'Quantum of Solace' Production Heading Back To Siena

WARNING: Major plot spoilers

Way back in August of last year, news broke on the CommanderBond.net main page that some early filming for Daniel Craig’s second James Bond film (then-titled Bond 22) had taken place at the Tuscan town of Siena, Italy.

At the time, the filming took place during the bi-annual Palio di Siena horse race that is to be included as part of a major action sequence in Quantum of Solace.

As reported then: the sequence sees 007 pursuing one of the film’s villains down narrow cobbled streets, then across the town’s rooftops and through its medieval aqueducts as the horses charge around the Piazza del Campo. The town’s bottini, a tangled network of underground tunnels, are also featured.

Since then, several updates about a follow-up to the Siena filming have been published recently in the La Nazione newspaper.

Preparations for the rooftop filming began on 11 February and are expected to last until early April. According to line producer Guido Cerasuolo of Mestiere Cinema, the Venitian production firm that previously worked on Casino Royale, scenes will also be shot in the marble Fantiscritti and Canalgrande quarries, located in the Tuscan city of Carrara. ‘We agree with the mayor, we will begin shooting in April,’ said Cerasuolo.

A seperate article (click here to read) also shed some light on what to expect in the opening scenes of Quantum of Solace:

The film is expected to open at Lago di Garda (as reported earlier by CBn), the largest and deepest lake in Italy. The sequence will reportedly quickly move into a mountain road chase set against the backdrop of the Apuan Alps, with 007 being pursued by the police. In addition to the special effects, jumps, skids and spins, a ‘helicopter escape’ was also briefly mentioned.

A follow-up article posted at mediatecatoscana.net revealed that it is the film’s villains who send the police after Bond in this opening sequence.

Daniel Craig at the Palio di Siena in August 2007

Indicating that the film’s chase has now moved from Lago di Garda to the quarries at Carrara, the report states that Bond makes his way through the Canalgrande and Fantiscritti quarries, while still being pursued by the police. After eventually shaking off the police, Bond is expected to emerge out of the Miseglia (a frazione, or subdivision in Carrara) tunnel and eventually arrives in Siena.

An article from the February 2008 edition of Il Tirreno also revealed details on the action sequence:

Calling the filming in Miseglia, an ‘extraordinary event’ for the city, the report notes that a Bond production crew of roughly 200 people is expected to arrive on 25 April. Filming will then take place between the Passo del Vestito and Altagnana (with the chase culminating on the Piazza del Campo) from 2 to 9 May. Filming at the Fantiscritti location will follow on the 10th to the 12th.

Furthermore, Corriere di Siena recently published additional details about the portion of the chase sequence that will take place on foot.

A second unit for the film and four stuntmen have been preparing for a section of the sequence that will involve a modified bus. Expected to begin at Siena’s Saint George Church, Bond will reportedly emerge from the building and jump onto a bus driving at breakneck speed against traffic and heading towards one of the city’s bridges.

Lastly, the La Nazione newspaper reported on 15 March on the extensive construction currently going on to prepare for the 007 filming.

In addition, after more than 1500 auditions for roles as extras, 300 people in Siena have already been cast.

Quantum of Solace art director Mike Stalion said: ‘This area is wonderful, it’s ideal for the most fantastic [sequence in the newest Bond film.] About 10 minutes of incredible acrobatics on the rooftops and balconies, it’ll be a memorable scene.’

Daniel Craig is expected to arrive for filming in April.

We’ll keep you updated as more details on this major action sequence are revealed.

Stay tuned to the CBn main page for the most up-to-date and complete coverage of Quantum of Solace.

More 'Quantum of Solace' Photos: James Bond And Elvis

Several photographs from the Quantum of Solace production have been revealed throughout the past two days on the CommanderBond.net Forums.

First up: After fans got their first look at Anatole Taubman in character as the henchman named Elvis in an Insider video report, a brand new photograph of the villain was posted here on the CBn Forums.

Several shots of Daniel Craig filming in Panama were also added on the CBn Forums. The James Bond star can be seen jumping from a moving boat according to The Sun newspaper.

A souce who was at the 007 set at the time of filming said: ‘Daniel is incredibly brave. Most actors have people do this for them.’

Stay tuned to the CBn main page for the most up-to-date and complete coverage of Quantum of Solace.

Variety: 'Quantum' Budget A Leap Above Previous Bonds

An article about studio financing in yesterday’s edition of trade paper Variety contained a small nugget about the big budget of the latest James Bond film.

According to the article, Quantum Of Solace, Daniel Craig’s second outing as Agent 007, will cost an epic $230 million to produce. The report claims half of this amount will be provided by MGM’s stakeholders.

James Bond fans on the CBn Forums are speculating the immense figure may take into account marketing, merchandising and other incidental costs that are not typically included in a motion picture’s budgetary statistic.

