CommanderBond.net
  1. Bond girl Rachel Grant launches cancer campaign in UK

    By Devin Zydel on 2009-09-13

    Former Bond girl Rachel Grant, who appeared opposite Pierce Brosnan’s James Bond in Die Another Day as Peaceful Fountains of Desire, has launched a breast cancer awareness campaign to assist Cancer Research UK’s ‘Join the fight for women’s survival’ fundraising programme.

    Full details follow in the press release below:

    Rachel Grant at the 'Die Another Day' premiere

    Rachel Grant at the Die Another Day premiere

    Bond Girl Rachel Grant showed off her daredevil side when she made a splash to launch a breast cancer awareness campaign.

    The Hollywood star joined a group of cancer survivors at Thorpe Park theme park in Surrey to rally people to sign up to Cancer Research UK’s “Join the fight for women’s survival” fundraising programme.

    Grant, originally from Acton in west London, starred with Pierce Brosnan in the 007 blockbuster Die Another Day.

    She and the other four women wore T-shirts with the campaign’s new pink camouflage-style ribbon as they climbed aboard the Logger’s Leap ride.

    The ribbon symbolises the role the charity’s scientists play on the frontline in the battle against breast cancer, which affects more than 45,000 women each year in the UK.

    Grant, who will appear on screen with Robert Carlyle in a movie called The Tournament later this year, also showed off a rubber duck, designed by fellow actress Dame Judi Dench, available in Cancer Research UK shops.

    Grant said: “My grandmother was treated for breast cancer twice – she checked herself regularly and found a tiny lump.

    “She used the soapsuds in her bath to check herself, a routine I now follow too.

    “Thankfully my grandmother survived but too often women aren’t as lucky as she was.

    “I’d encourage everyone to get busy and organise a ‘pink’ event during breast cancer awareness month and help Cancer Research UK continue its lifesaving work.”

    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.

  2. The Girl Machine James Bond collection released in US

    By Devin Zydel on 2009-09-13

    Titan’s latest addition to their ever-growing collection of James Bond newspaper strip collections—The Girl Machine—is now available in the US.

    First released in the UK earlier this year, this new title currently available to order from Amazon.com at 30% off the $19.95 list price. Order links follow at the end of this article.

    The Girl Machine brings together the Beware Of Butterflies and The Nevsky Nude adventures in addition to the title story. All three were penned by Jim Lawrence and drawn by Yaroslav Horak and originally syndicated in 1973/74.

    'The Girl Machine' James Bond collection

    Titan’s The Girl Machine James Bond collection

    The legend continues! Stand by for more adventures with the world’s greatest and most famous secret agent, James Bond, as some of his most thrilling missions are collected for the first time ever in a deluxe collectors’ library edition! This bumper action-packed volume collects ultra rare Bond stories that have not been seen since their original syndication between 1973-74: The Girl Machine, Beware of Butterflies and The Nevsky Nude. Plus a brand new celebrity introduction and an exclusive selection of recently unearthed James Bond comic strip artwork that has never before seen print, this latest essential volume is not to be missed!

    Keep watching the CommanderBond.net main page—and our brand new Twitter feed—for the most up-to-date illustrated James Bond coverage on the web.

  3. Casino Royale ITV premiere scheduled for 19 September

    By Devin Zydel on 2009-09-12
    'Casino Royale'

    Casino Royale

    The UK television premiere of Casino Royale on ITV is scheduled for this upcoming Saturday, 19 September.

    Way back in April 2006, CommanderBond.net reported that ITV had then secured the broadcasting rights to the complete Sony/MGM James Bond film library, including Casino Royale, after a heated bidding war.

    Initially pegged to air sometime in 2007, it has since turned out to be three year wait until Daniel Craig’s debut 007 film finally hits the air.

    Casino Royale will air at 9:00pm, with a fifteen-minute break at 11:05pm for the ITV News.

    For further details, visit ITV.com.

    Stay tuned to CommanderBond.net—and our brand new Twitter feed—for all the latest news from the world of James Bond.

