Exclusive: Official Bond Advert Found!

We’re the first Bond site to publish it, the first official advert art released by MGM. One of our forum users, Zencat, today posted this in the Bond 20 Forums:

I was just at MGM where I saw some ad art for Bond 20 in their annual report folder (it was just sitting in the lobby). Nothing too impressive, just a pic of Pierce (from TWINE, gray suit, arms folded) and the 007 logo with “Bond 20” written under it. It was set against a greenish graphic (very ’80s looking, I thought).

Within an hour Zencat had found this advert online. And we have it here for you. We’ve doubled the size of the online picture and tried to clear it up. Unfortunately, it’s been given a bad border:

The interesting thing about this image is that MGM published it in the ‘Interactive’ section of their report, which includes a lot of information about James Bond but only about the games. And while it’s obvious that it’s solely for Bond 20 I would personally write this down to a simple presentation mistake. Of course, one could speculate that a Bond 20 game is already on the drawing board.

For further information visit the Bond 20 Forums, in particular this thread which Zencat started. There you can read others comments, make your own or wait for Zencat to post some more news on the picture.

Thanks to Zencat for the tip-off and don’t forget, you heard it first from Bond 20 @ Blue Haze Movies!

New Writer Working On Screenplay?

‘Beamer’ has alerted me to a new addition on the IMDB in the Bond 20 section.

Now with the writing credits for Bond 20 is the name “Ben Willcock”, unlike Neil Purvis and Robert Wade he has not been credited for the story which would be correct.

But who is Ben Willcock? Well he’s a director and a screenwriter. Of three Video Games!

As ‘Beamer’ had to say:

His name is Ben Willcock, who has written or directed the
Japanese video games, SONIC ADVENTURE 1 and 2 and PHANTASY STAR ONLINE. If
this is true, he’s kind of a strange choice to rewrite Purvis and Wade, since
he has no actual feature film credits.

And he is a strange choice. I’d seriously handle this one with a lot of care. Personally, I don’t believe it. Why would a practically unknown screenwriter, who has only worked on a few animated movies in the past, suddenly be promoted to the ranks of Bond 20? The IMDB can get a lot of incorrect credits to begin with. It’s usually once the movie is in production that they become more accurate.

If you have any comments feel free to e-mail me, [email protected]. Thanks again to ‘Beamer’ for the tip off.

A Small Look At The Aston Martin DBS

David Winter takes this brief look at the Aston Martin DBS which appeared in George Lazenby's only outing as Bond, On Her Majesty's Secret Service.

This sports car doesn’t have the gadgetry of the DB5, but it does have a telescopic rifle built into a glove compartment.

The car is featured in the opening sequence of the film where we see Bond light his cigarette from his gunmetal case. Tracy overtakes Bond, in which he pursues her to the beach where he saves prevents her from comitting suicide.

Once he’s done this, Tracy uses the car to speed back to her Cougar which awaits her at the top of the beach, on the road.

The car is also featured right at the end of the film where Tracy is shot by Irma Bunt, just after their (Bond’s and Tracy’s) wedding.

Two cars were used in the creation of OHMSS, and they now both belong to private collectors. One in Australia, and the other in the UK.

Rumoured Bond Girls Comprehensive List

There have been many Bond Girl rumours for Bond 20. Frequent Bond 20 Forum visitor rubixcub, also known as David Ebersole, compiled a brilliant list a short while back that I (Daniel Dykes) just had to post.

If you’re interested you can find the original post and replies to it in this thread of our forums.

Gretchen Mol:

Birthdate: 11/8/73

Birthplace: Connecticut

First Bond girl rumor anybody heard about the next film. Mol was in talks with Barbara Broccoli; no verdict yet and now after so long we’re deaming it highly unlikely. As you may recall, Bond hasn’t had a blonde leading lady in 12 years, since The Living Daylights. Since then, the only blondes have been bit parts. Assuming the film shoots from mid-January 2002 to Summer 2002, Gretchen Mol will be 28, just one year older then Denise Richards was during most of the filming for TWINE. On the plus side, she’s a Scorpio, the sign opposite Taurus (Brosnan); this bodes for some interesting results, and it worked in TWINE, as Sophie Marceau is also a Scorpio.

Charlize Theron:

Hair: Blonde (natural, too)

Eyes: Green

Birthdate: 8/7/75

Birthplace: South Africa

The only mention of Theron comes from Brosnan himself, who expressed his desire to have her in the next film (suggestive sentence, isn’t it?) Assuming the film shoots from mid-January 2002 to Summer 2002, she’ll be 26. It seems that only Brosnan has given us word about her, nothing from the producers, nothing official.

