Campbell Chats 'Casino'

In his first interview since Eon’s recent Bond 21 announcement, Casino Royale‘s director, Martin Campbell has delivered some tantalising hints of what we can expect in 007’s new cinematic adventure.

Martin Campbell

Talking to New York Daily News, Campbell, who previously helmed Pierce Brosnan’s debut Bond flick GoldenEye, strongly reinforced the “back to basics” approach Casino Royale will take.

According to Campbell, the new film will take the storyline from Fleming’s original novel – his first – and tweak it for a 2006 audience. “There are things that will have to be changed from the original novel. The Cold War elements will have to be reconfigured, for example, but Casino Royale will be a grittier, tougher and more realistic Bond movie. We’ll be getting away from the huge visual effects kind of films.”

Perhaps the biggest revelation from Campbell is that Casino Royale will take James Bond back to his early 007 days (a similar idea was floated during pre-production on The Living Daylights). However, CBn can confirm that the movie will not be a period film.

“In the new film, Bond is essentially starting out in his career, and has just recently become part of the double-0 section,” Campbell said. “The idea is to put a bit of the dash back in Bond. By the end of the movie, the character will have been forged into the wiser, harder Bond we know.”

The interview touches on Bond’s romance with Vesper Lynd from Fleming’s novel, one of the most unique of the series. “The door is open for Bond, emotionally. He’s in love with Vesper and he sees there’s another side to all of this, that life might be far more pleasurable, more gratifying, than being a secret agent. And ultimately that door is slammed in his face, which makes him the tempered steel kind of guy that we know. I’m looking forward to humanising Bond a bit.”

Campbell also spoke of the infamous torture sequence, for which Fleming’s Casino Royale is arguably most well-known. “I don’t know what we’re going to do about that. It ranks up there with the teeth-drilling scene in Marathon Man,” Campbell said, referring to the 1976 film starring Dustin Hoffman and Marc Lawrence (of Diamonds Are Forever and The Man With The Golden Gun).

As Campbell winds up production on The Legend of Zorro, and begins the press junkets for the film, expect Casino Royale to be a hot topic!

Keep watching CBn for the latest news on Casino Royale.

Discuss these tasty hints of what’s to come in this thread on the CBn Forums.

The High Price of Bonding

An editorial by Peter Bart in yesterday’s Variety has apparently shed light on the real reason Eon unceremoniously dumped Pierce Brosnan as James Bond at exactly this time last year.

Surprise, surprise…it was all about money.

To star as 007 for a fifth and final time in next years Casino Royale, Bart claims Pierce was asking for a “compensation package” (meaning percentage of profits, etc.) that would “total out north of $40 million.”

Just to put this in perspective, this is more than the total budgets of the first nine James Bond films combined!

It now looks like Pierce’s repeated talk of the producers being in a state of paralysis might have instead been a bad case of sticker shock!

Pierce was reportedly paid $16 million for his last Bond outing, Die Another Day.

Do you think Pierce was worth this price? Or did Eon do the right thing in letting him go?
Join the debate in this thread on the CBn Forums.
Thanks to “hrabb04” for helping with this article.

VARIETY: "Is there a market for a used Bond?"

IS THE WORLD REALLY READY FOR the 21st James Bond?

Word filtered out recently that the affluent and rather haughty proprietors of the Bond franchise had hired a director, Martin Campbell, and are scratching around for a new star. According to the Bond rumor mill, Pierce Brosnan, who’d weathered four Bonds, had priced himself out of the market (his proposed compensation package would total out north of $40 million). Sony, which inherited the franchise with the acquisition of MGM, understandably favors Clive Owen as his successor.

But does anyone care? London’s Guardian delivered its vote recently, recounting Judi Dench’s quote as M in “Goldeneye” that Bond is “a sexist, misogynist dinosaur”and observing that the public’s “tolerance for snobbery had withered.”