  4. The Spy Who Loved Me screening with Bond girl Caroline Munro

    By Devin Zydel on 2009-09-11

    007 fans in Clevedon will have the chance to catch one of Roger Moore’s most popular James Bond entries on the big screen later this month—with Bond girl Caroline Munro in attendance.

    Roger Moore and Barbara Bach with The Spy Who Loved Me's Lotus Esprit'

    Munro, who starred as the beautiful, but deadly femme fatale Naomi, will introduce a screening of 1977’s The Spy Who Loved Me on Sunday, 27 September at the Curzon Community Cinema.

    This classic Bond film presentation, which will be shown in a restored digital print, is scheduled for 2:00pm. Tickets are £7.50 and £6.50 for concessions.

    The Curzon Community Cinema is located at 48 Old Church Rd, Clevedon, Avon, BS21 6NN.

    For further information, phone 01275 871 000 or visit the official website.

    Stay tuned to CommanderBond.net—and our brand new Twitter feed—for all the latest news on James Bond-related events occurring around the world.

  5. John Hillcoat and Joe Penhall eyeing Daniel Craig for future projects

    By Devin Zydel on 2009-09-10

    It’s all work for James Bond star Daniel Craig at the moment.

    After just completing work on Steven Spielberg’s The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn, Craig can currently be seen alongside Hugh Jackman in the Keith Huff play A Steady Rain, which officially debuts in Manhattan, New York later this month. After that, he’ll next move into Jim Sheridan’s Psychological thriller A Dream House, which begins shooting in January 2010.

    Even with all of these current filming obligations, plus his eventual return as 007 in Bond 23, Variety reports that director and writer John Hillcoat and Joe Penhall, who just recently adapted Cormac McCarthy’s The Road for the big screen, are eyeing the star for future projects.

    Penhall is in talks with Craig for an English remake of the Gallic heist pic La Bonne Annee. The original film, which was made in 1973 by Claude Lelouch, follows a criminal recently released from prison who hatches a plan to rob jewelers in Cannes.

    Previously, Craih and Penhall worked together on 2000’s Some Voices and again in 2004 on Enduring Love.

    Meanwhile, Hillcoat is also said to be talking to Craig about an adaptation of Nick Cave’s The Death of Bunny Munro. The just published book tells the tale of a sex-obsessed traveling salesman on his final road trip.

    Time will tell to see how these future projects for Craig turn out—CommanderBond.net will keep you updated with all the latest details.

  6. Previews kick off for Daniel Craig's A Steady Rain

    By Devin Zydel on 2009-09-10

    Previews began today at Manhattan’s Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre for Daniel Craig’s Broadway play, A Steady Rain.

    Co-starring Hugh Jackman, the critically acclaimed Keith Huff play is set to debut at the theatre on the 29th of this month.

    Daniel Craig

    Daniel Craig

    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.

    ‘I just was fascinated by this great piece of writing, very emotional and disturbing but quite funny at points,’ Craig recently said during a break from rehearsals.

    Be sure to check out this USA Today article, which includes a complete behind-the-scenes look at the play and indepth interviews with Craig and Jackman on preparing for their roles and working together.

    For details about purchasing tickets, visit this CBn article.

    As always, 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. Timothy Dalton IS Mr. Pricklepants

    By Devin Zydel on 2009-09-10
    Timothy Dalton

    Timothy Dalton

    King Philip, Heathcliff, James Bond, and now… Mr. Pricklepants.

    Former 007 star Timothy Dalton has just added a decidedly different role to his filmography listing with the news that he’ll be voicing a character in next summer’s Toy Story 3.

    According to the BBC News, Dalton’s character in the highly anticipated Pixar film will be a hedgehog toy named Mr. Pricklepants. He’ll be joined with fellow newcomer to the series Michael Keaton, who’ll be voicing Ken, a male Barbie doll.

    Clips from the upcoming film were previewed at a central London presentation earlier today by Disney/Pixar chief creative officer John Lasseter.

    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.

  8. Michael Sheen shuts down Bond 23 villain rumours

    By Devin Zydel on 2009-09-10

    Welsh actor Michael Sheen has publicly shut down the rumours that he’s lined up as a villain in what will be the 23rd James Bond film.