Kirsty Gallacher:

Birthdate: 1976 (exact date unknown)

Birthplace: Scotland

This rumor comes straight from Gallacher’s mouth and it must be noted that she has little, if any, previous acting experience. Still, she’s highly athletic (which always helps in an action film). A brunette, she was rumored for a kickboxing bad girl. Assuming the film shoots from mid-January 2002 to Summer 2002, she’ll be 25 or 26. A bit young, rather inexperienced, but good writing and directing might help. If she does make it into the cast expect her role to be about as big as the Cigar Girl’s in The World Is Not Enough

Minnie Driver:

Birthdate: 1/31/70

Birthplace: England

She expressed interest in becoming a Bond girl. Add to this the fact that she’s already appeared in one- she had a bit part as Irina, Zukovsky’s country singin’ Russian mistress in GoldenEye. She knows and has worked with the Bond people, and they DO rehire, often promoting actors to larger roles. Here’s an example:

Charles Gray- Henderson in YOLT

– Blofeld in DAF

Walter Gotell- SPECTRE agent in FRWL

– General Gogol in six films

Robert Brown- admiral in TSWLM

– M in four films

Maud Adams- Andrea in TMWTGG

– Octopussy

Assuming the film shoots from mid-January 2002 to Summer 2002, she’ll be 32, the same age as Sophie Marceau in TWINE. Oh, and Minnie Driver also has an Oscar nod to her credit.

Michelle Yeoh:

Birthdate: 8/6/62

Birthplace: Malaysia

The only Bond girl of the last three films to achieve greater fame AFTER playing a Bond girl. It was Brosnan who expressed interest in working with her again. As we all know, she played Wai Lin in TND. Shot to stardom of her own in Ang Lee’s smash hit, “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”, garnering an Academy Award nomination. Assuming the film shoots from mid-January 2002 to Summer 2002, she’ll be 39. This may sound a staggering number, but Maud Adams was 38 when she played Octopussy. Michelle Yeoh was also recently included in People Magazine’s 50 Most Beautiful People list. Only one Bond girl (the character, that is) ever returned, intended as a running gag, but it didn’t work out. The biggest question seems to be how her return would be handled. It should also be noted that Yeoh personally revealed in an interview that her agent was again talking with EON Productions.

That’s quite an amazing list there. There are of course other rumoured girls mixed throughout the news who we didn’t mention. That would include most recently Lady Victoria Hervey.

Finally, another big thank you to David Ebersole for posting this in the Bond 20 Forums to begin with, it’s greatly appreciated!

Purvis & Wade Talk About Bond 20 Script

With much thanks to Bond scholar Ajay Chowdhury we can bring to you an interview that appeared in the British version of Variety, Screen International in February 2001.

The interview is with Neil Purvis and Robert Wade, the two screenwriters who wrote the first draft of The World Is Not Enough and have already completed the first draft of Bond 20.

While the interview reveals little about Bond’s next adventure it does debunk a few older rumours including the infamous ‘Beyond The Ice’. It also mentions that the two have visited the IMDb listing for Bond 20, which includes a link to this site. I wonder if they’ve ever tottered over for a visit? If you’re reading guys, please let us know!

Aside from that, the interview reveals the process behind their script development and also how they’re working to extend the character of Bond, much like actor Pierce Brosnan has always said he wants to.

Thanks to Ajay you can view and download the interview exclusively from Bond 20 @ Blue Haze Movies. Click here to view it!

Don’t forget to visit the Bond 20 Forums. Yes I’m plugging them again, but if you haven’t visited them to date, you don’t know what you’re missing out on!

John Landis Under Consideration For Directors Chair?

As we confirmed earlier this year there is currently no director signed to the Bond films. While Pierce Brosnan suggested director Ang Lee it is commonly known that EON Production are looking in different. And while I’ve heard one or two suggestions unofficially, one that I’m really sticking with, it seems that director John Landis may be under considerations from EON.

That’s according to Popcorn.Co.Uk anyway.

A source close to the production has told us that director John Landis is in strong contention to take the helm on ‘Bond 20’.

And he may just be. Today was the first time I heard Landis mentioned, and my sources have little to say.

For those of you who don’t know Landis he’s directed films such as The Blues Brothers and it’s sequel, Beverly Hills Cop III and Three Amigos. As for whether or not he’ll direct a Bond film I can’t really say.