Ian Fleming, the Eton-educated journalist, created the character as his hallucinatory alter-ego, who battled the forces of Spectre and Smersh but occasionally behaved “like an ancient gay dress designer,” in the words of the Guardian.

If the Bond character is a bit passe, part of the blame rests with “Austin Powers’ ” satiric forays, and part, too, with Matt Damon’s “Bourne” thrillers, whose central character is far more accessible to today’s audience.

Then, too, part of the problem rests with creaky scripts. The proprietors of the Bond franchise, Michael Wilson and Barbara Broccoli (the daughter of Albert, the founder) live in a cocoon of wealth and autonomy. They’ve been free to take the Bond franchise wherever they want, and they’ve managed to take it downhill.

Actually, I was a semi-oblivious spectator to the process during my tenure as a senior vice president at MGM 20 years ago. The treatment for a Bond picture appeared one day and I was informed by business affairs that the film came under my purview. Before I’d even finished reading the material, however, the project had triggered a greenlight along with a cascade of pay-or-play deals, which was just as well since the movie turned out to be “Octopussy,” and I would have had no idea how to deal with either the title or the storyline.

After a series of misfires, Wilson and Broccoli, in the ’90s, started hiring writers who, like Fleming, were former journalists and who managed to reconnect the character with credible heavies. Bruce Feirstein, for example, was brought in to shake, not stir, “Goldeneye,” which shrewdly poked fun at Bond’s elitist idiosyncrasies and served as the first “Bond” vehicle for Campbell, the New Zealand filmmaker. By the time “Die Another Day” was released in 2001, however, this run had ended and even the good-natured Brosnan began to make noises about defecting.

Will another Bond be made? Probably some Sony executive will shortly be receiving a treatment and, before he knows it, a new “Bond” will be speeding down the assembly line. In the view of the Guardian, however, the next film should embrace “a gay Bond, a black Bond, a paraplegic Bond, an obese Bond … Any Bond but James Bond.”

– By Peter Bart, Variety

Peter Bart is the Editor-in-Chief of Variety who recently interviewed Pierce Brosnan on his talkshow Sunday Morning Shootout. For CBn’s coverage of that interview CLICK HERE.

Don’t agree with this editorial? Sound off in this thead on the CBn Forums.
Thanks to luciusgore and Variety.com.

Scottish Parliament To Double As 'Casino Royale'?

The new Scottish parliament building could be handed a starring role in Casino Royale, according to a report in the Daily Record. The paper claims the £431 million home to Scotland’s politicians “is among a number of secret locations being considered by film makers.”

Royale-les-Eaux?

An Eon spokeswoman told the Record: “A number of sites will be considered and we cannot rule out the Scottish parliament.”

The Daily Record also quotes a source at Pinewood Studios as saying: “‘The Scottish parliament is a stunning building which could be turned into a casino for the film. It would be a perfect addition to the locations we’ve used over the years.”

Scotland has featured in James Bond films in the past. Eilean Donan Castle, on the Kyle of Lochalsh, was used as a secret MI6 base in 1999’s The World Is Not Enough. Roger Moore filmed scenes at Faslane naval base for The Spy Who Loved Me.

The parliament building, which was designed by Enric Miralles, opened last year next to Holyrood Palace. It is made up of a series of four to six-storey buildings linked by a garden lobby and houses Scotland’s 129 MSPs.

In other Casino Royale location news, a rumor has been spreading among Bond fansites that Eon is currently scouting Suva in Fiji. But the Fiji Audio Visual Commission has stated it is not aware of any interest.

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

To discuss this news visit this thread on the CBn Forums.
Thanks to “Qwerty” for the tip.

Related stories:

• February 3, 2005: EON CONFIRMS CAMPBELL AND ‘CASINO ROYALE’!

EON CONFIRMS CAMPBELL AND 'CASINO ROYALE'!

