More Set Details From Pinewood Studios

More set details have emerged from Pinewood Studio's thanks to the Ian Fleming Foundation. Of course, spoiler warnings do apply to this news. So those of you who are spoiler conscious, you don't have to highlight to read.

Spoiler Warning (Highlight To Read)

• Blades Health Club From previous spy reports we’ve known about a set labelled ‘Blades Club’. However, we’ve not really known of the term ‘Health’ in the middle of the two. The IFF has reported that a swordfight (we’re presuming fencing) will take place here. Could Yarborough’s sly reference to Bond “crossing swords” with Rosamund Pike’s character indicate that Bond will be in fact dueling this femee fatale?
• Washing Bay With this one, you’re guess is as good as mine.
• Offices of Chinese Authorities I’ve been informed that the connection with the Chinese Authorities in Bond 20 is with them and Colonel Moon. Apparently he has some very close friends in the Chinese Government, and they grant him permission to stay in Hong Kong for several days.
• Parts of the London Subway While it’s obvious exactly what the London Subway is why it will appear in Bond 20 is a completely different matter.
• Headquarter of North Korean Elite Troups It seems that the elite troops used by Colonel Moon (or perhaps General Moon, some confusion does still exist there) will have their own headquarters.

Some interesting set pieces there, and some confusing ones to. Don't forget to discuss them in the Bond 20 Forums, in this thread which Tim has recently started. See you there!

Exclusive: Will Yun Lee Confirmed As Being In Bond 20

CommanderBond.Net can exclusively reveal that Asian American actor Will Yun Lee has scored a role in James Bond 20. We first heard rumours of Lee's involvement with Bond 20 two days ago from one of our sources. Now after numerous e-mails and phone calls, the news has been confirmed to me.

Lee will be best known to readers for his role of Danny Woo in TNT's "Witchblade". As Danny Woo he plays a New York detective.

Lee's background is perfect for his role in Bond 20. While Lee was born in Virginia in the United States Spoiler Warning (Highlight To Read) Lee’s parents emigrated from Korea. Lee will be playing the villainous Colonel Moon who is a military officer from North Korea. Also helping his role in Bond 20 is his skill with martial arts, namely a Black Belt in Tae Kwan Do.

Aside from "Witchblade" Lee has had roles in Nash Bridgs, Profiler, Brimstone and What's Cooking.

Look out for more news about Lee coming soon. My source mentioned something very interesting which I'm currently looking into! Until then, you can discuss this news in the Bond 20 Forums where this thread was just started about the confirmation.

Inside The Aston Martin V12 Vanquish

13thStreet has a great video article on the new Aston Martin V12 Vanquish, with some very cool details about the car in it.

While the article isn't directly aimed at James Bond our hero does get quite a mention. Of most interest is the Aston Martin representatives description of the Vanquish in Bond 20. He stated that the Vanquish won't have just a bit part in Bond 20 "this Vanquish will play quite a prominent role alongside James Bond". He then furthered his statements by describing the Vanquish as Bond's "personal car".

But be sure to check out the article all the same as some of the footage and facts about the Vanquish are quite interesting. For instance, if you order the Vanquish today you'll get it in two years. Seems that there's already quite a waiting list!

Thanks to "Smilin' Jack Ruby" for the heads up!

Details On Filming Conditions And Locations

Absolutely James Bond, a James Bond site, has reported several elements about Bond 20 reportedly revealed to them from a source who has worked at Pinewood Studios.

Some of the news they have reported is all to famaliar to us. For example, Bond 20 will be only filmed in Spain, Iceland and at Pinewood Studios due to the terrorist attacks which took place on September 11, 2001.

However, there are some other points of interest in the report however. Spoiler warnings do apply so please read at your own risk.

Spoiler Warnings (Highlight To Read)

The filming that will take place in Spain will reportedly only feature a scene which is apparently a Cuban Hospital. ‘AJB’ has reported that the hospital is “going to look really hi-tech and modern”. It seems unlikely, however, that the film crew will go to Spain simply for one sequence, especially when the hospital itself will be built at Pinewood Studios. If a sole scene is the case then it seems likely that only the 2nd Unit will attend the location and film for a day or two. Much the same thing happened with the external filming of locations in Istanbul, the political climate prevented the film crew from filming major scenes there.

While it is already known that Colonel Moon will have ambitions to control Japan as well as the whole of Korea, according to the AJB Bond 20 will feature scenes actually placed in Japan. One direct reference that AJB made was to the Japanese Skyline which has already been structured as a model for filming purposes.

That's all for now! You can discuss this news in the Bond 20 Forums, where John007 recently started this thread about the topic. And a big thanks to John007 for the tip-off!

