Back-to-back James Bond weekends in Elizabethtown, Kentucky

James Bond will be on the big screen in Elizabethtown, Kentucky for back-to-back weekends beginning this Friday.

The Man with the Golden Gun

The Kentucky News Enterprise reports that Sean Connery’s Goldfinger and Roger Moore’s The Man with the Golden Gun will be screened at the Historic State Theater during a 007 movie series.

Goldfinger will be shown on 19 and 20 March at 8:00pm. Before the film begins this Friday, local historian Paul Urbahns will be on hand to discuss the gold vault and portions of the film shot in the area, Heritage Council Executive Director Dana Beth Lyddan said.

The following weekend, The Man with the Golden Gun will play on 26 and 27 March at 8:00pm.

The Historic State Theater Complex is located at 209 Dixie Highway West, Elizabethtown, Kentucky 42701-1533.

Tickets are $5.00. For more information on attending, phone 270-234-8258.

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Sony wants to stick around with James Bond after MGM Studios sale

BusinessWeek – Sony Corp. will want a role in the James Bond movies once the sale or restructuring of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. is complete, Sony Pictures Entertainment Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Michael Lynton said.

Sony is interested in distributing new Bond films or becoming a production partner to Los Angeles-based MGM or its new owners, Lynton said at the ShoWest industry trade show in Las Vegas. He said Sony hasn’t held formal discussions with potential buyers.

“We would like to be as involved with James Bond as we’re permitted to be,” Lynton said in the March 15 interview.

The Bond movies are among MGM assets that also include film rights to J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit and a library of more than 4,000 titles. The Los Angeles-based studio put itself up for sale after failing to make payments on $3.7 billion in debt.

There may be a role for Sony or another large studio, even if MGM is sold. Not all of MGM’s suitors are equipped to handle global marketing and distribution of the films.

Companies considering second-round bids for MGM include Lions Gate Entertainment Corp., the independent studio run from Santa Monica, California, that typically focuses on smaller genre films, including the Saw horror films and Tyler Perry comedies. Lions Gate couldn’t distribute Bond movies worldwide by itself, Vice Chairman Michael Burns said at a New York investor conference last week.

Other potential MGM bidders include billionaire Len Blavatnik’s New York-based Access Industries, New York-based Time Warner Inc. and Englewood, Colorado-based Liberty Media Corp., a person with knowledge of the situation said last month.

Co-Producers

Sony distributed and co-produced the two most recent Bond films, Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace. Both films generated a majority of box-office revenue from outside the U.S. and Canada.

Casino Royale took in 72 percent of its $594.2 million from foreign ticket sales. For Quantum of Solace, 71 percent of $586.1 million in sales was from outside the U.S. and Canada, according to researcher Box Office Mojo.

U.S. traded shares of Sony gained 23 cents to $37.80 at 4:02 p.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. The stock has gained 30 percent this year.

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Sir Roger Moore interviewed in Which? Money Quarterly

Seven-time James Bond star Sir Roger Moore has given a interview to new magazine Which? Money Quarterly.

In the exclusive interview Sir Roger talks Bond and beyond, his work as charity fundraiser for UNICEF and several of his other recent projects.

007 fans can pick up a copy of Which? Money Quarterly in the UK at Tesco, WHSmith High Street & Travel, Martin McColls and selected independent newsagents for £2.99.

For further inquiries, visit which.co.uk.

As always, keep turning to the CommanderBond.net main page and our Discussion Forums for all the latest news from the world of James Bond.

Dame Judi Dench to pen autobiography

Dame Judi Dench

Dame Judi Dench is all set to reveal her live story—the veteran actress is writing her autobiography. The six-time James Bond film actress will pen the tome, titled And Furthermore, with biographer John Miller, reports the Daily Express.

Weidenfeld & Nicolson acquired the rights to the long-awaited book from the 75-year-old. Although details of the deal haven’t been disclosed it is thought that the actress sold the rights for a six-figure sum.

The tome will document her lengthy career, as well as her 30-year marriage to actor Michael Williams, who died in 2001 after losing his battle with lung cancer. The book is expected to hit shelves in October 2010.

As always, keep turning to the CommanderBond.net main page and our Discussion Forums for all the latest news from the world of James Bond.

Pierce Brosnan signs up for Salvation Boulevard

Former James Bond star Pierce Brosnan has signed up to star in the indie film Salvation Boulevard.

Variety reports that Brosnan will be joined by Ed Harris and Jim Gaffigan in the project for the newly launched Mandalay Vision.

Pierce Brosnan

The film is expected to begin shooting this May. Detroit Monday notes that the Michigan city may serve as a prime filming location.

A comedy-thriller, Salvation Boulevard is set in the world of mega-churches in which a former Deadhead-turned-born again-Christian finds himself on the run from fundamentalist members of his mega-church who will do anything to protect their larger-than-life pastor.

Joshua‘s George Ratliff will direct from a screenplay he wrote alongside Douglas Stone, based on the book of the same name by Larry Beinhart.