Eon Productions have today broken their silence and confirmed that Pierce Brosnan is OUT… director Martin Campbell is IN… and Bond 21 is officially called CASINO ROYALE.

While none of this is new news to readers of CBn, it’s finally official confirmation from the only source that can make it “official”… Eon Productions.

MARTIN CAMPBELL TO DIRECT CASINO ROYALE,
THE 21ST JAMES BOND ADVENTURE

Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, producers of the James Bond films, and MGM announced today that Martin Campbell will direct CASINO ROYALE, the 21st film in the 007 franchise.

This is Campbell’s second time as helmer of a James Bond film. In 1995 he directed the hit GOLDENEYE which introduced Pierce Brosnan to the role of 007 with great success.

Wilson and Broccoli said: “We are thrilled that Martin has accepted our offer to direct CASINO ROYALE. He is an extremely talented director and we believe he will help take our films in a new and exciting direction. He is currently finishing filming ‘Legend Of Zorro’, the sequel to ‘The Mask Of Zorro’, and will be joining EON Productions shortly to work on the development of the script with our writers, Neal Purvis and Robert Wade.”

MGM Vice Chairman and COO Chris McGurk said: “Martin is an incredibly exciting filmmaker. GOLDENEYE was a wonderful movie and helped reinvigorate the Bond franchise. We’re thrilled to have him back to direct the newest Bond.”

Born in New Zealand, Campbell moved to England in 1966 and made his directorial debut on the popular TV series’ ‘The Professionals’ and ‘Minder’. He moved to America in 1986 to direct ‘Criminal Law’ and ‘Defenceless’. Following GOLDENEYE, he went on to direct ‘The Mask Of Zorro’, ‘Vertical Limit’ and ‘Beyond Borders’ and is currently directing ‘Legend Of Zorro’.

CASINO ROYALE will be released in 2006 and distributed world-wide by MGM. No decision has yet been made regarding casting for the role of ‘James Bond’.

– Official Press Release from EON PRODUCTIONS LTD

Casino Royale was first adapted in 1954 as a one-hour TV teleplay by CBS with American Barry Nelson playing the screen’s first 007. Because Fleming had already sold the film rights to his first James Bond novel, Casino Royale was not part of the 1961 Cubby Broccoli/Harry Saltzman film rights purchase deal that was the foundation of the James Bond/Eon Productions franchise.

U.S. first edition

The rights passed from hand to hand until Charles K. Feldman announced he’d produce a rival Bond film to the Eon series. But this was at the height of Bondmania, and Feldman decided he couldn’t compete with Sean Connery, so in 1967 he and Columbia Pictures turned Casino Royale into a farce comedy starring David Niven and Peter Sellers. (Kaleidoscope, an excellent thriller made in 1966, used plot elements so strikingly similar to Casino Royale that it could almost be called an unofficial adaptation.)

Fast forward to the late 1990s when Sony (who acquired the Casino rights when they purchased Columbia Pictures) locked horns with MGM over disputed rights to the Bond film Thunderball. The settlement in favour of MGM not only returned the Thunderball rights to Eon, but Sony also surrendered their long-held rights to Casino Royale. This alowed Eon to finally adapt this first Fleming novel.

Ironically, Sony’s recent purchase of MGM means they will have a major hand in producing Casino Royale after all.

As always, keep watching CBn for all the latest Bond 21…
…Whoops! We mean, CASINO ROYALE news.

To discuss this press release visit this thread on the CBn Forums.

Related CBn stories (now confirmed):

• February 11, 2004: LICENCE REVOKED
• July 30, 2004: Bond 21 is ‘Casino Royale’
• January 16, 2005: “It’s a Done Deal.” Campbell to direct

Brosnan Confirms On His Official Website That It's (Really) Over

It’s over. Pierce Brosnan has at last officially and irrevocably
announced via his official website that his days as James Bond are counted.

