Dame Judi In The Dark Over 'Bond 22'

With shooting on Daniel Craig’s second James Bond film due to begin in roughly two weeks, Dame Judi Dench has revealed that she’s being kept in the dark over exactly what one can expect in this upcoming 007 adventure.

Digital Spy reports that the Oscar-winning actress admitted the producers are keeping a lid on Bond 22 plot details in an effort to prevent the story from leaking.

She said: ‘It’s all so secretive. I’ve only been told that this will be an original storyline – and that’s it.’

‘I wasn’t remotely surprised about the success of Casino Royale and I’m sure we can surpass that this time.’

Back in mid-November, CommanderBond.net reported that Dame Judi would once again be joining Craig’s 007 in the field for Bond 22 (while also confirming Panama as a location for the film).

In related news, CBn can also report on at least one Casino Royale cast member who won’t be returning for Bond 22: Tobias Menzies.

Menzies, who had the brief role of Villiers, M’s assistant in Casino Royale, wrote on his Myspace blog: ‘Sad news for all Villiers fans, he is no more! Casino Royale was his first and last stand. May he rest in peace.’

Keep watching CommanderBond.net for all the latest coverage and details on Daniel Craig’s upcoming 007 film.

First Edition Of Ian Fleming's 'Casino Royale' Sells For 20,000 Pounds

A first edition, first impression of the James Bond novel that started it all, Ian Fleming’s Casino Royale, sold for £20,000 (about $40,000) as part of the massive literary 007 sale at Bloomsbury Auctions earlier this month.

As earlier reported on CommanderBond.net, this copy of Casino Royale along with nearly 40 other Bond novels (mostly Fleming, but there were a few John Gardner and Raymond Benson books included as well) went up for sale on 6 December in London.

007 Magazine OnLine updated fans with the results from the sale on some of the notable Bond lots:

42. Fleming (Ian) Casino Royale, first edition, first impression , full-page inscription from the author on front free endpaper, original boards, slightly cocked, first state dust-jacket without Times review, slightly chipped at head of spine, otherwise an unusually good example, 8vo, 1953.

£18000 – £22000 (SOLD FOR £20,000)

The inscription reads “To / the power behind / the publishers’ throne! / from / the author / May 1953”, presumably referring to somebody related to the publishers Jonathan Cape.

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43. Fleming (Ian) Live and Let Die, first edition, full-page inscription from the author on front free endpaper, original boards, first state dust-jacket, slightly rubbed at joints, rubbed at corners with minor fraying to spine ends, 2 small closed tears, otherwise a very good example, 8vo, 1954.

£8000 – £12000 (SOLD FOR £9500)

Inscription reads “To / Donald Crowther / Who helped with the coin!” / from / the author / 1954″. Donald Crowther seemingly worked at Spink at this time, before becoming Head of Coins at Sotheby’s, and must have advised Fleming on the 17th century gold coins being sold by “Mr Big” in the plot of Live and Let Die.

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44. Fleming (Ian) Moonraker, first edition , issue with ‘shoot’, near full-page signed presentation inscription from the author on front free endpaper , 1955, original boards, dust-jacket, slightly rubbed at corners, spine slightly dulled, otherwise a very good example, 8vo, 1955.

£5000 – £7000 (SOLD FOR £8500)

The inscription reads: “To E.B. Strauss / This ‘Tagebuch eines / halbwüchsigen Spiones’! / Ian Fleming / 1955.” [Journal of an adolescent Spy].

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50. Fleming (Ian) Thunderball, first edition , near full-page inscription from the author on front free endpaper, original boards, dust-jacket, slightly rubbed at tips of corners, but overall an unusually fine copy , 8vo, 1961.

£3500 – £4500 (SOLD FOR £7000)

The inscription reads “To / Jack. / By appointment, / M.O. to the SIS! / Ian” – possibly to Jack Whittingham, who worked on a treatment of Thunderball with Fleming for a film version; the idea was scrapped and the treatment converted into the novel instead. ‘SIS’ is the Secret Intelligence Service, aka MI6.

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52. Fleming (Ian) On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, first edition, number 125 of 250 copies signed by the author , colour portrait of Fleming by Amherst Villiers, bookplate of Colonel H.C.C.Newnham on front pastedown, original vellum-backed buckram, t.e.g., in original plastic jacket, a fine copy, 8vo, 1963.

£3000 – £4000 (SOLD FOR £3000)

For the complete list of James Bond novels that went up for sale, visit http://www.bloomsburyauctions.com/auction/634.

Keep watching CBn for all the latest on James Bond-related events happening around the world.

