Daniel Craig approached for Cowboys and Aliens lead

Daniel Craig is currently in talks with DreamWorks and Jon Favreau to play the lead role in the upcoming Cowboys and Aliens.

Variety reports that the 007 star has been offered the role of Jake Johnson after fellow actor Robert Downey Jr. just recenty dropped out.

The project, which is based off of a 2006 graphic novel, focuses on a group of Apache Indians and Western settlers who set aside their differences when an alien spaceship crash-lands in their city.

Representatives for Craig said it was still too early in negotiations to state for certain whether or not he’ll be starring in the film.

Cowboys and Aliens is directed by Iron Man‘s Jon Favreau and is scripted by Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman and Damon Lindelof. The film is reportedly aiming for a summer 2011 release date, which may interfere with Craig’s schedule for his third go as James Bond in Bond 23, depending on how the MGM situation plays out.

Stay tuned.

As always, keep turning to the CommanderBond.net main page and our Discussion Forums for all the latest news from the world of James Bond.

Historical Dictionary of Ian Fleming's World of Intelligence: Fact and Fiction available now

Literary James Bond fans in the UK can now order Nigel West’s new book, Historical Dictionary of Ian Fleming’s World of Intelligence: Fact and Fiction.

Fusing together entries on Fleming’s famous 00-agent James Bond and detailed information on cases of espionage, real-life spies, MI5, SIS, CIA, KGB, and others, Historical Dictionary of Ian Fleming’s World of Intelligence: Fact and Fiction asks the question: What proportion of Fleming’s output is authentic, and what comes directly from the his imagination?

Released in late 2009 in the US, Historical Dictionary of Ian Fleming’s World of Intelligence: Fact and Fiction is published in hardback by The Scarecrow Press and retails for £49.95 / $80.00.

Amazon order links follow at the end of this article.

Twelve novels and nine short stories define one of the most extraordinary fictional characters of all time, creating the basis for the most successful movie series in cinematographic history, watched by more than half the world’s population. The single person probably more responsible than any other for glamorizing the murky world of espionage is Ian Fleming, the creator of James Bond, who himself lived a remarkable double life of spy and writer. Everyone has an opinion on why 007 became so successful, but one possible explanation is the ingenious formula of fact, fiction, and sheer fantasy. Certainly the author drew on friends and places he knew well to provide the backdrop for his drama, but what proportion of his output is authentic, and what comes directly from the author’s imagination?

These questions and more are examined in the Historical Dictionary of Ian Fleming’s World of Intelligence: Fact and Fiction. This is done through a chronology, an introduction, a bibliography, and hundreds of cross-referenced dictionary entries on actual cases of espionage, real-life spies, MI5, SIS, CIA, KGB, and others. It also contains entries on Ian Fleming’s novels and short stories, family and friends, his employers and colleagues, and other notable characters.

• Order Historical Dictionary of Ian Fleming’s World of Intelligence: Fact and Fiction from Amazon.co.uk
• Order Historical Dictionary of Ian Fleming’s World of Intelligence: Fact and Fiction from Amazon.com

Keep your eyes on the CommanderBond.net main page and our Discussion Forums for all the latest literary James Bond news.

Spywise.net's A Decade in Review featuring James Bond and more

Spywise.net is delighted to announce the publication of four new articles, the first of our “Decade In Review” features discussing the best espionage-oriented projects released since 2000.

Without question, the Crown Jewels of this series can be found in our “Spies on Film” files:

A Decade in Review: The Best Spy Films, Part I (2000-2004)

A Decade in Review: The Best Spy Films, Part II (2004-2009)

The over 50 pages of insights, opinions, and analysis were written by an international cast of experts from the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, and Japan. Craig Arthur, Wesley Britton, David E. Foster, Anders Frejdh, Amanda Ohlke, and Paul Rowlands each discuss movies you’d expect—the Bourne trilogy, Casino Royale—movies you likely never heard of, and likely some controversial choices.

Then, in the “Spies in History and Literature” files, you’ll find:

A Decade in Review: The Best Spy Literature, 2001-2009

A slightly different team, Craig Arthur, Wesley Britton, Mark T. Hooker, Amanda Ohlke, and Bill Raetz suggest the best spy books of this decade, both novels and non-fiction histories and biographies. Compare your choices with theirs and see if you have some catch-up to do! (Or perhaps some ideas about what we missed . . .)

Finally—for now—the last new article is in the “Spies on Television and Radio” files:

A Decade in Review: What We Brits Saw And What We Didn’t (2000-2009) by Ian Dickerson

This very lively and personable essay is very different from the other overviews. Here, the longtime Honorary Secretary of “The Saint Club” shares his observations on what U.K. “telly” watchers got to see and why they missed some of the better shows we got in the states.