The budget of Casino Royale was said to be slightly north of $100 million – the film earned just over $594 million at the box office after its release in 2006.

Keep watching CommanderBond.net for the most up-to-date Quantum Of Solace news on the web.

New Interview With 'Quantum' Villains Anatole Taubman And Mathieu Amalric

Continuing on from The Insider’s Quantum of Solace set visit from two weeks ago, a newly posted video on their website features interviews with the film’s villains, Mathieu Amalric and Anatole Taubman.

James Bond fans get a first look at Taubman in the film, who is sporting a very different haircut as the main henchman, Elvis.

‘I think this has largely to do with the script,’ said Taubman when asked about the multi-layered villains that will be featured in this Bond film.

When asked if moviegoers will be shocked by what Quantum of Solace brings to the 007 series, Taubman replied: ‘In a positive way. They’ll be very, very surprised. Seriously.’

Mathieu Amalric, who plays lead villain Dominic Greene, also spoke about the film: ‘In Casino Royale for instance, they started something that is quite realistic about the times in which we are living in and I think this film, Quantum of Solace, is continuing in this vein.’

‘What could be a villain today? Maybe it’s somebody you don’t guess is a villain immediately. They’re just like wallpaper. You don’t know where the threads can come from.’

Taubman was also asked about working with Daniel Craig. ‘We just met not long ago,’ he said, ‘but he would be a guy that could probably be a very, very dear best friend. He’s fantastic. Very professional and very modest. Golden at heart.’

Click here to watch the full two-minute video interview online.

Stay tuned to the CBn main page for the most up-to-date and complete coverage of Quantum of Solace.

James Bond's Omega Seamaster Is Back… In Black

Since 1995’s GoldenEye, James Bond has turned to Omega when it came to choosing his timepiece.

In July of this year, Omega will be releasing a brand new limited edition 007 Seamaster Diver 300m watch. A preview photograph can be viewed at Style.com.

Omega will be producing 10,007 of them at the price to be announced.

While many Bond fans are expecting Omega to be back for Quantum of Solace, no official details (including those regarding whether this new limited edition will be featured) have been revealed as of yet.

Much more information follows in this release from TimeGeeks:

James Bond 007 Collector’s Piece Is Back… In Black

OMEGA presents the new version of the Seamaster Diver 300m James Bond which collectors and fans have treasured since 1995.

For the past decade, Her Majesty’s Secret Service agent 007 has been wearing an OMEGA Seamaster watch. Fans of the iconic spy, along with enthusiasts of fine watches, wait in anticipation of each new version of the timepiece.

Their patience will soon be rewarded. OMEGA will be releasing a special update of the incredibly popular Seamaster Diver 300m James Bond watch which has been worn by 007 since GoldenEye.

The James Bond 007 Collector’s Piece is the most elegant version yet and the next step in the evolution of the Seamaster Diver 300m James Bond watches.

Anyone familiar with the classic James Bond’s watch with its trademark blue bezel will be in for some surprises!

Visually striking, the James Bond 007 Collector’s Piece features a polished, lacquered black dial with black gold plated hour markers filled with white Super-LumiNova. The luminous hour and minute hands are also plated with black gold. The watch has a central seconds hand with a red tip and a red “007” logo as a counterweight which rotates in stark contrast to its black dial. Only 10,007 pieces of this exclusive Seamaster will be produced. Paying tribute to OMEGA’s long partnership with the world’s favourite secret agent, it is destined to be an instant collector’s item.

The watch has a distinctive polished and brushed stainless steel case with a diameter of 41 mm. Its specially-designed bracelet is unique to the James Bond watches and is one of the features which makes them immediately recognisable. The watch has a scratch-resistant, anti-reflective domed crystal.

The James Bond 007 Collector’s Piece is not only aesthetically dazzling. James Bond would be disappointed with any technology that wasn’t the most advanced in the world and this watch meets his most exacting demands. It features OMEGA’s calibre 2500 self-winding movement fitted with the revolutionary Co-Axial Escapement, which reduces friction while offering better long-term accuracy, and it has a power reserve of 48 hours. Its free-sprung balance further increases the precision.
The watch is a certified chronometer with functions essential to professional divers. Its screw-in case back (with a “007” medallion) and stainless steel screw-in crown featuring an OMEGA logo ensure water resistance. The watch also has a unidirectional rotating bezel with a distinctive black aluminium ring. A helium escape valve allows helium atoms to escape during decompression, particularly useful for professional divers operating from diving bells. As its name suggests, the watch is water resistant up to 300 metres.

The presentation case is nearly as striking as the watch itself. Crafted from black leather, its black interior calls to mind the lining of the tuxedos which are as synonymous to Bond as the OMEGA Seamaster Diver 300m watches he’s been wearing for more than a decade.

While some of the advanced features will appeal particularly to divers, the James Bond 007 Collector’s Piece will prove irresistible to fans of 007 and to anyone interested in elegant, distinctive, state-of-the-technology watches.

