Official: Mads Mikkelsen IS Le Chiffre

Source: Variety

Eon Productions held a press conference today at Barrandov Studios where director Martin Campbell announced that Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen (King Arthur) will play the main villain Le Chiffre, putting to rest at least one of the Casino Royale casting questions.

Mads Mikkelsen

As for the more burning question of who will play the Bond girl, Campbell revealed the choice is now down to “two or three” but added “you’ll just have to wait to find out.” Eva Green and Olivia Wilde are reported to be the finalists.

New James Bond Daniel Craig, perhaps thinking of the frayed nerves caused by starting the $100 million-plus shoot without a love interest, assured that the shoot is progressing anyway: “We haven’t got there so it’s all fine.”

True to form, one journalist from the Czech magazine Spy asked Craig what he thought of media speculation about his “orientation.” After a moment, Craig responded icily, “I didn’t know they had but thanks for the information.”

Another local reporter got off to an interesting start by asking the assembled group, Craig, Campbell, Judi Dench and producers Michael Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, if they were aware there was a previous Casino Royale.

Campbell, Dench, & Craig at today’s Press Conference
(click to enlarge)

Judi Dench, who has regularly delivered a cool, scheming M to the superspy franchise, said her work with Craig on the Prague shoot usually begins with a few jokes, “and that seems to be vital. I only started working with Daniel yesterday, but we found common ground.”

Auds will see more insight into M’s back story than they ever have to date in Casino Royale with a scene set in her London apartment, constructed in modernist beige by Barrandov, complete with Asian art and Tanqueray gin cocktail service.

Bond himself will show his more sensitive side, said Campbell, in that the film, based on the first of Ian Fleming’s Bond books, reveals how he became “the Bond we all know and love.”

The cast and crew jet off to the Bahamas shortly to shoot a chase sequence at seaside construction site (see exclusive pics of that location in this CBn report), then will be back to Prague for studio and location work, and Italy and the U.K.’s Pinewood.

Casino Royale is the 21st James Bond film produced
by franchise holders Eon Productions. The MGM/Columbia Pictures production
began shooting in January and is due for release worldwide on 17 November 2006.

Discuss this news in this thread on the CBn Forums.

Casino Royale: More Pictures From Bahamas Sets

‘Madagascar’

Despite the
news of a
press conference to be held this evening in Prague, CBn is able to deliver
you some more exclusive pictures from the Bahamas sets of Casino Royale!
Harry Wyckoff, our own man at station B, has returned with more detailed
information and more explicit photos.

If you remember CBn’s
last article
on the Bahamas locations, you will surely have memorized the set called "Royal
Bahamas Defence Force" (see map again

here). An abandoned hotel is now heavily fitted out with large cranes, and a
bunch of additional metal frames, about 100ft high. According to Harry, this set is now called Madagascar and will double for the
island nation in the Indian Ocean.

‘Madagascar’

The set will be used in a fairly major sequence that has also been described
in the leaked
script summary a few days ago. The sequence that will be filmed there is a
chase through the ‘town’ (the set), followed by a chase through the jungle,
culminating in a pretty major stunt involving all the large metal frameworks
mentioned previously. These frames are the beginnings of a ‘hotel’ which will be
the basis for a ‘jumping from hotel window’ stunt at the end of the chase scene.

All 10 set pictures can be found in the
CBn image gallery.
Thanks again to Harry Wyckoff.

Casino Royale is the 21st James Bond film produced
by franchise holders Eon Productions. The MGM/Columbia Pictures production
began shooting in January and is due for release worldwide on 17 November 2006.
Starring Daniel Craig as James Bond, it is currently being filmed in the Czech Republic,
the Bahamas, Italy and the UK.

Discuss this news in this thread on the CBn Forums, the largest James Bond forum on the internet.

Casino Royale Press Conference Scheduled Today

The long awaited day for James Bond fans has finally arrived. A press conference has been scheduled today for Casino Royale at Prague’s Barrandov Studios – reports Variety.

