed, The Guardian feature claims there is a list posted at Eon’s office of 72 names that have been mentioned by British newspapers as being linked to the role, two of which are women, and one of which is a dwarf. Not the sort of publicity Eon would be after.

    Based on Ian Fleming’s first novel of the same name, the current Casino Royale script explores Bond’s formative years at MI6.

    The Bond #6 hunt is truly on! Discuss this latest news in this thread on the CBn Forums.

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  6. Films / 2006 - Casino Royale

    Eon Stay Silent on Speculation

    By Matt Weston on 2005-04-06

    Ever since it became clear back in February last year that something was awry behind the scenes of Casino Royale – then James Bond 21 – the media has been spouting potential 007 replacements left, right and centre. In the process, Eon’s juggernaut film franchise has been absorbing the most press it has had in years.

    Eon has remained tight-lipped throughout the whole affair, maintaining that casting for the role of 007 will take place in due time. Yet the Bond rumour pot has inexplicably boiled over in the past fortnight or so, as tabloids continue to churn out “next Bond” stories with names attached ranging from Julian McMahon and Orlando Bloom to Clive Owen, whose cryptic comments last week sent the Bond community into a frenzy. Latest Internet rumours even suggest Pierce Brosnan may return after all, despite a year’s worth of news indicating otherwise.

    However, after one Bond rumour too many (this time, a Daniel Craig one), BBC News contacted Eon, whose spokesperson put the matter to rest and commented that no announcement is imminent.

    “We’re waiting for our director to finish the film he’s currently working on,” said the spokesperson, referring to Martin Campbell, who is currently wrapping The Legend of Zorro. “Then I’m sure we’ll be commenting a lot on all sorts of things.”

    The Zorro sequel is currently in post-production aiming for an October 2005 release date. Whenever Campbell moves onto Casino Royale is anyone’s guess, but sources close to CBn indicated in February that Sony wanted Campbell to wrap on The Legend of Zorro by mid-July and start work on the new Bond picture immediately.

    Casino Royale is tentatively scheduled for release on 17 November 2006.

    Eon may be staying silent, but the fans certainly aren’t! Join the discussion in this thread on the CBn Forums.
    Thanks to “Jim” for the tip-off.

    UPDATE: In an article discussing the state of the James Bond franchise, Variety contacted Pierce Brosnan’s reps who have denied any talks are taking place for him to return to the role of 007.

    Meanwhile, as the Daniel Craig fire spreads through media sources over the world, convinced it’s a done deal, ThisisLondon reports that a spokesperson for the actor has denied the rumours.

    Likewise, Orlando Bloom, who has been linked in the press to a series of Bond films based on the new Young Bond novels by Charlie Higson, has issued the most emphatic denial of them all. Says Bloom, “I’m not doing Young James Bond. No, no, no. It’s funny, my cousin called me up, he said, ‘Is there something you’re not telling me? That you’re playing James Bond? I just saw it on CNN.’ I was like, ‘Dude, my manager, my agent have never mentioned it to me, so not to date. Young or old, it had never been mentioned to me. I don’t know where that came from but I can tell you that I’ve never heard a whiff of it, not a whiff.”

  7. Films / 2006 - Casino Royale

    The Clive Conundrum

    By Athena Stamos on 2005-03-29

    In the Bond world today, a Clive Owen interview clip on IESB is receiving a lot of attention. This interview was recorded yesterday at the Sin City movie premiere at Mann’s National Theater in Westwood, CA. The transcript of the James Bond-related questions reads as follows…

    Q: Have you found that you have been getting more movie offers?

    Clive Owen: Ya, I look like I’m going to be busy for a little while, which I’m very happy about.

    Q: Yes to Bond or no to Bond?

    Clive Owen: Sorry?

    Q: Bond, James Bond?

    Clive Owen: I’m pretty busy for a while.

    Q: Are their any truths in James Bond rumours then?

    Clive Owen: I’m pretty busy for a while.

    “View IESB Clip – 1.34MB” (Windows Media Player)

    James Bond fans seem to be split on what Clive Owen actually meant by his answer. Is he hiding something or is he truly just not interested in the role of 007?

    To add to the discussion is another interview conducted by Charlie Rose, which aired last night on PBS. In this interview, Clive Owen gives an answer about his 007 involvement which is much less “opaque”.

    Charlie Rose: What’s next for you?

    Clive Owen: I’m really not sure. I think I know what I’m doing but nothing’s been absolutely locked off.

    Charlie Rose: It’s nothing you can talk about?

    Clive Owen: No. Exactly.

    Charlie Rose: And all this talk about Bond?

    *long moment of silence*

    Clive Owen: All this talk about Bond. That’s all it is.

    Charlie Rose: It’s all talk?

    Clive Owen: Ya, it is all talk.

    Charlie Rose: Nobody called you up and said would you…

    Clive Owen: Never. Totally unsubstantiated rumours. It’s been flying out there and I can understand why. I do BMW Films and race cars around and a croupier with a tuxedo. So I can understand why that thing’s there. But it’s complete sort of… it’s just been out there in tabloid land for a couple years.

    The interview continued and Owen talked about how he’s more interested in doing a variety of roles. (see clip).

    “View Charlie Rose Clip – 4.38MB” (Windows Media Player)

    However, until Eon confirms anything the fans can only speculate.

    Is Clive Owen hiding something or is he merely brushing off those persistent 007 rumours? Speculate in this thread on the CBn Forums!

  8. Films / 2006 - Casino Royale

    A Date at 'Casino Royale'

    By Matt Weston on 2005-03-29

    In an article discussing the closure of the Sony / MGM deal, The Hollywood Reporter notes that the next instalment of the James Bond franchise, Casino Royale, is at the top of the list of MGM’s remaining productions, with a Friday 17 November 2006 release date being eyed.

