Daniel Craig: The Reluctant James Bond

Daniel Craig has spoken to the BBC News about just how important a decision it was on whether or not to become James Bond #6.

‘I don’t think I would have taken the role if it had been a continuation of Bond as we knew him, it just wouldn’t have interested me,’ says Craig.

As Bond fans and Craig now know however, Casino Royale takes the path less traveled in the history of the cinematic 007. ‘There have been a lot of incarnations of Bond, and the role has changed a lot. As far as I was concerned, the script I got was an actor’s piece, so I was absolutely into doing it.’

‘It was important for me to discover who this guy was. By starting at the beginning, as we do with Casino Royale–we were able to do that. I just wanted to make sure that we were seeing a character go through some change within the movie. I started doing it, and nobody said stop–so I just carried on.’

The overall acceptance of Craig as the new James Bond has been a wild ride from the word go, with complaints over blond hair and lifejackets early on, to the latest reviews labeling Craig as the best Bond since Sean Connery. Craig says: ‘I wasn’t looking for vindication. I’m just very happy with the response.’

‘You have to try not to take any of the negativity that comes your way and twist that in on yourself. I wouldn’t have made a commitment to this film unless I thought I could enjoy it–you need that energy level to get through a movie like this.’

Craig chose ‘the opening sequence in Madagascar,’ which features a chase between Bond and Sebastien Foucan’s Mollaka, as Casino Royale‘s most difficult set piece. ‘Running up the side of a building is emotionally daunting, but it’s physically hard work too. At the same time, it’s exhilarating too.’

And what about the future for Craig? ‘Nothing has changed. I’m reading scripts, I’m trying to find other stuff I want to do–as I’ve always done. I’m very excited about the idea of going on and doing another [Bond] movie. That was always the aim, to set something up so that we could continue the series.’

Stay tuned to CBn for all the latest Casino Royale coverage.

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Casino Royale World Premiere To Be Webcast Live On MTV

The world premiere of Casino Royale, the 21st official James Bond 007 film, which takes place tomorrow, 14 November, will be streamed live across several MTV regional websites. The full report:

Casino Royale World Premiere to Be Webcast Live From London on MTV Regional Websites Around the World

The World Premiere of Casino Royale, the 21st James Bond adventure, will be streamed live across MTV regional websites in Europe, Latin America, Brazil, and Asia tomorrow, Tuesday, November 14th. Entertainment fans everywhere looking for their first glimpse of Daniel Craig as he takes on the role of “007” can point their browsers to their local MTV sites to witness the premiere live from London, which will take place at 5:30pm GMT. Following the premiere, fans in North America can see highlights of the premiere at movies.mtv.com.

Casino Royale will take over Leicester Square as three of London’s flagship cinemas — the Odeon Leicester Square, the Empire, and the Odeon West End — will host the premiere of the film and the 60th Royal Film Performance. The stars and filmmakers will gather on the red carpet in the presence of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh as they celebrate the film’s release in theaters everywhere on November 17th. Attending the premiere will be Daniel Craig, who makes his debut as 007 in Casino Royale, and stars Eva Green, Mads Mikkelsen, Caterina Murino, and Dame Judi Dench, as well as director Martin Campbell and producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli.

Daniel Craig stars as “007” James Bond, the smoothest, most lethal agent on Her Majesty’s Secret Service in Casino Royale. Based on the first Bond book written by Ian Fleming, the story recounts the making of the world’s greatest secret agent. Martin Campbell is directing the 21st adventure in the 44-year-old franchise, from a screenplay by Neal Purvis & Robert Wade and Paul Haggis.

James Bond’s first “007” mission leads him to Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen), banker to the world’s terrorists. In order to stop him, and bring down the terrorist network, Bond must beat Le Chiffre in a high-stakes poker game at Casino Royale. Bond is initially annoyed when a beautiful British Treasury official, Vesper Lynd (Eva Green) is assigned to deliver his stake for the game and watch over the government’s money. But, as Bond and Vesper survive a series of lethal attacks by Le Chiffre and his henchmen, a mutual attraction develops leading them both into further danger and events that will shape Bond’s life forever.

Press Release

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London Prepares for Casino Royale World Premiere

This afternoon I did a little reconnaissance run of Leicester Square, ready for tomorrow’s world premiere of the 21st James Bond film, Casino Royale. The CTBF, the organisers of the event, have taken over all three cinema’s in the square; The Odeon Leicester Square, The Odeon West End and The Empire.

Checking out the progress they were making, I saw large posters were being put in place above the cinema’s. A large poster of Daniel Craig in four different poses, graces the Odeon Leicester Square with neon lights over the Casino Royale logo with the 007 gun logo.

The Leicester Square gardens are also shut to the public now while they erect what appears to be two large stages. One with a Casino Royale logo backdrop that I assume the cast and crew will climb before the film shows.