Coming soon: Wes Britton, Craig Arthur, and David Foster will present the “Top 10” TV programs we’ve seen since 2000. In addition, Armstrong Sabien is preparing his overview of the best spy comics and graphic novels of the decade. In the meantime, the film overviews alone should keep you busy—and hopefully find you matching your own perspectives with fellow fans and experts from around the globe. Let us know what you think—the articles are ready for you as PDF files at www.Spywise.net.

As always, keep turning to the CommanderBond.net main page and our Discussion Forums for all the latest news from the world of James Bond.

Low bids for MGM cloud fate of studio

Wall Street Journal – First-round bids are due by the end of the week in the auction of debt-laden film studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and nearly a dozen prominent Hollywood and media names have submitted offers, according to people familiar with the matter.

Among the companies making offers or weighing bids for the storied studio are Time Warner Inc.; Lions Gate Entertainment Corp.; News Corp., owner of The Wall Street Journal; Summit Entertainment; Liberty Media Corp.; CBS Corp.; AT&T Inc. and Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries Ltd., these people said. They said former News Corp. President Peter Chernin and former Yahoo Inc. Chairman and Chief Executive Terry Semel also have expressed interest.

The bids are in the $2 billion range, the people said, far below the $3.7 billion MGM owes its bank lenders. Some could come in below $1.5 billion, they said.

Representatives of the bidders declined to comment or couldn’t be reached. An MGM spokeswoman declined to comment.

The low offers and MGM’s complex capital structure could force the studio to seek protection from its creditors in bankruptcy court, and try to sell itself while in Chapter 11 proceedings, people familiar with the situation said.

MGM said in November it would seek a possible sale as it struggled with looming debt payments. The studio, which has enlisted turnaround specialist Stephen Cooper to help it restructure, faces debts of $3.7 billion stemming from a 2005 buyout and a $250 million revolving credit facility maturing in April.

The auction of MGM has limped along in part due to limited financial and operational disclosures from the studio, people involved in the process said. In particular, the potential bidders are eager to see more detail about the studio’s distribution rights, known as “avails” in Hollywood parlance.

MGM is owned by a group including private-equity firms Providence Equity Partners and TPG Inc. and media companies Sony Corp. and Comcast Corp., which bought it for $2.85 billion and assumed $2 billion in debt as part of the deal.

MGM released just one film last year, a remake of the 1980s musical Fame, which underperformed at the box office. The studio’s most valuable asset is its film library, which includes some 4,000 titles, including the James Bond and Pink Panther franchises. MGM also owns a piece of the two Hobbit films to be produced by Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson.

MGM’s library generated more than $450 million in cash in 2008, from the sale of licenses for DVDs and TV deals, according to people familiar with the situation. But amid a decline in the home-video market, it now generates roughly $280 million a year in cash, these people said.

MGM faces key deadlines in coming months, including a forbearance agreement with lenders that expires Jan. 31 and a $250 million revolving line of credit that matures in early April. People familiar with the situation said the forbearance agreement should get a routine extension, and that the studio is expected to be restructured or sold before April.

While MGM will likely get many bids, it could still be forced into bankruptcy, said people close to MGM, its lenders, and potential buyers. Its lender group, led by J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., includes some 100 investors, many of them hedge funds.

It could prove difficult to get so many stakeholders to agree to a transaction. But in bankruptcy court, federal law allows companies to force dissident debt holders to go along with a deal so long as a certain number of other creditors agree.

If MGM decides not to pursue a sale, some other options remain on the table for the beleaguered studio, including a proposal from investment fund Qualia Capital, run by Amir Malin and Ken Schapiro, to restructure the company, convert its debt to equity, and infuse it with enough cash to keep it as a going concern and making movies.

Stay up-to-date with all the latest James Bond news by visiting CommanderBond.net’s main page and our Discussion Forums.

The Sun stirs up 3D rumours for Bond 23

With the news feed and rumour mill beginning to kick into gear for Bond 23, The Sun has chimed in with their own exclusive of sorts for the forthcoming James Bond film.

According to the paper—which can always be counted upon for some of the rather outlandish rumours and reports when it comes to 007—Bond 23 is being lined up as a 3D picture.

A source for the paper stated: ‘The 23rd Bond movie has been put back a few months and that has given them the time to prepare to film it in 3D. Everyone involved in the project is really excited because it will take the franchise in a new direction.’

While the actual chances of this happening are an entirely different matter, it is still fun to sit back and wonder about the possibilities.

As always, stay up-to-date with all the latest James Bond coverage by visiting the CommanderBond.net main page and our Discussion Forums.