If true, Landis’ involvement would mark something of a departure from recent directors such as Michael Apted (‘The World Is Not Enough’) and Martin Campbell (‘Goldeneye’), given that the American is best known for giving us ‘The Blues Brothers’, ‘Coming To America’ and ‘Three Amigos’.

So could we about to see James Bond acquiring a new sense of humour and donning dark shades? Apparently not, according to Eon Productions, the company behind the franchise. Their spokesperson told Popcorn that they “haven’t employed” anyone to take the director’s chair as yet. The same goes for the recent story about Lady Victoria Hervey being considered for a role. According to Eon “they are both rumours.”

The list is growing as to who will direct Bond 20. And you can discuss it in the Bond 20 forums. There are quite a few threads relating to the director including this one.

And remember you heard it first from Bond 20 @ Blue Haze Movies!

Lady Victoria Hervey As Bond Girl?

Lady Victoria Hervey is reputedly up for a part in the next James Bond movie, and it has apparently come straight from her own mouth.

PeopleNews have reported as follows:

According to Lady V, Bond producers are ‘considering’ casting her alongside Pierce Brosnan in the next 007 movie. ‘I’m desperate to be a Bond girl,’ she confesses. ‘That’s what I really want to do with my life. It’s been my dream to play one of those sexy, smart ladies. I’ve wanted to do it since I was a little girl.’

It’s an interesting report – one that we cannot verify sadly. I’m (Daniel ‘Blue Eyes’ Dykes) not even sure how true to their word People News are. But if we find out more we’ll be sure to let you know.

For those of you wondering who Lady Victoria is. Here’s a brief summary from PeopleNews.

The most eager-to-please of London’s social butterflies is invited to more parties than Kate Moss and her only cosmetic surgery to date has been on her bellybutton: ‘It was an outy so I got it changed to an inny’. Half-sister of the notorious Marquess of Bristol (who once took pot shots at a dinghy full of nuns on the lake at Ickworth), Victoria was born in France, bred in Britain and boarded at Benenden. When mother stopped her pocket money for turning down a place to read French and Art History at Bristol, she became Michael Winner’s receptionist before fluttering around the catwalks of Europe for Christian Dior. A stormy on-off relationship with Danish restaurateur Mogens Tholstrup ended last year and a blind date with Prince Andrew finished abruptly when she left after the first course for a prior engagement at a lap-dancing club. Victoria renewed her acquaintance with the glamour world this year when she unintentionally made her page three debut, dressed only a pair of outsized sunglasses that contrasted with her modestly proportioned chests.

With that in mind – as she’s quite a character – a role, no matter how minor, in Bond 20 would definetly draw attention to the film. So it could work as good publicity.

In the end we can only wait and see. But feel free to discuss it in the Bond 20 Forums, a hive of activity right now. A thread entitled “Who Will Be The Bond Girl And Will She Be Sexy?”, which can be found here, has been going for a while and with 73 posts has quite a few suggestions and pictures. I’ve just added some sexy pictures of Lady V to this thread. Be sure to see you there!

Location Scouting & Williams Again

(Update Included At Bottom Of Article

News today from the German newspaper “Netzzeitung” on James Bond 20.

The newspaper had printed reports on Pierce Brosnan asking for more sex in the James Bond films, you can find the Bond 20 @ BHM report here. However, they included some additional information. Tim Roth was nice enough to send it in:

…The script for the next Bond movie has finished, and the location scouts are already swarmed for finding new locations. One possible location could be Wales. There, Barbara Broccoli is going to look for new locations at July, 14th, 2001 together with a production team. Perchancely, pop star Robbie Williams will perform his show in Cardiff, Wales, on the same day. “Broccoli has a ticket for the concert”, a spokeman of MGM approved, “but it’s a harmless concert visit”. Maybe she wants to see Robbie Williams in action, because he could be a performer of the next title song…

We had reported earlier that the first draft of the script had been completed, so that is nothing new. However, the news about Cardiff in Wales being ‘scouted’ as a possible filming location is completely new as is news that Barbara Broccoli will travel there on July 14.

For those of you who don’t know Cardiff is the capital of Wales and has several ancient relics around the city due to it’s age. For instance there is the 11th century Cardiff Castle, built by the Normans. Could this be a possible location for Bond 20?