According to the report, Sony executives and other talent representatives claim that the long-awaited supporting cast (villain Le Chiffre and Bond girl Vesper Lynd especially) will not be announced, but it is still possible that Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli could unveil one of the stars. Mads Mikkelsen is the most recent name associated with a villain role in the film as Eva Green and Olivia Wilde are supposedly being considered for Vesper Lynd (all three names are mentioned in the report by Variety).

While scrutiny of Bond productions is always high, “Casino Royale” has been a particular object of curiosity in Hollywood because of how long it’s taken to cast. Going into the third week of lensing, key roles were still up for grabs.

Variety

Whatever the case turns out to be, Bond fans will be closely following the events. Read the full report on Variety.

Casino Royale is the 21st James Bond film produced
by franchise holders Eon Productions. The MGM/Columbia Pictures production
began shooting in January and is due for release worldwide on 17 November 2006.
Starring Daniel Craig as James Bond, it is currently being filmed in the Czech Republic,
the Bahamas, Italy and the UK. Stay tuned to CBn for coverage on Casino Royale.

Discuss this news in this thread on the CBn Forums, the largest James Bond forum on the internet.

A Kick in the Aston

On January 20th RM Auctions presented their 8th annual collector’s car show auction in Scottsdale, Arizona at the prestigious Biltmore hotel and resort.

The Star of the Auction:
The 1965 Aston Martin DB5 Coupe
(with modifications)

The auction was announced late in 2005 and Bond fans beamed at the star of the show. One of the promotional Aston Martin DB5’s which, while never appearing in any of the films, had toured the world throughout the 60’s was going up on the block. Complete with all the gadgets, most still functional, the original “Silver Beast” of Bond’s cars attracted the attention of collectors, Aston Martin aficionados and of course… James Bond fans. Myself included.

The controls for the “optional extras”.

Upon hearing of this event, I decided to attend. Granted, the prices were such that I had no chance in walking away with the keys, but it didn’t stop me from registering as a bidder. Besides, I just wanted to see this automotive icon of 007.

The night before was a grand event held in the main auction hall and the James Bond theme was strongly prevalent regardless of the other classics on display. Tuxedoed waiters, martini glass ice sculptures–through which any ordered martini was poured to be “properly chilled”, gourmet trays of food and snacks, and an elegant Jazz quintet set the mood.

Up close… well… She’s not the youngest girl at the dance, but she had everyone’s attention. The interior has been neglected, but the original engineering of all the devices is still sound. A glimpse in the boot revealed what the great John Stears referred to as the “plumbers nightmare”. Hook ups for three tanks (oil, smoke, CO₂ for the ejector seat), the motor and relays for the rear license plates and of course the same for the rear armour screen.

The DB5 shows off its bulletproof windscreen
and front machine guns.

It’s all still good to go apparently but the ejector mechanism has been removed and a normal seat replaced. Also, the CO₂ fed to the unused caltrop dispenser on the back right tail cluster. A few “non-featured” items also were included. The weapons tray, designed under the driver’s seat, but now under the passenger seat, came complete with a prop grenade, knife and non-firing replica Mauser. Additionally, in the driver’s door, the “radio telephone” was intact along with the ram bumpers front and rear which telescoped out and then retracted smoothly.

As to the tire slashers, the extension was simply as they did on the film cars, a screw on, knock on hub. Yes, we all remember the device slowly sliding out of the DB5’s axle, but that’s movie magic. Not enough movie magic to change the fact that both cars are seemingly driving in reverse, but I digress. Check your DVDs.

The plates flipped on cue and everyone cheered. The machine guns extended and much to all’s delight, fired. A small propane tank, complete with a metered sparker, created the effect much as they did in the movie, but with a rather loud report. These days, the sound of machine gun fire in a crowded hall should send everyone off in a panic. Applause and laughter filled the air instead.

Two views of the DB5’s interior.

