Campbell Close to Signing Aboard Bond 21

Despite a reference in The Hollywood Reporter last week claiming Martin Campbell has “signed on” to direct Bond 21 [MGM: Final bows], CBn has learned that details are still being worked out and the GoldenEye director has not yet committed to the project.

However, the chances that Campbell will be the director of Bond 21 are excellent and it may be just a matter of time before Campbell and Eon close the deal.

Campbell has just returned from shooting The Legend of Zorro (a sequel to his 1998 hit The Mask of Zorro) in Mexico. The Zorro sequel is currently in post-production and is due for release in Nov. 2005. This would allow Campbell to comfortably move onto Bond 21 as his next project. At the moment, Bond 21 is aiming for a January ’06 production start.

As CBn first reported in July, Bond 21 is based on Ian Fleming’s first James Bond novel Casino Royale. Still unclear is whether Pierce Brosnan will return (there is a hot rumour that Brosnan is back in talks) or if Eon will go ahead with plans to introduce a “younger” 007 in this 21st installment.

Keep watching CBn for the latest news on Bond 21.

To discuss this news visit this thread in CBn’s Bond 21 Forums.

Related Articles:

• Martin Campbell To Helm Bond 21?
• Bond 21 on Hold, MGM Confirms No Bond in ’05

And The Winner Is… Bond, James Bond

The James Bond 007 series has become one of the most well-known and popular movie franchises in the world. The films themselves have provided audiences on numerous continents the chance to sit back, escape the daily troubles of life, and take a wild ride with a most famous British agent. Thus, with the series spanning over 40 years, awards have often played a part in the development of these films.

The Academy Awards have played an integral part in shaping the popularity of these films. Many of the James Bond films have been nominated, and some have won. 1964 saw the nomination and the win of Norman Wanstall for Best Special Effects for Goldfinger. One year later, the monumental Thunderball won Best Visual Effects for John Stears, much to his delight.

The glossy 1967 Bond spoof, Casino Royale won a nomination for Best Song: “The Look of Love” by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. A few years later, 1971’s Diamonds Are Forever won a nomination for Best Sound.

Roger Moore’s first James Bond film, Live and Let Die won a Best Song nomination for it’s popular title song for Paul McCartney and wife, Linda. In what many considered to be the best Bond film in quite some time, 1977 saw The Spy Who Loved Me taking an impressive three nominations. They were for Best Song: title song “Nobody Does it Better” by composer Marvin Hamlisch and Carole Bayer Sager. Best Original Score by Marvin Hamlisch. And finally for the spectacular Art Direction by Ken Adam, Peter Lamont, and others.

1979 saw the out of this world Moonraker, which won a nomination for it’s awe-inspiring Visual Effects, to Derek Meddings and Paul Wilson — who would continue to work on the James Bond films. The next James Bond film, For Your Eyes Only also took a nomination in the Best Song category for Composer Bill Conti and lyricist Mick Leeson.

Most James Bond films are accompanied with a title song that plays over the main title opening sequence. A large amount of them have charted on the Billboard charts, with several soaring for the coveted #1 spot, and one of them finally reaching it.

In The Roger Moore era, the title songs for two of his films: Live and Let Die (Paul McCartney and Wings) and The Spy Who Loved Me (Carly Simon) respectively charting at the #2 spot, the highest for the series up that point. Moore’s final film, A View to a Kill finally had the honor of a title song, brilliantly crafted by Duran Duran, reaching the #1 spot.

Other title songs such as “For Your Eyes Only” (#4), “Goldfinger” (#8), “The Living Daylights” (#5), “Die Another Day” (#8) and many others have charted as well.

To discuss this article visit this thread on the CBn Forums.

Young Bondmania!

Last month CBn provided details of the massive £50,000 promotional campaign for SilverFin, the first Young Bond novel by Charlie Higson. But a picture is worth a thousand words, so today CBn reveals the first photos of SilverFin promotional material and hype!

It appears Ian Fleming Publications and Puffin Books are going all out to make the launch of the Young Bond series the Bond event of 2005.

SilverFin flyer ---- SilverFin trade ad ---- SilverFin display

SilverFin poster ---- SilverFin bus ad ---- SilverFin proof

Set in the 1930s, SilverFin sees a 14-year-old James Bond investigating mysterious goings-on in a remote Scottish castle where a wealthy American is conducting some very disturbing experiments.

There are a total of five books planned in the Young Bond series.

Keep watching CBn for the latest news on SilverFin and the Young Bond series.

To discuss this news visit this thread in the CBn forums.

Pre-order the UK edition of SilverFin (March 3, 2005)

Pre-order the U.S. hardcover edition of SilverFin (April 27, 2005)

Pre-order the SilverFin audio book (March 3, 2005)

Roger Moore Asks People To Help

Former James Bond actor and UNICEF ambassador Sir Roger Moore has added his voice to the international appeal for aid to help the people of Asia.