Tomorrow Never Dies Game Walkthrough – Stealth Boat, Ha Long Bay (10)

Tomorrow Never Dies (1999)

Mission 10: Stealth Boat, Ha Long Bay

One final mission to go… Starting this mission off, fire at the barrels to collect a Med Kit and then tak the door to the left. Take out the guard just beyond this door and then take a left after moving through the hallway. You’ll soon encounter another a few more guards until you finally reach the Comm room at the end of this section. Head in and eliminate the guard posted here before pressing CIRCLE at the console to contact M and learn of Wai Lin’s capture. Objective 1 complete.

After this is done, head back into the hallway, eliminating the newly arrived guards and collecting an office key from one of them. Take the first right which takes you to a conference room. Around the corner is another room with a guard there as well as a Med Kit, some armor and a key—grab all of these and then head back out into the hallway. Head all the way to the beginning room (watch out for guards along the way). Once you arrive back, this time head through the other door and follow along the hallway, eliminating all who cross your path. Proceed through the door at the end and then through one more, stocking up on supplies.

Through an additional door and this time take a right. Past some crates in front of you awaits Mr. Stamper, Elliot Carver’s top henchman. He is armed with a GL 40 Grenade Launcher, but relatively easy to deal with as you as you dodge the shots coming at you. Use the cover provided and you shouldn’t have too much trouble at all. Once he is eliminated, head over to where he was and grab the Med Kits, his GL 40 and the cell key.

Take the door at the other side of the room and press CIRCLE at the cellblock to free Wai Lin. Objective 2 complete. Be sure to shoot at the barrels in the next cell to collect a golden 007 logo after you have freed Wai Lin.

Exit the cellblock area and take out the new guards that have appeared in the hallway. Take the door marked Exit and then another door that leads back to the starting room of the mission. Take the other door here and proceed through the hallway untl you reach a door marked MCON 22-D. Proceed through, eliminating enemies until you reach the large missile room. Take out all of the guards posted on all levels of this room. Once they are out of the way, head to the lower level and press CIRCLE at the computer console. Objective 3 complete.

While dodging the attacking guards, head through the glass doors until you reach a control room to pick up the missile room key. Grab it, eliminating the guard here, and then head back to the missile area. Take a door to your left and proceed through the room with several crates. At the end of this area awaits Carver for the final boss battle…

Dealing with Carver is actually not all that difficult as long as you have the GL 40 ready to go. A few direct hits to the media mogul with this powerful weapon and he should be out of the way in this time. Just be sure to use the crates for cover if necessary and aim carefully. Objective 5 complete.

Once you have taken out Carver, you are tasked with deactivating the missile in under three minutes. Grab the missile panel key from where Carver was situated and then quickly head back to the missile area and approach the missile panel on the lowest level. Press CIRCLE while at the panel to deactivate the launch. Once this is done, make your way back to the starting room, being careful of the numerous guards you’re likely to encounter along the way. When they are all out of the way, press CIRCLE at the ladder to climb it and escape the ship. Objective 4 complete.

MISSION COMPLETE.

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Keep your eyes on the CommanderBond.net main page for all the latest coverage of all the James Bond 007 video games.

James McAvoy denies Ian Fleming biopic rumours

At the very end of last year, a rumour emerged online that Scottish actor James McAvoy was reportedly being considered to take the lead role in a new Ian Fleming biopic being developed by Palmstar Entertainment and Animus Films.

Simply titled Ian Fleming, the film would be an adaptation of Andrew Lycett’s 1995 biography of the 007 creator, Ian Fleming: The Man Behind James Bond.

However, according to a just-released video interview with McAvoy at Collider, Bond fans won’t be seeing him on the screen anytime soon as the British author.

‘It’s all a rumour,’ said McAvoy. ‘I’ve read the script—I read it a long time ago, though, and I never even spoke to the producers. I don’t know where it’s come from.’

The actor continued: ‘It’s kind of strange, it’s not bad things you’re hearing about yourself, but quite often you’re just hearing things that aren’t true. As much as they’re not bad things, there’s a part of you that goes, “But it’s not true!’ It’s like you’re saying that I like coffee instead of tea. It’s not that big of a deal, but it’s just not true!’

As always, keep turning to the CommanderBond.net main page and our Discussion Forums for all the latest news from the world of James Bond.

Ian Fleming's From Russia with Love gets the Penguin Decades treatment

This upcoming April will see Ian Fleming’s fifth James Bond adventure, 1957’s From Russia with Love, reissued in the UK as part of the Penguin Decades series—a collection of works that helped shape modern Britain.

This new edition of From Russia with Love will be in paperback format and feature all-new cover artwork. Retail price is £8.99.

Penguin Decades bring you the novels that helped shape modern Britain. When they were published, some were bestsellers, some were considered scandalous, and others were simply misunderstood. All represent their time and helped define their generation, while today each is considered a landmark work of storytelling.