I have to say, that the appeal of this car is not only the automotive legacy that is Aston Martin but what made it memorable were the great lengths that the effects crew put into making sure that while being the rolling armoured arsenal it was made up to be, it had all the devices concealed. OK, yes, the roof panel is obvious but the rear bullet proof screen is framed such, that were you not a James Bond fan or familiar with a DB5, you might notice, but wouldn’t give it a second thought.

The DB5 on display.

Friday the 20th began at 10am and with my pass I was in to the show which was already crowded and being televised on several automotive networks. Shortly after 2pm, lot number 155, DB5 2018/R “the Bond car” was rolled out to the main lot and people flocked before she was to go up for auction.

The machine guns rattled and all the devices were again displayed and many of those gathered about traded cameras. Everyone wanted a picture with 007’s car. At just ten past 3pm, they dimmed the lights, the Bond theme played and with the screen up, the guns blazing and the oh so distinctive exhaust rumbling the DB5 rolled up and onto the turn table.

Then it began with an opening of 900K(USD). In just under seven minutes (appropriate no?) it closed for 1.9 million(USD). The buyer was actually a second party to the new owner who is rumoured to be a collector in Switzerland. CBn is following up on this. We’ll let you what we find.

Elapsed time – 007 minutes.

We can only hope the new owner shares it in some manner with the rest of the world.

All in all, a cool experience to witness and, to a point, be a part of.

Lastly, the question begs of any Bond fan.

If you had the cash, would you have paid 1.9 million?

I think we all know the answer.

Discuss this article in the CBn Forums.

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Carlos Leal Cast in Casino Royale

Carlos Leal

Swiss actor and rapper Carlos Leal told Swiss news agency

SDA (Schweizerische Depeschenagentur) that he has landed a role in Casino Royale: he will play a croupier "It will be a long and important scene with Mr.
Bond himself" he said. 12 days of shooting in Prague are scheduled for him.

Carlos Leal was born in 1969 in Geneva as a son of Spanish immigrants. He is one
of Switzerland’s most popular rappers, singing in French with his band "Sens
Unik",with which he won several gold records in Switzerland and France. Based on
his experiences with music videos, he started taking acting lessons and pursued
an acting career, which is now his main focus. In January 2006, he was awarded
"Best Swiss actor" for playing the lead role in the Swiss drama Snow White.

Casino Royale is the 21st James Bond film produced
by franchise holders Eon Productions. The MGM/Columbia Pictures production
began shooting in January and is due for release worldwide on 17 November 2006.
Starring Daniel Craig as James Bond, it is currently being filmed in the Czech Republic,
the Bahamas, Italy and the UK.

Discuss this news in this thread on the CBn Forums, the largest James Bond forum on the internet.

Casino Royale: Exclusive First Look on Bahamas Locations

Thanks to Harry Wickoff, our new man at Station B, CommanderBond.net
is able to bring you some detailed information on the shooting locations of
Casino Royale on New Providence, Bahamas. Additionally, we’re the first one to
break you actual pictures from the Bahamas set!

Shooting is about to start in a week, after completing shooting
in Prague. The Art & Stage Team Headquarters for the Bahamas crew are located in a little place called Coral Harbour (see ‘C’ on Overview Map).
Around this area, three other locations can be found: an area that has just been
cleared for the production trucks (‘D’), an abandoned resort that currently is
being transformed into a film set (‘E’) and the ‘Royal Bahamas Defence Force’.
In addition, the film crew has taken over a few undeveloped beachfront lots in
the neighbourhood.

EON sign

So here are the detailed descriptions from our man at Station B:

B – Royal Bahamas Defence Force: These guys have a
disused hotel for training on their grounds. This is now heavily fitted out with
large cranes, and a bunch of additional metal frames, about 100ft high. I am
presuming this is for backdrops or stunt stuff, but no real idea yet

C – Art & Stage Team Headquarters: This plot of land is now a production
centre for props, and houses the art and creative teams in trailers. Lots of
construction going on, lots of plants, trees, all sorts!