Sir Roger, who calls for help via his official website, says that people should not forget the plight of tsunami victims while they are celebrating the New Year. He said: ‘As we celebrate the New Year, it is hard to ignore the humanitarian disaster unfolding in Asia.’

‘Hundreds of thousands of children are in need. In need of finding their parents, their families. In need of access to clean water. In need of safety. In need of help. "Unicef needs your support to help these children and make a difference to their lives.’

‘Your donations to Unicef will help make that difference in the New Year.’

If you want to help, you can go to supportunicef.org and make a donation.

'OO7' Magazine Confirms Split From JBIFC

As CBn first reported last week, ‘OO7’ Magazine and the James Bond International Fan Club will be going their separate ways in 2005. Today, ‘OO7’ Magazine editor and publisher Graham Rye issued a PRESS RELEASE confirming the split.

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
5th January 2005

‘OO7’ MAGAZINE splits from
‘The James Bond International Fan Club Limited’

After two non-eventful years under the umbrella of the ‘The James Bond International Fan Club Limited’, Graham Rye, ‘OO7’ Magazine editor & publisher (and the Creative Director of the original ‘The James Bond OO7 International Fan Club & Archive’), has decided to part company with the new club formed by Yorkshire businessman and Bond fan David Black.

“Unfortunately during the two years ‘OO7’ Magazine has been supplied to David Black’s new organisation nothing has been done by his new limited company to promote or market the new club in any way,” revealed a disappointed Rye. “Our financial agreement had also become unsatisfactory, so I felt a New Year was the right time to break away and steer ‘OO7’ Magazine back in a more professional direction in order to dramatically increase its circulation, while also protecting its strongly independent editorial policy of writing and picturing whatever we want whenever we want.”
Subscribe at www.007magazine.co.uk.

“Obviously ‘OO7’ Magazine and David Black’s new JBIFC publication will be in direct competition, and no doubt this will prove an entertaining ‘battle of the Bond mags’ for Bond observers everywhere.”

The James Bond International Fan Club Limited under the Chairmanship of David Black is not connected in any way with ‘The James Bond OO7 International Fan Club & Archive’, or its publications and events, published and organised from 1979 to 2001 by Graham Rye and his team and contributors.

New 1:18 Scale Bond Cars Coming This Year

As CBn first reported last February, RC2/JoyRide Studios has picked up the license for James Bond 1:18 scale Die Cast vehicles previously held by AUTOArt and The Beanstalk Group. Now JoyRide has revealed six new Bond vehicles for release in 2005. Among the cars will be a 1:18 scale Aston Martin DB5. This will be welcome news to collectors as the AUTOArt DB5 has been selling for upwards of $200 on eBay.

The JoyRide 1:18 scale Bond vehicles announced are:

• Aston Martin DB5 from Goldfinger (Estimated arrival January 2005) – This is a 1:18 scale die-cast replica of the famous Aston Martin DB5 as seen in the James Bond films Goldfinger (1964), THUNDERBALL (1965), GoldenEye (1995), and Tomorrow Never Dies (1997). The DB5 was last released in 1:18 by AUTOart. This fine collectible features the highest quality construction and fantastic attention to detail.

• Jaguar XKR Roadster from Die Another Day (Estimated arrival January 2005) – This is a 1:18 scale die-cast replica of the Jaguar XKR Roadster from the 2002 James Bond movie Die Another Day starring Pierce Brosnan. This was the car driven by the villain Zao. The Jaguar was previously released in 1:18 by The Beanstalk Group. Features the highest quality construction and fantastic attention to detail.

• Ford Mustang Mach 1 from Diamonds Are Forever (Estimated arrival February 2005) – This is a 1:18 scale die-cast replica of the Mustang Mach 1 from the 1971 James Bond film Diamonds Are Forever starring Sean Connery. This is the first appearance of this Bond car in 1:18 scale. Features the highest quality construction and fantastic attention to detail.

• Chevorlet Corvette from A View To A Kill (Estimated arrival April 2005) – This is a 1:18 scale die-cast replica of the Corvette from the 1985 James Bond film A View To A Kill starring Roger Moore. Fans may recall this was the car driven by Russian agent Pola Ivanova in San Francisco. This is the first appearance of this Bond car in 1:18 scale. Features the highest quality construction and fantastic attention to detail.

• Aston Martin Vanquish from Die Another Day (Estimated arrival June 2005) – This is a 1:18 scale die-cast replica of the Aston Martin Vanquish V12 from the 2002 James Bond movie Die Another Day starring Pierce Brosnan. The Vanquish was previously released in 1:18 by The Beanstalk Group. Features the highest quality construction and fantastic attention to detail.

• Lotus Esprit from The Spy Who Loved Me (Estimated arrival August 2005) – This is a 1:18 scale die-cast replica of the white Lotus Esprit from the 1977 James Bond classic The Spy Who Loved Me starring Roger Moore. It was previously released in 1:18 by AUTOart. Features the highest quality construction and fantastic attention to detail.

The vehicles will retail for $39.99 and can be pre-ordered at Entertainment Earth.