Spy Report: The Pre-Title Sequence Revealed

'The World Is Not Enough' presented the longest pre-title sequence ever in a Bond film. What seemed like a change from the original forumla was, however, well received by fans. Accordingly, it seems that the pre-title sequence of Bond 20 will be just as long, if not longer.

Thanks to our insider Brosnan's Hair CommanderBond.Net can now exclusively reveal details about the pre-title sequence that will feature in Bond 20. Understandably, there are major spoilers in this report. So you'll have to highlight it to read it. WebTV users, simply view our printer friendly version to read the report.

Spoiler Warning (Highlight To Read)

Bond 20 will begin with James Bond deep undercover investigating Colonel Moon of the North Korean Army. Colonel Moon is being investigated by MI6 due to fears he’s attempting to reunite North and South Korea through a war. As a part of the cover Bond is ‘working’ for Colonel Moon and at this time is on a training exercise with the other hench-men. This training exercise is a nighttime surfing exercise.

Despite his cover Colonel Moon’s main henchman Zao realises that Bond is a double-agent and a pursuit ensues. In a high cocktail of action Bond is chased from the sea and onto land, which is the demilitarised zone between North and South Korea. This is a reportedly a sandy area where Colonel Moon’s headquarters are located. The headquarters is protected by a mine field. In making an attempted escape from Zao and the other men Bond steals a hovercraft. He pilots the hovercraft over the mine field and around the coast of Korea.

Things seemingly couldn’t get much worse for 007. However, they do. In a different twist to the normal pre-title sequences Bond is surrounded by Colonel Moon’s men and captured. During the titles we’ll see him tortured quite brutally.

Bond 20 is shaping up to be one of the best Bond films yet. The opening sequence seems exactly what writers Purvis and Wade would create, something Pierce Brosnan would love and it meets with all the past rumours we’ve been hearing.

The surfing sequence has of course recently been filmed in Hawaii. The hovercraft sequence was first reported by CommanderBond.Net months ago. With this information bits of Bond 20 are slowly starting to fall together. Finally we know where some of the action sequences all fit together.

We'll have more news as it breaks. Until then, you can discuss this latest news in the Bond 20 Forums in this thread which was recently started about the news. Finally, a big thanks to Brosnan's Hair for the details!

Spy Report: Will Yun Lee To Play Villain In Bond 20

Actor Will Yun Lee, best known for his role of Danny Woo in 'Witchblade', has been cast in James Bond 20 an insider tells us. However, the rest of the report contains spoilers and must be highlighted to read;

Spoilers (Highlight To Read)

Will Yun Lee ‘Colnel Moon’ in Bond 20. Colnel Moon is a villainous role who is seeking domination of Korea, Japan and the United States. He is also the son of General Moon.

Our insider has also revealed details on other parts of Bond 20.

* Colnel Moon has eight supercars ie. F40, Diablo, a Jag, Merc. etc all from his criminal activities.

* His compound/hq is a sandy area by the sea

* The sandy area is filled with mines for protection

* The hovercraft action sequence will be featured in this area

There’s some great information in there. Again the news about a hovercraft sequence is still reacurring. However, the other information is all new!

Moving back to Will Yun Lee, an interesting point in his biography is that he is a fifth-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, making him the perfect Bond villain.

That's all for now, but we'll have more information as soon as we can get it! Until then you can discuss all this news in the Bond 20 Forums, where this thread has been especially created about the news.

Release Dates

Royal Premiere, Great Britain: November 18, 2002

Australasia

Australia – 12/12/2002
Hong Kong – 30/01/2003
Indonesia – 18/12/2002
India – 20/12/2002
Japan – 15/03/2003wh
Korea – 10/01/2003
Malaysia – 5/12/2002
New Zealand – 02/01/2003
Philippines – 27/11/2002
Singapore – 13/12/2002
Taiwan – 01/02/2003
Thailand – 13/12/2002

Europe

Austria – 28/11/2002
Belgium – 27/11/2002
Bulgaria – 24/01/2003
Croatia – 28/11/2002
Czech/Slovakia – 02/01/2003
Denmark – 24/01/2003
Estonia – 29/11/2002
Finland – 29/11/2002
France – 20/11/2002
Germany – 28/11/2002
Greece – 03/01/2003
Hungary – 19/12/2002
Holland – 09/01/2003
Iceland – 29/11/2002
Israel – 28/11/2002
Italy – 31/01/2003
Latvia – 29/11/2002
Lithuania – 29/11/2002
Norway – 03/01/2003
Poland – 22/11/2002
Portugal – 10/01/2003
Romania – 24/01/2003
Russia – 12/12/2002
Slovenia – 19/12/2002
Spain – 22/11/2002
Sweden – 28/11/2002
Switzerland
– In German 28/11/2002
– In French 20/11/2002
– In Italian 31/01/2003
Turkey – 17/01/2003
United Kingdom – 20/11/2002
Yugoslavia – To Be Confirmed