D – Film Crew Lot:  This lot has just been levelled (it was empty, but
heavily wooded) and will be the base location point for the film crew trailers
for the duration of the Bahamas stuff (approx. 1 month)

Royal Bahamas Defence Force

E – Unused Resort: This appears to have been dressed to resemble a shanty
town type thing, lots of tin roof buildings and a large three story facade of a
building looking out to the ocean

What exactly is going to be filmed in the described spots we yet
have to find out. CBn, however, can provide you with three pictures taken near
the sets: two shots of the little ‘direction’ signs put up by EON Productions,
one which identifies Coral Harbour, and one of the sign on the gate of the mini
resort they are using as a set.

If you have a second look at the overview map, you’ll notice
location ‘A’ – Albany House. According to
Bahamas News,
Albany House is going to feature in Casino Royale. "We are excited to showcase
the property in the upcoming movie, and participate in an event which will again
bring international acclaim to islands of the Bahamas," Jason Callender,
director of the development company said.

Abandoned Resort

Affectionately known as the "house with the long pink wall",
Albany House has attracted a great deal of attention over the past few months as
the new owners Tiger Woods, Ernie Els and the Tavistock Group (owned by Lyford
Cay resident Joe Lewis) gear up to develop an ultra-luxurious and exclusive
residential community. Although representatives of the property would not
comment on their guests, it is rumoured that the estate has been host to
celebrities such as Bono of U2, John Travolta and Celine Dion.

The Albany House was built in the spirit of the Bahamian Great
Houses of the last century. It is situated in the southwestern quarter of New
Providence – the capital island – and lies to the west of 77 acres of land with
3000 feet of beautiful and exclusive sand beach. Looking out over a shallow sea
which varies in colour from transparent blue to turquoise, with its own tranquil
and private beach.

Albany House

According to our own Harry Wickoff, it is not sure
whether the house will be used as accomodation or shooting location – "its
certainly large enough to accommodate both."

More pictures of the locations can be found in the
CBn Image Gallery!

Casino Royale is the 21st James Bond film produced
by franchise holders Eon Productions. The MGM/Columbia Pictures production
began shooting in January and is due for release worldwide on 17 November 2006.
Starring Daniel Craig as James Bond, it is currently being filmed in the Czech Republic,
the Bahamas, Italy and the UK.

Discuss this news in this thread on the CBn Forums, the largest James Bond forum on the internet. Many thanks to Harry Wickoff. Set Pictures taken by Harry Wickoff. Map screenshots taken from Google Earth.

Raymond Benson's 'Sweetie's Diamonds' Now Shipping

Former James Bond author Raymond Benson’s newest original novel, Sweetie’s Diamonds is now shipping from Amazon. The book is in hardcover format and is published as part of the Five Star Mystery Series. Price: $25.95.

This newest novel from Raymond Benson follows his six original James Bond novels, (as well as three James Bond film novelizations and three short-stories) the novels Evil Hours and Face Blind, as well as the author’s two recent Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell adventures.

The synopsis for this suspense thriller (found on amazon and the author’s official site) follows:

Diane Boston lives with her Marfan syndrome-afflicted 13-year-old son in a suburb of Chicago and teaches social studies at the high school, with the students even voting her Teacher of the Year. But she has some dark secrets. Her ex-husband Greg always suspected that Diane kept things from him, but he has no idea just how right he is. When Diane’s son, David, finds a box of unmarked videotapes and watches one of them out of curiosity, he discovers that it’s a hardcore adult movie from the late 1970s. The star, Lucy Luv, was an actress that mysteriously disappeared in 1980. Some suspected she’d been murdered. David recognizes the actress as his mother. Then, somehow, the news of Diane’s involvement in the adult film business hits the streets and causes chaos at her school and at home. It also attracts the attention of the West Coast porn czar who has ties with organized crime. Apparently when Lucy Luv disappeared, she took a cache of stolen diamonds with her. This is the catalyst for a non-stop roller-coaster ride of suspense and mystery that involves the dark side of the adult film industry, the mob, kidnapping, and murder.