The news about Robbie Williams is the strangest part of the report, however. I have read in several articles (including one in a local newspaper) that Barbara Broccoli has a ticket to Williams’ concert. However, all the other reports indicated she was ‘testing’ him for a role of James Bond in the future. We all know that is not the case. However, perhaps she is going to view the concert to test his vocal skills? But surely she could just get his album on CD? Furthermore, if Broccoli works for and runs EON Productions why then would an MGM spokesperson be commenting on her day to day life? All these questions remain unanswered. Either way, with Williams’ popularity in the charts and his love for James Bond there is a strong possibility that he will atleast submit a song for Bond 20.

Please come along to the Bond 20 Forums to discuss this news. This thread in the forums started back in late April in reference to comments made by EON’s Casting Director. It would be great so see you there as we’re sure to have plenty of new posts on the subject!

And finally, a big thank you to Tim Roth of “all time high [the 007 generation]”, one of Germany’s premiere Bond websites. Unfortunately for all of us who speak English, it is in German.

Updated! 05/06/2001

Tim Roth, who translated the article for us, has written into us again through the forums to inform us that he mis-translated a part of the article.

In the original article we printed it said that an MGM Spokesperson commented on Broccoli attending the Robbie Williams concert. To which I countered, “if Broccoli works for and runs EON Productions why then would an MGM spokesperson be commenting on her day to day life?”

Tim has no informed us that he made a mistake. In the article it said: “a spokeman of the 007 production firm approved that…” and not “a spokeman of MGM…”

So does this change the validity of the article? Perhaps. One thing is for sure it made that whole statement a lot more accurate. So perhaps we may see Robbie Williams belting out the theme for Bond 20. Only time, or a press release, will tell!!

Brosnan Asks For More Sex!

You read right – for the second time Pierce Brosnan is asking for Bond 20 to be a little kinkier. The IMDB have posted an article detailing his urging.

Brosnan, 48, demanded the producers [of the Bond Films] dump the movies’ kid friendly PG-rating and raunch things up. Expected to quit the
role next year, he reckons bed scenes are a key part of the dashing spy’s appeal, saying, “If you took the rating off, you could do great things. The sex could be done in a much more interesting, exciting way without being
damaging to children.” He adds, “In The World Is Not Enough Sophie Marceau
and I had to do 15 takes of our bedroom sequence just because we saw a
beautiful nipple. It’s crazy. It’s OK to shoot someone, but don’t show her
nipple.”

I have heard Brosnan in an interview describe his annoyance at the love scene with Marceau. Brosnan first asked for a spiced up Bond 20 when talking to the LA Times about The World Is Not Enough and The Thomas Crown Affair. You can find that article here.

This time, however, it seems that former-007 Roger Moore has joined in.

The 73-year-old Moore scorns, “Those love scenes were so tame. The raciest things about them were the titles (of the films).”

Well do you want to have your say? You can in the Bond 20 Forums. This thread was just started by me about a kinkier Bond. Feel free to come and chat and have your say!

Thanks to David Ebersole for sending the news in! Greatly appreciated David!

Bond The Homey Rapster? Please No….

Okay I’m (Daniel ‘Blue Eyes’ Dykes) begging everyone. If this report is true ring up MGM and complain your head off!

For now please take this report with a pinch of salt! I’m attempting to get in contact with EON Productions to asses it’s validity. Persoanlly, I think it’s absolute tripe (well the most of it anyway).

The report can be found at http://quotes.freerealtime.com/dl/frt/N?art=C2001052700147o3392&SA=Latest%20News and apparently I’m not allowed to copy any part of it, so they don’t get a nice little link either!

To sum it up:

MGM would like to increase the finances of the Bond franchise. To do so they believe he should have a more American image.

To do so MGM wish for Director Brett Ratner (Rush Hour) to direct the film. He, they hope, will bring across the American “hip-hop” feel.

EON Productions, headed by Barbara Broccoli, are apparently mortified by the notion. Convinced it would turn Bond into another innery city action hero much like Martin Lawrence’s character in Rush Hour. Their preference is apparently Michael Apted, director of The World Is Not Enough.

Fans of this site will remember reports earlier this year from Dark Horizons where Ratner was mentioned as the Director.

One can only speculate where this will lead and how valid the article is. You’ll recall MGM pushing for Whitney Houston to be included in Bond 20. Are they seriously going for a more hip-hop feel? Only the future will tell.

I beg you all to voice your opinion in the Bond 20 Forums. This thread started sometime ago in relation to who should direct Bond 20. See you there!

Finally I must definetly thank Level007 for sending in this report to me! It’s greatly appreciated!