The newest film, Quantum Of Solace, produced by Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli for EON Productions and directed by Marc Forster, will be released internationally in November 2008. Daniel Craig will reprise his role as James Bond for this 22nd film in the Bond series.

Keep watching CommanderBond.net for all the latest James Bond coverage.

French Canadian And Italian 'Quantum of Solace' Title Translations

When Quantum of Solace was first announced as the title of the 22nd James Bond film, many fans brought up the point that the title may not lend easily lend itself to foreign translations throughout the world.

Now it appears that the first couple foreign titles for this 007 film have been revealed.

According to the official Italian Sony Pictures website, the film will be titled ‘007 Quantum.’

Meanwhile, Buzzline.fr are reporting that the film will be titled ‘Source de réconfort.’ This translation has not yet been confirmed on the Sony Pictures Canada website.

CommanderBond.net will keep you updated as more foreign title translations are revealed.

Stay tuned to the CBn main page for the most up-to-date and complete coverage of Quantum of Solace.

Paul Haggis On Directing A Bond Film

Paul Haggis recently spoke to IGN about working on the James Bond films and the possibility that he’d ever get the chance to sit in the director’s chair on one of them.

‘Look what Martin [Campbell] did with Casino Royale, he shot for 120 days, it’s so difficult to do something like that and I’m not sure that I’m up for that Herculean feat. When I’ve made four or five films I’d like to do a Bond film, or something like that.’

‘I love writing Bond, it’s fun,’ continued the Casino Royale/Quantum of Solace screenwriter. ‘I get to be part of a team, who are re-exploring the classic character, reinventing something that I loved when I was young.’

Fans will recall that Haggis was offered to direct Daniel Craig’s second 007 film, but turned it down. Back in July of last year, he said: ‘There are certain things you can write and there are certain things you can direct. I just felt that it takes a big commitment to direct a Bond film. It’s a 120 day shoot. It’s a two year commitment basically to do it. If you do that on top of writing, it’s almost a three year commitment. So I just didn’t want to dedicate that much time.’

Outside of Bond, Haggis most recently directed 2007’s In The Valley Of Elah, a drama starring Tommy Lee Jones and Charlize Theron. His 2004 drama, Crash, won the 2005 Best Picture Academy Award.

Keep watching the CommanderBond.net main page for the most up-to-date coverage of Quantum of Solace.

Daniel Craig Given Personal Gym On Bond Set At Pinewood

Daniel Craig has reportedly been given his own personal gymnasium on the Quantum of Solace set in Pinewood Studios in London in order to keep in shape for the 22nd James Bond adventure.

The Sun reports that the gym includes rings, a trampoline and massage tables for Craig.

‘Daniel is facing a long stint filming the new Bond in Pinewood Studios,’ said an unnamed source at the 007 set. ‘Producers have allocated a soundstage of his own to use as his personal gym.’

‘It is full of freeweights, ropes and rings, as well as a running machine, trampolines and crash mats. He has an adjoining massage room with his own chill-out area where he will have a physio on call.’

‘The stuntmen on the film are all really impressed by Daniel,’ the source continued. ‘He throws himself into training and likes to make sure he is at the peak of physical fitness while filming Bond.’

‘The “crucifixion” move on the rings is regarded as one of the toughest for a male athlete in any sport. It’s the ultimate test of strength and control. Daniel is close to mastering it.’

Back in late January, CommanderBond.net reported that five soundstages were being used simultaneously for the Quantum of Solace production.

Stay tuned to the CBn main page for the most up-to-date and complete coverage of Quantum of Solace.

Official 'Quantum of Solace' Trailer Coming 2 July

According to Ain’t It Cool News, an official Quantum of Solace trailer will be attached to Sony Pictures’ Hancock, a superhero comedy starring Will Smith, Jason Bateman and Charlize Theron. Hancock hits cinemas on 2 July in the United Kingdom and the United States.

It’s unclear whether the trailer will be a teaser or a theatrical. The teaser trailer for Casino Royale was released in May 2006 so it’s possible that the 2 July trailer will be the second and that we’ll get a teaser in the spring.

Filming will be nearly completed in July so there will be a lot of good footage ready for the trailer regardless of whether it’s a teaser or a theatrical trailer.

Keep your eyes on the CommanderBond.net main page for all the latest news and complete coverage of Quantum of Solace.

'Quantum of Solace' Website Updated

The official James Bond website for Quantum of Solace, www.007.com, has been updated.

In addition to the previously available content, the website now features the classified 007 dossier (which was first revealed on the Casino Royale website) and a Bond trivia challenge.

Furthermore, Bond fans can participate in an online version of 007 Scene It?, which features clips from the films, trivia questions and other on-screen puzzlers.

Check them out at www.007.com.

Keep your eyes on the CommanderBond.net main page for all the latest news and complete coverage of Quantum of Solace.