Ian Fleming’s From Russia with Love was published in 1957 and made suave, steely secret agent James Bond an icon. Here 007 encounters the deadly machinations of Russian organisation SMERSH, the fiendish Colonel Rosa Klebb—and the irresistible beauty Tatiana Romanova—in one of the most thrilling classic novels of the Cold War.

This 007 title is due for release on 1 April 2010. While not yet available to pre-order, a listing for this 007 novel is active on Amazon.co.uk, so keep an eye on it…

• Order the UK paperback edition of From Russia with Love on Amazon.co.uk

Be sure to keep checking the CommanderBond.net main page and our Discussion Forums for all the latest news from the world of James Bond.

Tomorrow Never Dies Game Walkthrough – Market District, Saigon (9)

Tomorrow Never Dies (1999)

Mission 9: Market District, Saigon

As a general note, one of this mission’s objectives is to minimize civilian casualties, so keep that in mind as you proceed through the level.

You complete this mission as James Bond’s ally, Wai Lin, so start off by heading forward and eliminating the first guard before heading through the door straight ahead. Take out the two guards inside and then proceed through the door on the other side. Eliminate the guard towards your left and then move down the street to your right. You’ll eventually see a short stairway, which you must head up (watch out for a guard posted near the top here). Stock up on armor in the sectioned off areas here and take out the few spare enemies. Head around the corner and then eliminate the guard on your way down the stairway. Head through the doorway ahead of you and proceed through the hallway, taking out guards as you go.

Pass through the bar area, grabbing the Med Kit, and head out through the door to the streets. Turn right up ahead and proceed through the door ahead. Down the stairs to grab the gold 007 logo and then back up. Backtrack to when you took your right turn and this time head left. At the end of the street, proceed through the unlocked door and then head up the stairs.

When you arrive on the rooftop, you’ll encounter several enemies, including one boss armed with an RL 66 Rocket Launcher. Take out the easier henchmen first and then concentrate on the boss. The trick is to constantly run around the raised platform in the middle, firing at him when you get the chance, while simultaneously dodging the blasts from his weapon. Keep doing this a few times to win the battle. Objective 1 complete.

After this fight is over, head through the other door and take the stairs down. Once you emerge on the street again, move around the bend and use the nearby doorway as cover while you take out a barricade with a gun turret which is firing at you. Do this again around the next corner.

Keep moving forward until you come across a pair of doors—head through them and the room, out the other side to emerge back out on the streets. Turn right and take out another barricade. Objective 2 complete. When all the enemies in this area are eliminated, proceed around the corner (watch out for snipers posted here) and then head right up ahead. You arrive at seemingly a dead end, but use the rocket launcher on the discolored part of the wall to reveal a hidden set of stairs leading up.

Go up the stairs and along the ledge, taking out posted guards in the area below. After you’ve stocked up on armor, backtrack to when you took the right to get to the dead end and then proceed along the other path. You’ll eventually end up in an open courtyard with a helicopter flying above. Once you’ve eliminated all of the guards in this area, you can focus on the helicopter. While you can quickly lose a great deal of your health during this battle, the idea is to fire back with your RL 66 as quickly as possible. Objective 3 complete.

With the helicopter out of the way, head through the wooden gate and then towards the left. Take out both guards at the next courtyard and then head through a tunnel at the other side. You’ll soon reach a computer, where you must decode a data disk (this is an easy sequence to complete). Objectives 4 and 5 complete.

MISSION COMPLETE.

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Keep your eyes on the CommanderBond.net main page for all the latest coverage of all the James Bond 007 video games.

Paperback edition of Charlie Higson's Danger Society available for pre-order

Charlie Higson’s indepth guide to the Young James Bond series is scheduled to arrive in paperback this upcoming June in the UK.

The always up-to-date Young Bond Dossier reports that literary 007 fans will be able to pick up the paperback edition of Danger Society: The Young Bond Dossier on 3 June 2010.

Published by Puffin Books, this edition of Danger Society: The Young Bond Dossier will retail for £6.99. Cover artwork is forthcoming.

Touted as the complete and definitive guide to Higson’s Young Bond, the aptly-titled Danger Society: The Young Bond Dossier includes in-depth character profiles, information on the cars, weapons and exotic locations, plus photographs, maps, and illustrations by artist Kev Walker.

As an added bonus, the book also features a brand new Young Bond story by Higson entitled A Hard Man to Kill. For more details on that story, click here.

• Order the UK paperback edition of Danger Society: The Young Bond Dossier from Amazon.co.uk

Be sure to keep checking the CommanderBond.net main page and our Discussion Forums for all the latest Young Bond-related news.