CommanderBond.net
  1. Pierce Brosnan signs up for The Hunter

    By Devin Zydel on 2009-07-15

    Pierce Brosnan has signed up to star in Stanley Tucci’s The Hunter.

    Pierce Brosnan

    Pierce Brosnan

    Empire reports that the former James Bond star joins an all-star cast including Julianne Moore and Patricia Clarkson for the indie comedy-drama.

    The film, written and to be directed by Tucci, is set among the ‘aristocracy’ of New York’s Upper Westchester County and is described as a coming-of-age story for Brosnan’s middle-aged character, who has to cope with the disintegration of his once-charmed life.

    Brosnan’s Irish Dreamtime company will handle production duties along with Tucci and executive producer Steve Buscemi’s Olive Productions.

    Brosnan recently starred alongside Clarkson in 2007’s Married Life and in 2004 he shared the lead role with Moore in Laws of Attraction.

    Keep your browsers locked on the CBn main page—and our brand new Twitter feed—for all the latest news on James Bond-related events occurring around the world.

  2. Harry Potter battling James Bond for top box office title

    By Devin Zydel on 2009-07-14

    James Bond has some serious competition for the title of world’s most successful film franchise.

    Although the 007 series currently holds the number one position, Variety reports that this is soon expected to change following the release of the latest entry in the Harry Potter series.

    Due out in every major market starting this Wednesday, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is expected to dominate the box office and become yet another smash hit for the boy wizard series.

    As it stands currently, the five Potter films have grossed $4.48 billion worldwide, while the 22 official Bond films (Dr. No through Quantum of Solace) hover around the $5 billion mark.

    The most recent Potter film, 2007’s Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix ended up with a worldwide total of $938 million.

    Keep your browsers locked on the CommanderBond.net main page—and our brand new Twitter feed—for all the latest news on James Bond-related events occurring around the world.

  3. Zena Marshall (1927 – 2009)

    By Devin Zydel on 2009-07-14

    007 Magazine reports the sad news that Bond girl Zena Marshall has died at the age of 82.

    Born in Nairobi, Kenya in 1927, she is best known by James Bond fans for her role as Miss Taro in 1962’s Dr. No, effectively making her the first femme fatale of the series.

    Besides her 007 association, Marshall also starred in Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines and on the popular television series Danger Man.

    CommanderBond.net wishes the best to her family and friends.

  4. Win Quantum of Solace on DVD

    By Devin Zydel on 2009-07-12

    CommanderBond.net is giving away a free copy of the single-disc DVD (Region 1) of Daniel Craig’s Quantum of Solace, originally released earlier this year.

    'Quantum of Solace'

    Quantum of Solace

    Starting shortly after Casino Royale ends, Daniel Craig returns as James Bond, betrayed by the woman he loved and determined to find those responsible for her death. His pursuit and determination lead him deeper into the criminal organization known as “Quantum” and into the company of Dominic Greene (Mathieu Amalric), an environmentalist using his wealth and power to help overthrow a government in exchange for a barren piece of desert land that will allow him to control the country’s water supply. Forced to work without the help of MI6, Bond partners with Camille (Olga Kurylenko), a young woman on her own quest for justice, and together they travel across the globe in order to stop Greene and seek retribution.

    This competition is open to all members of CommanderBond.net (CBn). You must be a registered member of the CBn Forums and answer the following question correctly to be eligible to win. Not yet a member of CBn? Register here now–it is free and only takes a minute!

    How To Enter:

    To enter, fill out the following questionnaire and send a Communiqué/Private Message on the CBn Forums to ‘CBn Competition’ (Subject: CBn July09 Quantum) by Midnight EST on 31 July 2009 (simply click on the link in this paragraph).

    1. All of the following crew members contributed to the making of Quantum of Solace, with the exception of:

    1. Daniel Kleinman – Main Title Designer
    2. David Arnold – Composer
    3. Dennis Gassner – Production Designer
    4. Roberto Schaefer – Director of Photography

    2. What is your CBn Forum Screen Name?
    3. What country/state do you live in?

  5. Little Nellie inventor Ken Wallis to give lecture

    By Devin Zydel on 2009-07-10

    James Bond fans in Lincolnshire, England will want to take notice of this upcoming event later this month.

    The Sleaford Standard reports that Wing Commander Ken Wallis, inventor of the autogyro known affectionately as ‘Little Nellie’ will be in the Sleaford area for a talk to aviation enthusiasts.

    007 fans know of the autogyro best thanks to a memorable sequence in 1967’s You Only Live Twice in which Sean Connery’s Bond fights off four attacking helicopters while searching for the volcano headquarters of villain Ernst Stavro Blofeld.

    The lecture will be in the old gymnasium at the Metheringham Airfield Visitor Centre, at Martin Moor, on Wednesday, 22 July at 7.30pm. Admission is free to members and £4 for non-members.

    To receive further information about attending this event, phone 01526 378270.

    Keep watching the CommanderBond.net main page—and our brand new Twitter feed—for all the latest news on James Bond-related events happening around the world.

  6. Details on Daniel Craig's A Steady Rain

    By Devin Zydel on 2009-07-09

    In late May, CommanderBond.net reported that James Bond star Daniel Craig and Jackman would be teaming up to star in Keith Huff’s Broadway play A Steady Rain.

    A new press release from earlier today announced the start date for the production as Tuesday, 29 September at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, located in midtown-Manhattan, New York.

    Previews are set to begin on 10 September for a 12-week engagement.

    A Steady Rain tells of two seasoned cops whose lifelong friendship is severely tested when a seemingly routine domestic disturbance call results in the death of a young boy. When the horrific truth of the situation is revealed, one of the two must take the blame for the fatal mistake.

