Paul Haggis To Return For 'Bond 22'?

Paul Haggis To Return For Bond 22?

One question many 007 fans have been asking regarding Bond 22 is whether or not Paul Haggis will be returning to work on the screenplay.

For those unaware, Haggis, who directed the Academy Award-winning Crash, was one of Casino Royale‘s screenwriters. He was brought on to the production in mid-2005 to do a revision on the script originally penned by Neal Purvis and Robert Wade.

In an interview on Cinematical, when asked whether or not he was involved with Daniel Craig’s second James Bond film, Haggis said ‘with a peculiar smile that he was not involved with the film… yet.’ Time will tell…

Bond 22 is set for release on 7 November 2008.

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Casino Royale DVD Sets UK Sales Record

With Casino Royale recently winning three Empire Awards and the enormous success of the DVD and Blu-ray releases, the good news for Daniel Craig’s debut James Bond film just doesn’t seem to end.

Empire reports that he Casino Royale DVD has now broken the record for the fastest week one UK DVD sales, selling an impressive 1,622,852 copies since its release on 19 March (region 2).

It was only yesterday that CBn reported that the Blu-ray edition had sold more than 100,000 copies which broke the record for the greatest number of high-definition copies sold in one day.

Click here for CBn’s Casino Royale DVD overview: release dates, special features, cover artwork, menu caps, instore exclusives, reviews, product tie-ins, and much more…

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James Bond And Casino Royale Conquer The Empire Awards

The BBC News reports that James Bond and Casino Royale conquered this year’s Empire Awards, taking home three of the top prizes, including best film.

In addition to the top prize for Casino Royale, Daniel Craig won the best actor award for his role as 007 and Eva Green took home the best female newcomer award for her portrayal of Vesper Lynd.

Empire magazine assistant editor Ian Freer said: ‘I’m delighted that Empire readers have decided that Casino Royale is the best film of the year.’

‘We’re proud that real cinema-goers have the good taste to do something neither the critics’ awards or industry prizes managed to do–really get behind the reinvention of James Bond as a great British triumph.’

More than 50,000 people voted for the awards this year. To see the full list of winners as well as an exclusive picture of Craig, director Martin Campbell, and producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, click here to visit the official Empire website. The publication will hold its 2007 awards ceremony in November this year.

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Casino Royale Blu-Ray Smashing Sales Records

CBn earlier reported that the region 1 DVD release of Casino Royale had continued the success started in theaters, with the film going to the top of the sales and rental charts. According to a report from SuperHeroHype, the Blu-ray release is setting records of its own.

The Blu-ray edition of Daniel Craig’s debut James Bond film has already sold more than 100,000 units and is breaking records for the greatest number of high-definition copies sold in one day, said SPHE Worldwide President, David Bishop.

‘As a point of comparison, the first DVD title to ship 100,000 units took approximately 11 months (Air Force One in early 1998),’ said Bishop. ‘Casino Royale on Blu-ray has done it in far less time and is clearly demonstrating the format’s robust growth in the marketplace.’

Director Martin Campbell was equally impressed, and commented ‘It’s just unbelievable. Clearly, it’s fantastic. The comparison between standard def DVD and Blu-ray is quite stunning and quite transparent to the master. It’s precisely what would make me want to buy a copy.’

Casino Royale was released on DVD and Blu-ray on 13 March (region 1).

Click here for CBn’s Casino Royale DVD overview: release dates, special features, cover artwork, menu caps, instore exclusives, reviews, product tie-ins, and much more…

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First Look At 'The Golden Compass' Featuring Daniel Craig And Eva Green

CBn previously reported that Casino Royale‘s Daniel Craig and Eva Green would both be starring in The Golden Compass, a movie adaption of Phillip Pullman’s His Dark Materials.

A new two-minute making-of video has started to appear online and features interviews with the actors, including Nicole Kidman, Craig, and Green, as well as many scenes from the film.

Taking a small break from the James Bond role, Craig plays Lord Asriel in the film. ‘All the characters in the Pullman books are so rounded and rich and fantastic,’ he comments.

Green will be playing Serafina Pekula; Queen of the witches. ‘She’s not like the traditional evil witch; she’s very maternal and very nurturing towards Lyra [played by newcomer Dakota Blue Richards].’

The Golden Compass is written and directed by Chris Weitz and set for release on 7 December 2007. ‘It’s a fantastic story. It’s about things that matter: the human spirit, loyalty, kindness, and free will,’ he says.

Click here to watch the preview trailer on YouTube.

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Discuss this James Bond 007 news in this thread on the CBn Forums, the largest James Bond 007 forum on the internet. Thanks to CBn Forum member ‘danman007.’

Casino Royale's Blu-ray Sales Possibly Over 100,000 Units In First Week

CBn had earlier reported that the nonstop success of Casino Royale, Daniel Craig’s debut James Bond film, had continued on into its DVD and Blu-ray release–topping both the sales and rental charts in the US.

According to a new article from High-Def Digest, the rumoured first week Blu-ray sales of Casino Royale are in excess of 100,000 units. After previously becoming the first Blu-ray release to be on the amazon.com top ten DVD best-sellers list, it looks like the 007 film is also on its way to become the most-owned title for the format.

The widescreen edition of Casino Royale is currently the #2 top DVD seller at amazon.