In an update dated February 1st, 2005, Brosnan concludes:

I would like to thank all of you who have supported me over the last year or so in regard to my playing Bond. It was a decade of my life that I will always hold dear to my heart and a time that will never be forgotten. And you dear friends stood by me throughout. Many, many thanks! But everything comes to an end, and one must accept this decision which cannot be dealt with in any other way but with some kind of grace and knowledge that I did the job to the best of my ability."

Pierce Brosnan

CBn has previously reported  that Brosnan has announced his leave on
several occasions before, but his website post is the first officially confirmed
word on it. Although Bond fans in the whole world started to accept Brosnan’s
"retirement" some months ago, there was always a glimmer of hope left.

While at the beginning of January there was a
hot rumour that Brosnan was in 007 talks again, CBn has learnt that final attempts to find a solution with Pierce Brosnan have failed.

Keep watching CBn for the latest news on Bond 21.

To discuss this news visit this thread in the CBn Forums.
Thanks to Matthias & Clopin for the tip.

Related articles:

• Brosnan Fired From Bond Role!
• Brosnan REVOKES his own Licence to Kill!
• New Claims: Brosnan Out For Bond 21 Following Dispute
• Brosnan Says 007 Future Still Uncertain
• German Bond 21 Release Date Set
• Brosnan Says 007 Future Still Uncertain
• IMDb Reports: “Brosnan Will Play Bond Again”
• Brosnan Tempers Rhetoric in Recent T.V. Appearances
• Brosnan Confirms The Producers Are Talking to Jackman & Owen
• Bitter Brosnan: “Negotiations have now ceased.”
• MGM Vice Chairman Talks Bond 21
• Brosnan ‘On The Record with Bob Costas’
• Pierce Keeps Pressure on Bond Producers
• ‘…I don’t know what’s going to happen. I have no idea.’
• Brosnan Speaks Out in Detail on His Future as Bond
• Pierce Brosnan A Little Frazzled?
• Brosnan: “My Future As 007 Is Opaque”
• Eon Says That Brosnan is Bond ‘For Now’
• LICENCE REVOKED
• Brosnan’s Head is on the Block?

"New Bond, New movie, New sound."

The talented David Arnold has taken some time to mingle with his fans in the forums located on his official web-site. He’s been very kind in answering some questions regarding 007 and more specifically Bond 21.

In a thread titled: New music for new Bond actor? a fan posts…

06/01/2005 : 22:02:30 : Jimmy wrote:

My comment/question is this–each time a new actor has put on the tux, a different ‘sound’ has been used for the Bond theme. Brassy with guitar for Connery, that unforgettable bass guitar drop and the synthesizer for Lazenby, (mostly) strings, strings, and strings for Moore (though even in LALD George Martin had a new sound for the new Bond), different synthesizers for Dalton (with Kamen throwing in a different sound). The Brosnan era began with some risky Serra moves, but it was undeniably different, which brings us to Mr. Arnold’s interpretation. Each new Bond was greeted with a new sound, even when composed by John Barry.

Now that Brosnan has sadly left, I wonder if Mr. Arnold has a new sound for the new bond planned. Very early to think about it, but it could warrant discussion. Part of me hopes not because I love the recent scores…

Then, David Arnold responds. In his response, he appears to offer further confirmation that Pierce Brosnan will not be returning to the role of James Bond.

20/01/2005 : 01:10:37 : david wrote:

I think it is time to move on, the Brosnan scores were written for the Brosnan pictures, and that is why they are the way they are. New Bond, New movie, New sound.

Keep watching CBn for the latest news on Bond 21.

To discuss this news visit this thread on the CBn Forums.
Thanks to Dmitri Mishkin (CBn member) for the heads up.

Related Articles

• David Arnold Tunes In For Bond 21

"It's a Done Deal."

While it’s yet to be officially announced, CBn has learned that Martin Campbell has agreed to direct Bond 21. “It’s a done deal,” says a source familiar with the negotiations.