James Bond Included On Master Replicas 2008 Product Line

Master Replicas, a company that has made replica products for a variety of licences, including James Bond and Star Wars, announced their planned product line for 2008.

Amongst several other Star Trek, Halo and Nintendo-related products, James Bond made is included with the following items:

• The Golden Gun LE
• The Golden Gun SE
• Underwater Breather LE (from Die Another Day)
• Wrist Dart Gun LE (from Moonraker)

Note that the above is just a sampling of 007-related items planned for 2008 and more could follow. Specific release dates were not announced.

Past Bond products from Master Replicas include the limited edition Aston Martin DB5 and DBS from Casino Royale and the Casino Royale film can with Carta Mundi card pack set (the latter is still available to purchase on the official website).

Keep watching CommanderBond.net for all the latest news from the world of 007.

Three Bond Themes Inducted Into The Grammy Hall of Fame

Written by Greg Bechtloff

Three James Bond film songs today were announced as new inductees into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

They are:

“The James Bond Theme”
The John Barry Seven & Orchestra
United Artists Single (1962)

“Goldfinger”
Shirley Bassey
United Artists Single (1964)

And

“The Look of Love”
Dusty Springfield
RCA Single (1967)

Other artists with selections announced today include Fred Astaire, Pink Floyd, Etta James, Billy Joel, The Police, Frank Sinatra, Sister Sledge, Barbara Streisand and Willie Nelson.

More significantly though, this is the first time that any music from the James Bond films has been inducted.

Created in 1973, the Grammy Hall of Fame’s mission is to “honor recordings of lasting significance.” Today’s additions bring the Hall of Fame up to nearly 800 titles.

One of the sub-textual meanings of the Grammy Hall of Fame has been to acknowledge that over the years, the Grammy Awards themselves may have missed the mark in the year that the awards were given out.

This was particularly true of the 1960’s and 1970’s when important and lasting artists such as Jimi Hendrix, David Bowie, Led Zeppelin and others were passed over in favor of “safer” music.

While cynics may say that this is a belated “make-it-up-to-you” honor, it needs to be said that new inductees must be screened by a special committee of experts and historians drawn from all branches of the recording arts – think jaded rock critics.

These experts deemed that these three Bond titles are worthy additions to the Hall of Fame. On that we should be thankful.

Raymond Benson's James Bond Returns In 2008

Outstanding news today for fans of Raymond Benson’s 007 adventures and literary James Bond collectors alike.

The Literary 007 website reports that three of Benson’s Bond novels are to be republished in an omnibus edition by Pegasus Books in the US in October 2008.

This new collection will feature an introdution by Benson and will bring together the author’s ‘Union Trilogy’–High Time To Kill, Doubleshot and Never Dream of Dying. As an added bonus to Bond fans, this omnibus will also include the complete, unedited version of Benson’s first 007 short story, Blast From The Past.

Blast From The Past was first (and up to this point, only) published in an edited version in the January 1997 edition of Playboy magazine. The full-length short story was originally only made available in French and Italian.

The Literary 007 also adds that Pegasus Books is currently planning to follow this omnibus (a title is yet to be announced) with yet another Benson collection in 2009.

Benson’s other Bond-related works include novels Zero Minus Ten, The Facts of Death and The Man with the Red Tattoo, the Midsummer Night’s Doom and Live at Five short stories and the film novelizations for Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough and Die Another Day.

Stay tuned to CBn for all the latest literary James Bond news.

Villain #3? – Joaquin Cosio Reportedly Cast

It seems as if James Bond will be facing more than one enemy in Bond 22. After the
confirmed castings of French Mathieu Amalric and Swiss Anatole Taubman, Mexican
actor Jaquin Cosio claims to have landed the role of a Latin American General
called "General Medrano". Mexican newspaper

El Diario runs a big story on the casting in today’s issue.

"There are various enemies, and I’m one of them. I’m General Medrano, Bond’s
enemy in Latin America, but there are other enemies waiting in Europe for Bond",
he told El Diario while phoning from Mexico City. According to the actor,
he was chosen from a list of about 500 Latin American actors, among them stars
such as Daniel Jimenez Cach (Y tu Mama Tambien).

"I’m really pleased to be chosen to participate in such a huge film, it’s a
great achievement that the film will feature a Mexican actor" the 45-year old told the
newspaper. Shooting will start for him in early February 2008. "I still don’t know
much of the script, I don’t really know what my scenes will be like, but I know
that I’m going to film in Panama, Bolivia and London", the actor said. Related
to this, CBn has just learned that Anatole Taubman is also scheduled for a
Bolivia shoot, which makes Bolivia the fifth official location for Bond 22. Other
locations include Italy, Austria, Panama and England.