    While Dame Judi Dench confirmed earlier this month that production on the film would begin early next year, an exact date has not been known. Producers delayed the film last year from its original 2005 release date after failing to sign a director. Martin Campbell was announced for the project earlier this year.

    The article mentions that the release date is a tentative one, however it does fit with the pattern of release dates for the Pierce Brosnan-era Bond pictures. Curiously, Brosnan’s first Bond film, GoldenEye, which Campbell also directed, was released in the US on Friday 17 November back in 1995.

    According to The Hollywood Reporter, casting has not yet taken place for Casino Royale, with the role of James Bond still unfilled.

    Based on Ian Fleming’s first novel of the same name, the current Casino Royale script explores Bond’s formative years at MI6.

    Mark your calendars! To discuss this news, head over to this thread of the CBn Forums.

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  9. Films / 2006 - Casino Royale

    'Royale' Revelations from Purvis & Wade

    By Matt Weston on 2005-03-14

    Casino Royale screenwriters Neal Purvis and Robert Wade have given a rather candid interview about their script for the 21st James Bond film, dropping some exciting details of what to expect come 2006.

    In the interview with Screen International, relayed through Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang!, Purvis and Wade have confirmed that Casino Royale will be a “very faithful adaption” of Fleming’s novel, although updated for a modern audience. Whilst fans have been aware of the fact that the new film will be based upon Casino Royale since July last year, the true extent of Casino Royale as a basis for the new script has never really been known (fan speculation has varied from a full-blown adaption of Fleming’s novel to a loose adaption, as Fleming’s Moonraker was to Die Another Day).

    Purvis and Wade also confirmed what director Martin Campbell had been quoted as saying last month, in that Casino Royale will see 007 on one of his first missions, being forged into the secret agent we all know. “The book is the story of the incident that actually forges James Bond as a secret agent,” Wade said. “There is a James Bond that everyone knows, but it would be nice just once to show how he got there.”

    Discussing Fleming’s novel, Wade remarked that the book “doesn’t have the global vista and it doesn’t have the level of action with which the cinematic Bonds have become synonymous with. We’ve opened it up but tried to keep the action fairly contained, and of realistic proportions. And everything that we’ve done that expands on the book is providing a modern context for what happens.” Wade also commented that updating the novel was their “sleight of hand” and that they “can’t make it as a period piece”.

    The duo also confirmed that the most iconic elements of Fleming’s novel are in the current incarnation of the script, including the infamous torture sequence (“If it is done the right way, there are going to be a lot of crossed legs in the cinema,” said Wade) and Bond’s final line of dialogue. The writers also commented that the action in Casino Royale would also take a step back, featuring a more realistic style of violence and fewer quips from Bond.

    And no Casino Royale interview would be complete without a bit of “next Bond” speculation, with Purvis weighing in on recasting cinema’s most enduring action hero. “Pierce Brosnan is a very, very hard act to follow, so you need something very different. You don’t want to have Pierce-lite.”

    Head on over to Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang! for more of the interview, in which the writing team discuss Die Another Day, Jason Bourne and more.

    Keep watching CBn for the latest news on Casino Royale.

    Excited by the prospect of a Fleming-heavy Casino Royale? Longing for over-the-top action, instead? Weigh in with your opinion in this thread of the CBn Forums.
    Thanks to CBn Forum member Alex Zamudio for the heads-up.

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  10. Films / 2006 - Casino Royale

    Dench Confirms Jan/Feb '06 Start Date for 'Casino Royale'

    By johncox on 2005-03-10

    Dame Judi Dench, who in October announced she would be reprising her role as James Bond’s boss “M” in Casino Royale, confirmed in an interview with Steve Wright on BBC Radio 2 that production on the 21st James Bond film is due to start in January or early February 2006. This start date would indicate a Winter 2006 or Spring 2007 release.

    Dame Judi Dench

    Dame Judi Dench

    Director Martin Campbell is expected to start pre-production on the film immeaditly after wrapping work on Sony’s The Legend of Zorro in June.

    News of Dench’s return comes as a bit of surprise to some Bond fans who assumed that because Casino Royale will feature James Bond in his very first mission (this according to Martin Campbell), a new “M” would be mandatory. After all, Dench’s “M” has quite a history with Pierce Brosnan’s 007.

    Dench was clearly “the new M” in 1995’s GoldenEye who famously pegged 007 as a “sexist misogynist dinosaur” in their first meeting. She was later saved by 007 after being kidnapped by the evil Electra King in 1999’s The World Is Not Enough. The “M”/Bond drama continued with Die Another Day (2002) in which “M” disavows 007 after he’s been captured while on a mission in North Korea, bringing the two into personal conflict…again.

    It may seem a little strange to now have Dench’s familiar “M” sitting across from a freshly minted 007. Nevertheless, Dench has become somewhat of a hallmark of the series and Eon seems reluctant to let go of this excellent actress and Oscar winner.

    It’s not yet known which if any other regular MI6 staffers will return. John Cleese had reportedly been signed to a multi-picture contract as gadget-master “Q.” Samantha Bond, on the other hand, recently said she would not return as Miss Moneypenny if Pierce Brosnan was not 007.

    Despite many rumours, CBn can confirm that NO decsion has yet been made as to who will play James Bond.

    Keep watching CBn for all the latest news on Casino Royale.

    To discuss this news visit this thread in the CBn forums
    Thanks to AJB forum member Walther, and CBn forum member Agent76 for the tip-off.

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