Tomorrow is set to be the most exciting day for Bond fans – finally, after four years we get to see what is in my opinion, one of the best Bond films ever.

You can read my CBn review of the Casino Royale here.

You can discuss this in the CBn forums in this thread.

Details On Sir Richard Branson's Casino Royale Cameo

CBn previously revealed back in July that Sir Richard Branson would be making a cameo appearance in the newest James Bond film, Casino Royale.

Branson, who provided a plane to the Bond production crew, asked director Martin Campbell if he could make a small appearance in the film. He can be seen along with his son going through airport security during the Miami sequence.

Producer Barbara Broccoli said: ‘He was very supportive of us and he helped us out when we needed a plane in Prague.’He said, ‘Can I just do a little cameo’ and Martin said, ‘Come to the airport and we’ll stick you in the little security thing and you can set the bells off.’ ‘He had a lot of fun and he was a trooper and it was a long night. He and his son were in the scene and they were great.’

Stay tuned to CBn for all the latest Casino Royale and James Bond news.

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Martin Campbell Discusses Casino Royale With IGN

A video interview with director Martin Campbell has appeared online at IGN.

When asked if Casino Royale is the most important film of his career, Campbell said: ‘I think in the sense that if I fail, [laughs] it’s a big risk. I think the hope was to get the movie, tonally, so that it was very different, but keeps what’s great about Bond.’

‘I think Fleming envisaged the Daniel Craig Bond. It’s interesting, in the books there’s no humour. None whatsoever. Also, he’s a much darker character. He drinks too much, he smokes 70 a day… [and] the violence affects him. He finds it difficult to deal with.’

Click here to watch the entire interview with Martin Campbell.

Stay tuned to CBn for all the latest news on Casino Royale.

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Bonding With Ford In Casino Royale

With the Ford Mondeo making an appearance in Daniel Craig’s debut Bond film, Casino Royale once again reaffirms the bond between Ford and 007. Ford’s Myles Romero, head of global brand entertainment discussed their involvement in Casino Royale to Brandweek…

The Bond franchise is one of the most successful in move franchise history, so it has always performed very well for us,’ says Romero. ‘But for Casino Royale, Bond is being introduced to a younger demographic, going back to the first [author Ian] Fleming book and focus on Bond before he became a 007 agent. That’s why we have a new James Bond, Daniel Craig. But it gets our product out there in front of that 18- to 34-year-old audience, which everyone wants. At the same time, we have some other vehicles with great parts in the movie. The main villain drives a Range Rover Sport, and then our Jaguar XKR and XK Sport have two great parts in the movie.’

When asked how they decide which vehicle is right for a specific film, Romero said: ‘We audition our vehicles, and it’s not always about what would work, but also what they want. For the opening of Casino Royale, we had several cars looked at. The Mondeo is very European and the filmmakers were interested in that car in that it reflected Bond at his best. In recent memory, Bond hasn’t jumped into a really hot car in a while. And it was a car that was relevant to us. These cars are auditioned a year to 18 months ahead of time, so there is a bit of a curve there. But we try to show them everything. The Mazda CX7 crossover auditioned. The Ford Edge would have worked well. And the Aston Martin will always be in there. The Broccoli family [producers of the films] specifically calls us and asks what Aston Martin we are using this time. In this case it’s the DBS.’

Click here to read the entire interview online.

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Winner Chosen For 'Shaken And Stirred' 007 DJ Contest By Smirnoff

CBn previously reported on Smirnoff’s ‘Shaken And Stirred’ DJ contest for Casino Royale, which strived to ‘uncover the best remix of the classic James Bond Theme.’ Further details have now been released:

DJ AM AND DANNY MASTERSON HELP SELECT WINNER OF THE
SMIRNOFF VODKA “SHAKEN AND STIRRED” JAMES BOND DJ CONTEST

Brandon James (Psyko Logical) Declared Winner at Finals of Nationwide Contest

DJ AM, actors Danny Masterson, Michelle Trachtenberg, and singers Ja Rule and Vanessa Carlton headlined a packed house at New York City hotspot Tenjune for the finals of SMIRNOFF Vodka’s “Shaken and Stirred” DJ contest. The contest brought together Smirnoff, EON Productions and Sony Pictures Entertainment’s new James Bond film Casino Royale to uncover the best DJ remix of the classic James Bond Theme. DJ hopefuls from across the country sent in entries with their personal take on the iconic theme, and three finalists were picked to compete in New York City.

At the event, celebrity judges DJ AM and Danny Masterson listened intently as three finalists performed 15 minute live sets and presented their personal remix of the James Bond Theme. In the end, crowd favorite Psyko Logical’s (Brandon James of Cincinnati, OH) high energy performance and creative remix won over the judges. As winner, Psyko Logical will receive an all-expense paid, VIP trip to Las Vegas and additional prizes including DJ equipment and James Bond DVD Box sets Volume 1 and 2 courtesy of MGM Home Entertainment.