Click here for CBn’s Casino Royale DVD overview: release dates, special features, cover artwork, menu caps, instore exclusives, reviews, product tie-ins, and much more…

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007 Stage Rebuilt And Ready For Bond

Damage caused as a result of the July 2006 fire

According to reports from the BBC and Screen Daily, the 007 Stage at Pinewood Studios is rebuilt and ready for James Bond.

Earlier today, CBn reported that Pinewood was fighting to keep the production of Daniel Craig’s second film, Bond 22 in the UK.

The new 007 Stage has increased the usable area inside from 45,424 square feet to 59,000 square feet. ‘They are using the existing footprint from the original 007 stage but have cleverly engineered the building to create additional space and more user-friendly facilities,’ said a Pinewood spokesperson.

Former Bond star Pierce Brosnan will be the first user of the new stage along with Meryl Streep in Universal’s screen version of Abba-themed stage hit Mamma Mia.

The BBC also points out that Pinewood will be launching a 007 Stage website with information about current productions and images from the rebuilt set early next week.

At this point, the cause of the July 2006 fire is still unknown. Bond 22 is set for release on 7 November 2008.

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Pinewood Fighting To Keep 'Bond 22'

The Guardian reports that Pinewood Studios are fighting to keep the next James Bond shoot in the UK.

Reports earlier in the week indicated that Daniel Craig’s second 007 film, Bond 22, may go back to Prague’s Barrandov Studios, where portions of Casino Royale were shot. ‘Representatives of the Czech facility have reportedly already been in talks with Sony Pictures and MGM,’ but neither the studios or Eon Productions would comment.

According to Screen Daily, Barrandov spokesman Tomas Zelazko told the Czech press this week that Bond producers said they were ‘very satisfied’ with the Prague portion of the Casino Royale shoot.

One of Pinewood’s main attractions is the newly rebuilt ‘007 Stage,’ which was burned down by a fire in July 2006. The new stage has increased the usable area inside from 45,424 square feet to 59,000 square feet. For pictures of the brand new ‘007 Stage,’ click here.

Bond 22 is set for release on 7 November 2008.

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Bond 22: Currently No Finished Script; Planned To Open Against 'Madagascar 2'

With the DVD release of Casino Royale having come and gone, the main focus of many upcoming James Bond-related articles will be on Daniel Craig’s next film: Bond 22.

Jeff Blake, Vice Chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment and Chairman of Marketing and Distribution for the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, recently spoke to the Los Angeles Times about securing the most desirable opening weekends for films. He also briefly mentioned the status of the 22nd 007 adventure: there is no official title yet or a finished script. But, ‘two things are definite: Daniel Craig is returning, and we’re going November 7. After that it gets complicated.’

Taking a look ahead at what is currently scheduled to hit theaters in November 2008, it’s possible we have an answer as to why Bond 22 will be out earlier in November (the three previous Bond films have been released in the second half of the month): Harry Potter. The sixth film in the hugely popular series, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, is planned to be released on 21 November.

However, that doesn’t mean Bond will be avoiding all competition. In the case of Casino Royale‘s US opening, Bond went up against Happy Feet‘s penguins at the box office. For Bond 22, it will be zoo animals this time, as the animated sequel Madagascar 2 is also planned for a 7 November release. The first film, released in mid-2005, eventually took in over $530 million worldwide.

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Casino Royale's Sebastien Foucan: A 60-Second Interview

In a new 60-second interview with Metro, Sebastien Foucan, who plays Mollaka in Casino Royale, discussed what it was like preparing for the James Bond film, what free-running actually involves, working with Madonna on her world tour, and much more…

Metro: Were you surprised by the success of the new Bond film?

Foucan: It was a surprise. But all through the filming, I always felt we were working on something good.

Metro: Were you a fan of Bond before you got involved?

Foucan: I was definitely a fan. My favourite was Octopussy.

Metro: How does it feel to be part of the Bond villain lineage?

Foucan: There have been some great villains–my favourite was Jaws–and it’s odd to be a part of that. I’m just starting to realise that I’ll always be part of it.

Metro: Did the crane-jumping sequence take long to film?

Foucan: We spent two months working in the Bahamas.

Metro:Sounds like hell.

Foucan: It was actually very difficult. We worked very hard but it’s a great place to spend time. It’s a paradise. The hardest thing was to have only one day off a week. The schedule was very tough.

…..

Metro: Do you think there’ll ever be a black James Bond?

Foucan: It would be great–especially if they pick me. I’d like that role but I don’t know. They’d have to make a really good movie because I think choosing a black Bond would be criticised a lot.

…..

Metro: What’s the idea behind free running?

Foucan: It’s about combating negative energy. It’s hard to talk about the philosophy–it’s easier just to start doing it. Just by participating, you’ll feel it. It’s about trying to be in connection with your body, your spirit and your environment. It fits with a lot of Asian philosophies.

…..

Metro: Is it dangerous?

Foucan: I can’t say my discipline isn’t dangerous. Like every physical exercise at a high level, there’s a risk. But I always emphasise safety to young people starting. It’s difficult with some children because they don’t always listen.

…..

Metro: What’s Madonna like to work with?

Foucan: She’s very disciplined, too. She’s a perfectionist. We understand each other well. She’s an inspirational person. She shows you that you can reach what you try to reach.

…..

To read the interview in full, click here to visit the Metro’s website.

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