Raymond Benson’s ‘Sweetie’s Diamonds’

Buy ‘Sweetie’s Diamonds’

Buy ‘Sweetie’s Diamonds’ from Amazon.co.uk (Currently ‘not in stock’)

Buy ‘Sweetie’s Diamonds’ from Amazon.com

Discuss this new novel in this thread on the CBn Forums, the largest James Bond forum on the internet.

CASINO ROYALE: SCRIPT REVIEW ONLINE

It seems ‘LatinoReview’ have acquired a copy of the script of the latest James Bond film Casino Royale. Claiming to hold a copy of the 112 page second set of revisions by Paul Haggis dated December 13, 2005.

At the demands of MGM/Eon, we cannot link to LatinoReview’s review.

Casino Royale is the 21st James Bond film produced
by franchise holders Eon Productions. The MGM/Columbia Pictures production
began shooting in January and is due for release worldwide on 17 November 2006.
Starring Daniel Craig as James Bond, it is currently being filmed in the Czech Republic,
the Bahamas, Italy and the UK.

Discuss this news in this thread on the CBn Forums, the largest James Bond forum on the internet. Many thanks to forum user “Shrublands” for the tip!

Bond Girls Are Forever In July 2006

Following up the very well-recieved An Evening With George Lazenby event from 2005, BondStars.Com is planning an all-new event for 2006: Bond Girls Are Forever.

Set at Pinewood Studios on Sunday 2 July 2006, (exact times to be confirmed at a later date) the event will spotlight the many women from the James Bond films. Tickets are approximately £85.

The event will include: welcoming and afternoon refreshments, a souvenir event programme, a Pinewood Studios tour, special guest signings, a James Bond memorabilia dealers room, a B-B-Q lunch, and a Q&A on stage with film clips.

According to BondStars, the following guests have been confirmed:

• Britt Ekland – Mary Goodnight in The Man With The Golden Gun
• Zena Marshall – Miss Taro in Dr No
• Eunice Gayson – Sylvia Trench in Dr No & From Russia With Love
• Shirley Eaton – Jill Masterson in Goldfinger
• Tania Mallet – Tilly Masterson in Goldfinger
• Maryam d’Abo – Kara Milovy in The Living Daylights
• Deborah Moore – Air Hostess in Die Another Day & Goldeneye: The Secret Life Of Ian Fleming
• Caroline Bliss – Miss Moneypenny in The Living Daylights & Licence To Kill
• Golda Offenheim – Production Secretary on Dr No through to The Spy Who Loved Me
• Pauline Hume – (daughter of Bond cinematographer Alan Hume)
  Maurice Binder’s assistant from the mid 1980s, assisting him in the design and editing of
  opening titles to The Living Daylights and Licence To Kill.
• Also title designer for Goldeneye: The Secret Life Of Ian Fleming; and end title designer on Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough and Die Another Day.
• The “Bond Girl” whose job it is to say ‘James Bond Will Return’ !

Fans can inquire about the event on the BondStars website, where further news and ticket sales will be updated at a later date.

To discuss this Bond Girls event visit this thread on the CBn Forums, the largest James Bond forum in the world.

'007 A Literary Dossier' Coming In February

Once again, there is a new James Bond book on the horizon. 007 A Literary Dossier, by author Paul Michael Kane will cover the literary 007 adventures – all 32 of them – from Ian Fleming, Kingsley Amis, John Gardner, and Raymond Benson. The book will start, naturally, with Fleming’s Casino Royale and conclude with Benson’s The Man With The Red Tattoo.

32 pages in total length, fans will be able to purchase the book at the 2006 New York Comic-Con, which is set at the Jacob Javits Center on 24-26 February 2006. The book will be released by PMK’s Imagination, according to the author’s official website.

Keep watching the official website for further news.

Discuss this James Bond book release in this thread on the CBn Forums, the largest James Bond forum on the internet.