    The play will mark the Broadway debut for Craig after starring in numerous films, the most recent of which included Quantum of Solace and Defiance.

    Keep turning to the CommanderBond.net main page—as well as our brand new Twitter feed—for all the latest James Bond news and coverage.

  7. In conversation with Dame Judi Dench

    By Devin Zydel on 2009-07-09
    Dame Judi Dench

    Dame Judi Dench

    James Bond fans in the UK will want to keep an eye out for this upcoming event at the Theatre Royal in Winchester.

    Dame Judi Dench, who has now starred as MI6 chief ‘M’ in the past six James Bond films, will be taking time out from filming further episodes of Cranford for BBC television to talk about her illustrated book on her life and career, Judi Dench: Scenes From My Life, which was originally published in late 2005.

    This event is scheduled to take place on Sunday, 19 July at 7:30pm. Tickets to this event will cost £15 and are available from the Theatre Royal Box Office.

    For further details, phone 01962 840 440 or visit the event page at Waterstones.com.

    Keep your browsers locked on the CommanderBond.net main page—and our brand new Twitter feed—for all the latest news on James Bond-related events occurring around the world.

  8. Bond girl Gemma Arterton engaged to 007 double

    By Devin Zydel on 2009-07-06

    Bond girl Gemma Arterton has gone public with her engagement to Stefano, who acted as a body double for 007 star Daniel Craig in last year’s Quantum of Solace.

    Gemma Arterton

    Gemma Arterton

    According to the Daily Mail, Arterton and her fiancé held an engagement party over the weekend at the Sun & 13 Gantons brasserie in Soho along with friends and family.

    It was the 22nd James Bond film that first brought the two together. An unnamed source told Reveal magazine: ‘It’s so cute, they are really loved up and it’s great to see Gemma looking so happy. They met on the set of Quantum of Solace.’

    ‘He was Daniel Craig’s body double and there was clearly chemistry from the start. They’ve been together for a few months now and it’s going really well.’

    Keep turning to the CommanderBond.net main page—and our brand new Twitter feed—for continued Quantum of Solace coverage.

  9. An audience with Sir Christopher Lee

    By Devin Zydel on 2009-07-05

    The recently-knighted Sir Christopher Lee sat down with The Independent‘s Brian Viner to discuss his prolific film career, which is estimated to include more than 350 big screen credits to his name.

    Sir Christopher Lee

    Sir Christopher Lee

    For James Bond buffs, the actor—who has a penchant for portraying memorable film villains—is best known for his role as hitman Francisco Scaramanga opposite Roger Moore n 1974’s The Man with the Golden Gun. Adding on further to his association with the world of 007, he was a cousin of Bond creator Ian Fleming.

    Explaining the relation, Lee stated that after his parents’ divorce, his mother, Contessa Estelle Marie Carandini di Sarzano, married a banker, Harcourt Rose, whose sister was Fleming’s mother. What followed was a friendship between Fleming and himself.

    ‘I used to play golf with him, and I remember him asking me on the links if I wanted to play Dr No, which was about to go into production. But by the time he got round to mentioning it to [Bond producers] Cubby Broccoli and Harry Saltzman, they’d cast another actor.’

    Thankfully, Lee got another chance at Bond a little over a decade later when he got the lead villain role in The Man with the Golden Gun. ‘Scaramanga was a real name, [Fleming] didn’t make it up,’ Lee states. ‘It was a boy at Eton he disliked intensely.’

    ‘Ian could be very acid, certainly,’ said Lee in response to hearing Viner’s statement that Sean Connery was recently quoted as saying that Fleming was a dreadful snob.

    He continues: ‘But I’m guessing Ian wasn’t enamoured of Sean, either. I do remember a quote to the effect that he didn’t think of James Bond as a former bodybuilder and coffin polisher. But I don’t know whether he disliked Sean’s performance, and even if I did know, I would never say so. Please don’t say that I said so. You raised it. I’m not making any further comment.’

    To check out the entire interview with Sir Christopher Lee, head over to The Independent.

    Keep your browsers locked on the CommanderBond.net main page—and our brand new Twitter feed—for all the latest James Bond-related news.

  10. Faberge wins From Russia with Love trademark battle

    By Devin Zydel on 2009-07-03

    Fabergé Ltd. has won the rights to sell a ‘From Russia With Love’ jewellery range after a legal battle with Danjaq Ltd, the copyright holders for the James Bond films.

    'From Russia with Love'

    From Russia with Love

    The Telegraph reports that the firm had hoped to use the title of the 1963 Bond film in order to highlight its Russian roots in a new marketing campaign.

    A legal battle followed after the trademark application was challenged by Danjaq, who claimed that shoppers would presume that the jewellery was official 007 merchandise, and said that the application undermined its own From Russia with Love computer games trademark.

    In the end however, like the recent ‘Dr. No’ trademark issue, Bond lost the battle.

    The International Property Office (IPO) ruled that Fabergé can go ahead with its plans in Britain after deciding that the public can tell the difference between film references and official products.

    ‘Being seen as a reference to the film is not the same as the sign representing to the public that the goods are licensed goods,’ said Oliver Morris of the IPO in his adjudication.

    He further ruled that the Fabergé jewellery would not be in direct competition with the branded video games, and said that a range of officially-licensed From Russia with Love Swatch watches were not sufficiently well known in the UK to justify blocking the application.

    ‘In my view the goods for which the mark is said to be well known are not similar to Fabergé’s goods,’ he said. ‘The nature, purposes, methods of use, distribution channels etc. are different and I can see no competitive or complementary relationship.’

    Danjaq was ordered to pay pay Fabergé the sum of £2,300 towards its legal costs.

    Keep your browsers locked on the CommanderBond.net main page—and our brand new Twitter feed—for all the latest news on James Bond-related events occurring around the world.