Cosio also confirmed what has been rumoured long before: Italian actor
Giancarlo Giannini will reprise his role as Rene Mathis from Casino Royale. "I’m
very delighted to be in one film with Giannini and Judi Dench", the Mexican said.
Still, "so far I’m not thinking about leaving for Hollywood after Bond 22. I’m
very pleased with how my latest projects are going here in Mexcio."

Stay tuned for all the latest Bond 22 news on CommanderBond.net!

Charlie Higson's 'Hurricane Gold' Sells Over 50,000 Copies

According to a report posted at the Young Bond Dossier, Hurricane Gold, the fourth Young James Bond novel by Charlie Higson, has sold more than 55,000 copies in the UK since it’s hardback release in early September 2007.

The site notes that along with the newest Alex Rider adventure, Snakehead, Young Bond is driving children’s book sales this Christmas.

Hurricane Gold was first released in hardback edition in the UK on 6 September. A paperback edition featuring all new artwork will follow on 28 May 2008 (a month already overflowing with literary 007 releases).

The fifth and final James Bond adenture by Higson (which currently has the working title The Shadow War will hit bookshelves on 4 September of next year.

• Order the UK hardback edition of Hurricane Gold from Amazon.co.uk
• Order the UK paperback edition of Hurricane Gold from Amazon.co.uk
• Order the UK audiobook edition of Hurricane Gold from Amazon.co.uk

Keep watching CommanderBond.net for all the latest Hurricane Gold and Young Bond coverage. To keep track of all the upcoming 007 releases, events, television shows, and more–just keep your eyes on the CBn Calendar, located on the right panel of our main page.

Gemma Arterton Locked In For 'Bond 22'?

Last week, the Internet was awash with rumours 22-year-old British actress Gemma Arterton had landed the role of a Bond Girl in the upcoming 22nd 007 picture. Today, Empire Online claims to have verified the rumours, from “a source who’s in a position to be absolutely sure that this casting is 100% true”.

The film magazine’s website claims to be unsure as to the extent of Arterton’s role in the film, but understands it to be a “fairly major” one.

Earlier this month, Empire Online confirmed reports that Mathieu Amalric will play the role of a villain in the next James Bond film.

Some previous reports that Arterton had scored the role were based on alleged quotes from insiders at Eon Productions. Additionally, The Sun claimed the actress sent her mother a text proclaiming “I got Bond!”, while the Daily Mail reported Arterton learned of her success at the auditions only last week, but has been sworn to secrecy until the full cast is revealed later this month.

Gemma Arterton’s first motion picture, St Trinian’s, premiered in London a week ago, and will go on wide release in the UK in a week’s time.

Bond 22 commences principal photography on 4 January 2008.

Keep watching CommanderBond.net for the latest James Bond news.

ITV Bonds With 007 For The Holiday Season

Several James Bond films are scheduled to be aired on ITV during the upcoming holiday season.

007 fans will get three doses of Roger Moore’s Bond with Moonraker, For Your Eyes Only and Octopussy scheduled to air on the 26th, 27th and 28th of December, respectively.

Additionally, the 1967 spoof edition of Casino Royale, starring David Niven, Peter Sellers, Ursula Andress, Woody Allen and many others is scheduled for the 30th. Pierce Brosnan then follows with his four Bond films in early January 2008.

The complete schedule follows:

007 on ITV1

• Wednesday, 26 December: Moonraker (begins at 3:00pm)
• Thursday, 27 December: For Your Eyes Only (begins at 2:05pm)
• Friday, 28 December: Octopussy (begins at 2:30pm)
• Sunday, 30 December: Casino Royale (1967) (begins at 12:10pm)

007 on ITV2

• Tuesday, 1 January: GoldenEye (begins at 9:10pm)
• Tuesday, 1 January: Tomorrow Never Dies (begins at 11:40pm)
• Thursday, 3 January: The World Is Not Enough (begins at 9:00pm)
• Friday, 4 January: Die Another Day (begins at 9:00pm)

Keep watching CBn for all the latest James Bond news.

First Photos Of Daniel Craig In 'Bond 22' Rehearsals

Hello Magazine today published the first photos of Daniel Craig in training for the next James Bond film. The images show the actor at the helm of a Seadoo speedboat on a lake in Hampshire.

The report claims Craig “let slip” the Casino Royale sequel will not feature any car chases, contradicting earlier reports (SPOILERS) that Bond 22 will see 007 chasing the film’s villain in Tuscany.

James Bond was most recently involved in a speedboat pursuit down the River Thames in 1999’s The World Is Not Enough.

Daniel Craig preparing for Bond II,
source: Hello Magazine

Keep watching CommanderBond.net for the latest James Bond news.