Helicopters fly through Tower Bridge for Olympics

Two helicopters have flown through Tower Bridge in London, filming footage  that is believed to appear in the James Bond feature to open the Olympic games this summer.

Is this the helicopter Daniel Craig will climb down from for London 2012?

Yesterday evening, a helicopter with a camera mounted on the front followed a second sporting the colours of the Union Jack through Tower Bridge in central London.

The Port of London Authority has confirmed the filming was related to the upcoming Olympic Games.

This news fits in well with the recent rumours that Daniel Craig would be opening the London 2012 Olympic Games by climbing down a rope ladder attached to a helicopter, hovering above the Olympic stadium.

Filming with Daniel Craig has already taken place at Buckingham Palace, with a cameo from Her Majesty the Queen also. The feature is being directed by Danny Boyle.

Thanks to @ash_matadeen for the tip off.

Christopher Nolan keen to direct a Bond movie

Christopher Nolan has expressed a very serious interest in directing a future Bond installment. The Batman director recently told Empire Magazine that he has already met with the Bond producers, but stated that “It would have to be the right situation and the right time in their cycle of things.”

It is no secret that Nolan is a very big Bond fan, and has claimed at the 50 year old franchise has influenced his work on the Batman Begins trilogy, as well as Inception. (Nolan even mentioned that the finale of Inception owed a lot to ‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service’, the 6th Bond movie in the series, with one time Bond George Lazenby)

This hasn’t been the first time Nolan has expressed his desire to helm a Bond movie. The release of Inception in 2010 even sparked rumours that Nolan would be directing the then titled ‘Bond 23’, in which Nolan showed an interest. Will the Producers give Nolan a shot? This isn’t the first time that a director as big as Nolan has wanted a crack at Bond. Quentin Tarantino and Steven Spielberg have both expressed their interest in telling their own James Bond story. Would you like Nolan in the directors chair for a future Bond movie? Join the CBn forums today and tell us what you think.

To help you make up your mind, ‘The Dark Knight Rises’, the long awaited conclusion to Nolans Batman Trilogy will hit theatres July 20th.

Daniel Craig talks Skyfall for Total Film

The next issue of Total Film will give Bond fans some solace next month as ‘Skyfall’ fronts the Summer issue.  Daniel Craig has given an interview on his 3rd James Bond outing, which is for the time being, strictly confidential. But for now, let CBn tease you with a little snippet…

Licence to thrill as James Bond shoots back onto Magazine Stands.

When asked how himself and director Sam Mendes decided on Skyfalls tone, Craig said.

“I reread the books, he read the books, we watched the movies, we talked about the Roger Moore movies, the Sean Connery movies, the whole thing. There’s a sort of tone that’s in all those movies that you can’t try to recreate. If you do, then it’s a pastiche. Neither Sam nor I want to make a pastiche of an older movie. But you have flavours of it.”

On prepping Skyfall during the MGM crisis, Craig said:

“The MGM thing was a silver lining situation where, for the first time, we had a lot of time to work on the script. We weren’t publicly allowed to say we were doing anything, but we were secretly meeting. It wasn’t full bore until everything was given the green light, but we were very optimistic it would happen.”

Little else is known about the contents of the article, but unseen pictures have been promised. So make sure you pick up the next issue of Total Film, to read the rest of the interview and get unseen global access on Skyfall and James Bonds golden anniversary.

‘An Evening with Sir Roger Moore’ UK Tour

One of the most popular James Bond actors is set to take to the stage this year, as he sets to promote his new book ‘Bond on Bond’.

Sir Roger Moore will begin his tour at the Malvern Theatre on Sunday, October 7, and then plays one-night dates at the Rose at Kingston in Surrey (October 14); the Mayflower Theatre in Southampton (October 16); the Bournemouth Pavilion (October 17); Bath’s Theatre Royal (a matinee on October 19); and the Anvil in Basingstoke (October 23). The tour wraps up at the Theatre Royal in Norwich on October 26.

Interviewed by Gareth Roberts, Moore will be part of a Q&A session, discussing his tenure as James Bond, his roles in The Saint and The Persuaders and will be giving an insight into his remarkable charity work for UNICEF.

Moore played James Bond for a total of 7 movies, from 1973 – 1985, and is, to this day, the longest serving actor in the role. ‘Bond on Bond’ will feature Moore’s thoughts on the flashy gadgets, fast cars and evil villains that made the Bond series so iconic. It will also serve as a part memoir as Moore reminisces about his own time in the role. The book is set to be released October 4th, coinciding with the franchises 50th Anniversary.