Cathy Schulman and Celine Rattray of Mandalay Vision will produce.

As always, keep turning to the CommanderBond.net main page and our Discussion Forums for all the latest news from the world of James Bond.

Bond girl Gemma Arterton hits the cover of GQ

British actress and Bond girl Gemma Arterton hits the cover of the forthcoming edition of GQ Magazine.

Gemma Arterton

In the April issue of the magazine, which goes on sale this week, the Quantum of Solace star discusses the issue of whether or not she was ‘hot enough’ to star in a James Bond film. The Daily Mail lets readers decide for themselves by posting a stripped-down shot of Arterton from the magazine on their website—click here to view.

She states: ‘In comparison to many actresses I think I’m really average. When I got the Bond film there was this big hoo-ha about me not being hot enough. I have to say, I agree. I don’t think I’m in that realm.’

There are some really beautiful actresses, like [fellow Bond girl] Olga Kurylenko, who find it difficult. It’s frustrating for her but she’s so beautiful that it’s like someone having a massive nose: you are going to take that into consideration when you’re casting her. Whereas I can change my look.’

Following her success in 2007’s St. Trinian’s, 2008 saw Arteton star in Guy Ritchie’s RocknRolla and appear alongside Daniel Craig for his second 007 outing. She will next be seen in the big Hollywood productions Clash of the Titans and Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, both due out this year.

‘I hope people don’t see me just as a Bond girl,’ Arterton admits. ‘I hope they’ll soon see my [other] work and think differently.’

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Pierce Brosnan ponders writing his memoirs

According to a brief audio interview posted at Hollywood Outbreak, former James Bond star Pierce Brosnan is contemplating sitting down and writing his memoirs.

As many 007 fans are aware, Brosnan is currently headlining Roman Polanski’s critically-praised thriller The Ghost Writer alongside Ewan McGregor after it premiered last month at the Berlin International Film Festival.

In the interview, Brosnan states: ‘There have been a few articles, pieces and books that have been written without my consent that have been written. So I have started in the last few years ruminating in who I am, where I’ve been, what I’ve done… some tapestry of a life lived.’

Pierce Brosnan and Ewan McGregor in The Ghost Writer

He continues: ‘There’s headings, I’ve started with a few headings… some of them are haikus of time and some of them have got a chapter, maybe! I don’t know, I’ll stitch something together.’

When asked if he would hire a ghost writer, Brosnan replies: ‘Oh, I think it’ll be my good wife, you know, she’s a fine writer. I hadn’t thought about having a ghost writer. Having come down the road 56 years, you kind of ruminate on life, and especially when you get asked the question time and time again, you know. You’ve lived a bit of time.’

2008 saw the publication of Sir Roger Moore’s memoirs, My Word is My Bond and Sir Sean Connery’s Being a Scot, which mixed together a study of Scotland’s history and culture and an account of the actor’s life.

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David Hedison joins cast of Agatha Christie's Spider's Web

David Hedison

Two-time James Bond film star David Hedison will be making an appearance at the Writers Guild Theatre in California at the end of this month.

007 fans will be able to see Hedison perform in a presentation of Agatha Christie’s Spider’s Web. The show will be performed on Saturday, 27 March at 8:00pm and again on Sunday, 28 March at 2:00pm.

Fans best know Hedison as ally Felix Leiter from both Live and Let Die and Licence to Kill.

Tickets to attend the Spider’s Web performances are available at soapfanmysterytheatre.com and include free parking. The Writers Guild Theatre is located at 135 South Doheny Drive, Beverly Hills, California 90211.

As always, keep your browsers locked on the CommanderBond.net main page and our Discussion Forums for all the latest 007 news from the world of James Bond.

Live and Let Die screening in Hamburg, Germany on 12 March

Live and Let Die

Following up last month’s screening of Sean Connery’s fourth James Bond blockbuster Thunderball, 007 will be on the big screen once again this month in Hamburg, Germany.

Scheduled for Friday, 12 March at 9:15pm is a screening of Roger Moore’s debut Bond entry, Live and Let Die at the Metropolis Kino, located at Steindamm 54, 20099 Hamburg, Germany.

For ticket information and additional details, visit the official website.

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Bond girl Olga Kurylenko nominated in FHM's 100 Sexiest Women competition

Olga Kurylenko is Camille in Quantum of Solace

As was the case last year, Quantum of Solace Bond girl Olga Kurylenko has been nominated for a 100 Sexiest Women in the World competition for 2010 at FHM Magazine.

Voting is currently taking place to determine who will end up in the top 100 overall for 2010 and is open for six weeks. At the beginning of May, the top 100 will be unveiled. Last year, Kurylenko placed 22nd overall in the competition.

To cast your vote for the Quantum of Solace star, visit her page here at FHM Magazine.

Keep turning to the CommanderBond.net main page and our Discussion Forums for all the latest news from the world of James Bond.