‘This event was great because it gave three unknown DJs the chance to break out of obscurity. It takes a lot to give a chance to an unknown. I’m really supportive of Smirnoff’s efforts,’ said DJ AM. ‘All three guys showed some serious talent, and I look forward to hopefully seeing them playing clubs in the near future.’

The other two finalists included: DJ Curious, Chris Carlson from Washington DC; and DJ Digital 1, Todd Carrick from Commerce Twp., MI.

Just in time for the November 17 release of Sony Pictures Entertainment’s Casino Royale, SMIRNOFF’s “Shaken and Stirred” competition invited DJs and electronic musicians to download a classic arrangement of the James Bond Theme and remix and reform the theme to create their own personal interpretation. The remixes were only limited by the DJ’s imagination, and all entries were judged on originality, creativity and artistic style.

The close partnership between Smirnoff Vodka and Bond began in 1962’s Dr. No, when the villain hands Sean Connery a ‘Martini, shaken not stirred’ made with SMIRNOFF Vodka. This monumental moment in film literally changed the way martini drinkers made their cocktails, shifting from the traditional gin to a vodka-based drink and popularizing the vodka martini the world over.

Press Release

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Casino Royale Mobile Game To Be Launched By Sony

The official Casino Royale website will be launching a mobile game for the film soon which allows you to ‘acquire Agent 007’s style and wits as you take on life-threatening missions for Her Majesty’s Secret Service.’

The website also features several wallpapers, which include the movie posters, Daniel Craig as Bond, Eva Green as Vesper Lynd, Caterina Murino as Solange, and many more. Ringtones are also featured.

Full details here on the official website.

Stay tuned to CBn for all the latest Casino Royale coverage.

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Barbara Broccoli Speaks About Casino Royale's East Coast US Premiere

CBn previously revealed that Casino Royale would make its US premiere in Baltimore at The Senator Theatre on Wednesday, 15 November. Now, the Baltimore Sun reports with further details on the location’s connection with James Bond.

Why Baltimore? Dr. Vincent Gott, director of the Dana and Albert “Cubby” Broccoli Center for Aortic Diseases at Johns Hopkins explains that it was the location where Broccoli, the original producer of the Bond films, arrived at for cataract surgery in 1994. He received a chest X-ray upon admission, where doctors found a ‘large aneurysm of the aorta.’

Producer Barbara Broccoli, who will not be able to attend the event (as she will be attending the world premiere in London on the 14th) explains: ‘My cousin Jimmy [Dr. James D’Orta] will be at the screening in Baltimore, and he’s the real hero of the story. Jimmy’s like a brother to me. He’s always been there for us. And when my Dad needed cataract surgery, it was Jimmy who said we had to go to Hopkins, because it was the leading medical institution in the world. It was a significant problem and required very specific surgery.’

D’Orta, who has a history with the Bond series dating back to The Living Daylights, gave the thumbs up on Daniel Craig as 007: ‘I can tell you, he’s in excellent shape!’

As a result of the connection between Hopkins and Broccoli, the previous three Bond films–Die Another Day, The World Is Not Enough, and Tomorrow Never Dies–all had their US premieres in Baltimore.

‘With each of those, we raised close to $200,000 for the center,’ Gott says. ‘The Broccoli Aortic Center has been great for public relations, helping us to attract interest from all over the country and around the world as we continue to perform major aortic surgeries and do extensive clinical work.’

Stay tuned to CBn for all the latest Casino Royale coverage.

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David Arnold On Casino Royale And The Bond Songs

An interview with composer David Arnold and David Walliams (during his ‘My Life With 007’ television special) can now be viewed online at YouTube. The clip also includes a previously unreleased scene from Casino Royale.

Arnold, who composed the score for Casino Royale, discusses the approach he took for Daniel Craig’s debut Bond film…

‘As a Bond fan I have an expectation about what I’d like to hear,’ says Arnold when asked if he immerses himself in the film while scoring. ‘I completely took my lead from the way Daniel played it and I think based the whole idea of the song and the drive of the score on the way that he moved.’

‘Everyone has an opinion on what a Bond song should be. And they kind of fall into three different categories: there’s the “you’re a dangerous stranger/velvet curtain kind of record,” there’s the Goldfinger, big, brash drama, then you have the On Her Majesty’s Secret Service and Live And Let Die.’

‘It needs to be: “I’m here, whatever you’ve got, bring it on, because I’m ready for you.” And that kind of covers the character, and it also covers the fact that its a new Bond; it is Daniel and it is going to be confrontational.’