‘007 Legends’ Mission One is Moonraker

Moonraker has been officialy confirmed as the first mission to be included in 007 Legends. The game is set to be released on 19 October 2012, and includes 5 more 007 adventures, concluding with the lastest Bond movie, Skyfall. The latter only being available as a free DLC pack once the movie is released.  007 Legends brings together 6 Bond movies with an overarching storyline bringing together the most classic villains, gadgets and locations. It is still unknown whether Daniel Craig will be supplying his voice and likness for the game, but since Skyfall filming is in the can, expect some kind of announcement soon.

What other missions would you like to be included? Join the CBn forums today and share your views.

New Skyfall image released

A new image from the latest James Bond epic ‘Skyfall’ was released last night. The image is thought to be from the latest issue of Total Film, which is featured extensively in the next issue. The image shows a suited Bond, brooding in the National Gallery, a location which is featured in the 23rd James Bond adventure. Make sure you all keep your eyes peeled for the July issue of Total Film, as more unseen pictures are set to be released.

Skyfall is released October 26th 2012.

Thanks to Marketto007 for the alert.

Skyfall videolog: Costume

In the latest official videolog, costume designer, Jany Temime, talks about how she worked with Tom Ford on suiting up 007 for Skyfall.

Omega announces Skyfall Seamaster watch

Omega are to produce a special edition Seamaster watch to conincide with the release of Skyfall in October.

5,007 of the Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M SKYFALL watches will be produced, which feature the 007 logo in place of the number 7 on the watchface.

continue reading…

Merry Christmas from Commanderbond.net

Sony will return

Sony Pictures and MGM announced a distribution partnership today that includes future James Bond films, notably Bond 23 and presumably (at least) Bond 24. Also included in the deal is Daniel Craig’s next project The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo as well as a remake of Total Recall, both of which MGM will now co-finance.

“After successfully working on the re-launch of the James Bond franchise with Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace, we could not be more proud or privileged to continue our association with Barbara Broccoli, Michael G. Wilson, Daniel Craig, and the talented teams at EON and MGM.”
-Amy Pascal

For more inside news on the deal check out Deadline’s writeup. MGM’s press release below.

Press Release

LOS ANGELES, CA., April 13, 2011 – Sony Pictures Entertainment will remain in the James Bond business after reaching an agreement with MGM to co-finance and theatrically market and distribute Bond 23 worldwide, it was announced today by MGM Co-Chairmen and Chief Executive Officers Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum and Sony Pictures Chairman and CEO Michael Lynton and Co-Chairman Amy Pascal. Sony will release the next film in this iconic franchise on November 9, 2012 throughout the world except for select International territories, where MGM will directly oversee distribution.

Sony Pictures and MGM look forward to Sony Pictures co-financing and distributing Bond 24 on a similar basis.

Additionally, MGM and Sony Pictures have agreed to explore co-financing opportunities on future motion pictures produced by each of the respective studios for the next five years.

The two studios have collaborated directly and indirectly in recent years on numerous films, including Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace, 21, Yours, Mine and Ours, The Pink Panther, and the forthcoming Kevin James comedy Zookeeper.

The announcement of the agreement to distribute Bond 23 adds another high-profile title to Sony’s 2012 slate, which also includes Men in Black 3 and The Amazing Spider-Man, as well as I Hate You, Dad, starring Adam Sandler, Here Comes the Boom, starring Kevin James, 21 Jump Street, Resident Evil 5 and Total Recall.

“Sony Pictures is the ideal studio partner for us as MGM re-enters the filmmaking business. We have longstanding relationships with Michael and Amy and look forward to what promises to be a prosperous future together,” said Barber and Birnbaum.

“In addition to working together on Bond, this deal expands our relationship with MGM as we explore co-financing opportunities on other high-profile projects,” Lynton said. “Gary and Roger are incredibly thoughtful and experienced leaders who are outstanding creative executives and respected moviemakers. While we are excited to be back in the Bond business, we also look forward to future collaborations and I am confident that this agreement will be long-term, lucrative, and beneficial to both studios.”

“After successfully working on the re-launch of the James Bond franchise with Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace, we could not be more proud or privileged to continue our association with Barbara Broccoli, Michael G. Wilson, Daniel Craig, and the talented teams at EON and MGM,” said Pascal.

When Sony released Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace, the films had record-high grosses for the Bond franchise, with Casino Royale taking in $599 million in worldwide ticket sales and Quantum of Solace generating $577 million.