Latin America

Argentina – 16/01/2003
Bolivia – 25/12/2002
Brazil – 10/01/2003
Chile – 19/12/2002
Colombia – 13/12/2002
D.R. – 12/12/2002
Ecuador – 13/12/2002
Jamaica – 25/12/2002
Mexico – 12/12/2002
Panama – 01/01/2003
Peru – 19/12/2002
Trinidad – 01/01/2003
Uruguay – 13/12/2002
Venezuela – 01/12/2002

Middle East

Egypt – 05/03/2003
Lebanon – 12/12/2002
UAE – 18/12/2002

Others

South Africa – December 6, 2003
United States – 22/11/2002

If you’d like to discuss the release dates please visit this thread of the Die Another Day Forums.

Thanks to M_Balje, Gernot and Marcel for sending in some dates!

Last Updated: March 13, 2003

Hidden Images and References

As Die Another Day is the 20th James Bond film and it is also the 40th year anniversary of James Bond cinematic adventures it seems only fair that the film will feature several homages to past Bond adventures. So from CommanderBond.Net here is a list of all the known homages to date.

If you'd like to discuss any of the homages please visit this thread of the Die Another Day Forums.

Birds Of The West Indies
Birds Of The West Indes is a book written by James Bond, it is the book where Ian Fleming took his characters name from. The official James Bond site has revealed that in 'Die Another Day' James Bond 007 will be seen with the book while in Cuba. Photos from filming in Cadiz, which will represent Cuba in the film, have indicated the book will feature in several scenes in the film.

For full details read this news article.

Duke of Wellington Portrait In Dr No
When the Wellington Arch features in Die Another Day you can think back to the massive cavas portrain of the Duke Of Wellington that hangs in Dr No's lair (in real life the painting was stolen in 1960, to this day it hasn't been recovered) and was probably destroyed along with the lair. Yet another homage revealed by CommanderBond.Net!

For full details read this news article.

Goldfinger's Aston Martin DB5
In a direct homage to the Aston Martin DB5 in 1964's Goldfinger the Aston Martin V12 Vanquish will feature an ejector seat. This homage was exclusively revealed by CommanderBond.Net in January '02. Further details could be considered a plot spoiler at this stage so they shant be listed here.

For full details read this news article.

Jinx's Bikini
When Jinx emerges from the sea in Cuba she'll be in an orange bikini, however, it's no ordinary bikini. The bikini, designed by Lindy Hemming, is styled after the bikini worn by Usula Andress when she played Honey Ryder in the first cinematic Bond adventure Dr No. As a result, it's a direct homage.

For full details read this news article.

Players Cigarette Sailor
In his book 'Thunderball' Fleming wrote of a fascination that the heroine Domino had for the Players Cigarette Sailor. CommanderBond.Net was the first outlet to reveal that a homage will appear in Die Another Day to this length scene in Fleming's Thunderball.

For full details read this news article.

Last Updated: April 16, 2002

Foreign Titles

Foreign Titles For Die Another Day:

Country – Title | English Translation

Argentina – Morir otro dia | Die Another Day

Brazil – Um Novo Dia Para Morrer | A New Day To Die

Buenos Aires – Otro Día Para Morir | Another Day To Die

Czech Republic – Dnes neumírej | Don’t Die Today

Finland – Kuolema Saa Odottaa | Death Can Wait

France – Meurs un autre Jour | Die Another Day

Germany – Stirb an einem anderen Tag | Die Another Day

Italy – La Morte Può Attendere | The Death Can Wait

Poland – Smierc Nadejdzie Jutro | Death Comes Tomorrow

Portugal – Um Novo Dia Para Morrer | A New Day To Die

Russia – Omrij, Na Nje Zejtcas | Die, But Not Today

Spain – Muere Otro Dia | Die Another Day

If you’d like to discuss these titles please visit this thread of the Die Another Day Forums. Thanks to Tim007, Luis, Carlos, Giacomo, and Dan for helping to compile this list.

Last Updated: December 21, 2002

Producers Scout Scottish Naval Base As Location

News source Ananova has reported that the producers of Bond 20 are considering whether to use the Rosyth naval base as a possible filming location.

As a part of the location scouting they have also reportedly visited the disused John Brown shipyard in Clydebank.

Scottish Screen spokeswoman Celia Stevenson said about the scouting, "The producers have looked at John Brown and Rosyth naval base but they have been looking at lots of places. There will be the usual boat chase or running alongside a train scene. They did ask us for a picture of a large dockyard."

Ananova has indicated that [b]Spoiler Warning (Highlight To Read) the location could be used to film sequences of the hovercraft action sequence.

We'll have more details as they emerge.