    In the following news release, Sheen states there is no truth to the tabloid rumours started earlier this year that he would star as supervillain Ernst Stavro Blofeld opposite Daniel Craig’s 007…

    Michael Sheen has denied he will be in the next James Bond film.

    The Frost/Nixon star was rumoured to be playing villain Ernst Stavro Blofeld in the 23rd outing of the famous spy movies, with Daniel Craig as 007, but said the stories are untrue.

    “The rumours are I might be playing Blofeld, the Bond villain, because Peter Morgan, who I’ve done Frost/Nixon, The Queen and The Damned United with, is writing it – there is no truth to those rumours,” he insisted at GQ’s Men Of The Year awards, where he won Actor Of The Year.

    The Welsh actor added, with a smile: “I wish I could tell you different, but no.”

    Bond or not, Michael knows how to keep himself busy. The 40-year-old has recently finished filming Tim Burton’s Alice In Wonderland alongside Johnny Depp and Anne Hathaway, Unthinkable with Samuel L Jackson, and the part of vampire Aro in the upcoming Twilight sequel, New Moon.

    Keep turning to the CommanderBond.net main page—and our brand new Twitter feed—for the most up-to-date Bond coverage on the net.

  9. James Bond first editions by Ian Fleming go up for auction

    By Devin Zydel on 2009-09-09
    Ian Fleming's 'Casino Royale'

    Ian Fleming’s Casino Royale

    London’s Bloomsbury Auctions will be holding a Bibliophile Sale this week and a selection of Ian Fleming’s James Bond novels are included among the lots for sale.

    Three lots in total, included is a first edition-second impression of Fleming’s very first 007 adventure, Casino Royale. The entire sale of 650+ items commences on Thursday, 10 September at 11:00am (lots 1-339) and 2:00pm (lots 340-667) precisely.

    Bloomsbury Auctions is located at: Bloomsbury House, 24 Maddox Street, Mayfair, London, W1S 1PP. For further details, phone +44(0) 20 7495 9494 or visit the official website.

    Details on the James Bond lots follow below:

    Lot 383 – Casino Royale

    Casino Royale, first edition , second impression, original boards, dust-jacket (with the Sunday Times review), slightly rubbed at corners and fore-edges, spine ends slightly frayed, 8vo, 1953.

    Estimate: £1,000 – £1,500


    Lot 384 – The Man with the Golden Gun

    The Man with the Golden Gun, first edition , original boards, dust-jacket, an excellent copy, 8vo, 1965., first edition , original boards, dust-jacket, an excellent copy, 8vo, 1965.

    Estimate: £180 – £220


    Lot 385 – Octopussy and The Living Daylights

    Octopussy and The Living Daylights, first edition , original boards, dust-jacket, un-clipped and fine, 1966; and Licence Renewed by John Gardner, 8vo (2)

    Estimate: £150 – £200

    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.

  10. Ian Fleming 2009 Steel Dagger shortlist announced

    By Devin Zydel on 2009-09-08
    Ian Fleming

    Ian Fleming

    As earlier reported on CommanderBond.net, the winner of the 2009 Ian Fleming Steel Dagger award is set to be announced next month at the Specsavers Crime Thriller Awards, which will be broadcast on ITV3.

    The CWA Dagger Awards celebrate the very best in crime and thriller writing, and are the longest established literary awards in the UK. These premier awards in crime fiction are recognised internationally as a mark of excellence.

    The shortlist for the Steel Dagger award—for best thriller—has just been announced. The winner will be announced and awarded the £2,000 prize on Wednesday, 21 October 2009.

    • Michael Connelly: The Brass Verdict (Orion)
    • Gillian Flynn: Dark Places (Weidenfeld & Nicolson)
    • John Hart: The Last Child (John Murray)
    • Charlie Newton: Calumet City (Bantam Press)
    • Daniel Silva: Moscow Rules (Michael Joseph)
    • Olen Steinhauer: The Tourist (HarperCollins)
    • Andrew Williams: The Interrogator (John Murray)

    For further details regarding the Ian Fleming Steel Dagger Award and other awards, click here.

    Keep watching the CommanderBond.net main page—and our brand new Twitter feed—for the most up-to-date literary James Bond coverage on the web.