Martin Campbell – “Heeee’s baaack”

This will be welcome news to James Bond fans who consider Campbell’s 1995 GoldenEye the best Bond film of the Brosnan era, and one that is credited with “reviving” the James Bond franchise.

Campbell is currently in post-production on The Legend of Zorro (a sequel to his 1998 hit The Mask of Zorro). Sony is due to release Legend in Nov. 2005. Campbell will then move onto Bond 21 as his next project. Bond 21 is aiming for a January ’06 production start, although this could change.

This will be the first time a director has made a return appearance since John Glen helmed five consecutive Bond films in the 1980s.

Still unclear is whether Pierce Brosnan will return (there is a hot rumour that Brosnan is back in talks) or if Eon and Campbell will go ahead with plans to introduce a “younger” 007 in this 21st installment. As CBn first reported in July, Bond 21 is based on Ian Fleming’s first James Bond novel Casino Royale.

Keep watching CBn for the latest news on Bond 21.

To discuss this news visit this thread in CBn’s Bond 21 Forums.

Related Articles:

• Campbell Close to Signing Aboard Bond 21
• Martin Campbell To Helm Bond 21?
• Bond 21 on Hold, MGM Confirms No Bond in ’05
• Campbell Not Available For Possible 2004 Shooting!
• Martin Campbell to Return for Bond 21?

Bond 21 Delayed Again?

The British Mail On Sunday and Contactmusic.com report today that the next James Bond film, Bond 21, has been further delayed after a series of rows between producer Barbara Broccoli and distributors MGM/Sony.

According to these two sources, Broccoli is keen to return the spy franchise to the more serious, plot-driven films. CBn reported in July 2004 that the next film is based upon Ian Flemings "Casino Royale", the only novel that has not been turned into an official EON movie yet. CBn has also heard rumours about a more character-driven script lately.

However, MGM is determined to generate as much money as possible by sticking to the film’s "well-established formula of gadgets, breath-taking stunts and big-budget special effects". The dispute as well as the Pierce Brosnan question, which dominated last year’s Bond news, have already delayed the 21st James Bond film, originally scheduled for a November 2005 release.

The Mail On Sunday adds that a Hollywood insider says, "It does not bode well. There is a lot of ego, money and belief at stake – no one is backing down. The Broccoli camp believe they are the keepers of an untouchable tradition, and the money men want their megabucks."

The newspaper also says that the new release date is anytime in "early 2006". CBn reported a while ago that EON was considering an Easter 2006 release for Bond 21.

CBn will keep you informed!

To discuss this news visit this thread in the CBn Forums.

Campbell Close to Signing Aboard Bond 21

Despite a reference in The Hollywood Reporter last week claiming Martin Campbell has “signed on” to direct Bond 21 [MGM: Final bows], CBn has learned that details are still being worked out and the GoldenEye director has not yet committed to the project.

However, the chances that Campbell will be the director of Bond 21 are excellent and it may be just a matter of time before Campbell and Eon close the deal.

Campbell has just returned from shooting The Legend of Zorro (a sequel to his 1998 hit The Mask of Zorro) in Mexico. The Zorro sequel is currently in post-production and is due for release in Nov. 2005. This would allow Campbell to comfortably move onto Bond 21 as his next project. At the moment, Bond 21 is aiming for a January ’06 production start.

As CBn first reported in July, Bond 21 is based on Ian Fleming’s first James Bond novel Casino Royale. Still unclear is whether Pierce Brosnan will return (there is a hot rumour that Brosnan is back in talks) or if Eon will go ahead with plans to introduce a “younger” 007 in this 21st installment.

Keep watching CBn for the latest news on Bond 21.

To discuss this news visit this thread in CBn’s Bond 21 Forums.

Related Articles:

• Martin Campbell To Helm Bond 21?
• Bond 21 on Hold, MGM Confirms No Bond in ’05