You can discuss this news here in the CBn Forums.

Related Articles

• Toy Fair 2004: Carrera to Release 1:32 DB5 and Ford Mustang

"It's Only A Number."

CBn recently looked at the cinematic 00-agents that are featured in several of the James Bond 007 films. A great many 00-agents are also featured in the many novels by Ian Fleming and continuation novelists that followed after him. The 00 number itself, is awarded to those who had to kill an enemy in ‘cold blood.’

001

James Bond fans had to wait a long time to finally see the appearance of 001 in the series (has yet to feature in a Bond film), but Raymond Benson finally placed him in the pages of Doubleshot.

002

In James Bond: The Authorized Biography of 007, John Pearson informs fans that 002 was rescued by James Bond from the Portuguese police in Macau, in 1954.

003

In James Bond: The Authorized Biography of 007, John Pearson also tells fans that 003 was badly injured once.

003 1/2

In The Adventures of James Bond Junior 003 1/2, R. D. Mascott tells us about the exciting life of Agent 007’s nephew.

004

004 is based in the UK at the start of Raymond Benson’s The Facts of Death. He also briefly is mentioned near the beginning of The Man With The Red Tattoo.

005

Mentioned in Colonel Sun and The Facts of Death he is Stuart Thomas, head of Station G (Greece), before he eventually retires.

006

006 is an ex-Royal Marine, who is mentioned in Ian Fleming’s On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.

007

You know the name… you know the number.

008

According to James Bond: The Authorized Biography of 007, the agent with the 008 number died in 1951. In Ian Fleming’s Moonraker his name is Bill, a junior agent to James Bond, rescued from Berlin. 008 is also mentioned in Goldfinger, when discussing Bond’s assignment.

009

In Ian Fleming’s Thunderball, 009 is mentioned as the next in command after James Bond 007. According to James Bond: The Authorized Biography of 007, he died in Hungary in 1955.

0010

Raymond Benson introduces 0010, finally, in The Man With The Red Tattoo.

0011

In Moonraker, he has been lost in Singapore. And died in 1951 according to James Bond: The Authorized Biography of 007.

0012

0012 has an important report stolen from him and is killed in Raymond Benson’s The World is Not Enough.

Brosnan Back in 007 Talks?

In the latest newsletter from the James Bond International Fan Club, chairman David Black offers this cryptic new rumour regarding the seemingly never-ending saga of Pierce Brosnan and Bond 21.

Although the media reports that Pierce has had enough of the ongoing Bond debate and ruled himself out – I have heard rumours that some further negotiations may have just taken place and he may still be back for the new film due for release in 2006. Don’t rule him out just yet – that’s all I can say on the subject!!

This is not the first time CBn has heard this tantalizing rumour, but whether there is any truth in it remains to be seen.

Keep watching CBn for the latest news on Bond 21.

To discuss this news visit this thread in the CBn Forums.
Thanks to Blofeld’s Barber for the tip.

JBIFC To Produce New Club Magazine in '05

David Black of the James Bond International Fan Club announced today that after 25 years the club will no longer distribute ‘OO7’ Magazine to its members. Instead, the JBIFC will “start production of a brand new club magazine for 2005.”

‘OO7’ Magazine #45 (which CBn offered an exclusive sneak peak at last week) will be the last issue sent to club members.

David promises the new club magazine “will be produced to the highest standard and feature some of the top writers who specialize in the Bond franchise.” He also announced that the cost of membership will be reduced from £49.50 (UK) to £29.95. Those who renewed at the old rate since November 1, 2004 will have their membership extended by a proportional amount.

But fans (and subscribers) of ‘OO7’ Magazine need not worry. ‘OO7’ Magazine will continue to be published independent of any fan club by its long-time editor and chief, Graham Rye, and will continue to offer never-before-seen material from the ‘OO7’ Magazine Archive, together with interviews and articles relating to both 007’s big screen exploits and his literary heritage. Recently Graham launched an all new ‘OO7’ Magazine website where you can subscribe and buy back issues.

In the era of the internet it was feared the “fanzine” may vanish. But now it looks like Bond fans will have TWO quality quarterly publications devoted to all things Bond, James Bond.

To discuss this news visit this thread in the CBn Forums.
Thanks to Blofeld’s Barber for the tip.

Related articles:

• 25 Years of ‘OO7’: A Complete Bibliography
• JBIFC Celebrates 25th Anniversary Today
• ‘OO7’ Magazine #45

Spend 2005 with James Bond

Let OO7 MAGAZINE see you through the year!

This new exclusive 2005 calendar (size: 420mm x 297mm) features 12 fantastic shots of each of the five James Bond actors at their best, as originally appeared on the front covers and center spreads of OO7 Magazine during the last 25 years.

Price £12 / $25 / €20 each
(includes postage & handling)

To order now, visit: 007Magazine.co.uk

To discuss this product visit this thread on the CBn Forums.
Photographs courtesy of Graham Rye and the ‘OO7’ Magazine archive.