Bond 22 gearing up for pre-production
07-19-06, 09:37 AM
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Bond 22 gearing up for pre-production
Michell spying helm for next Bond outing
As the world awaits the debut of Daniel Craig as the latest Agent 007, the producers of "Casino Royale" are busy making plans for the next chapter in the James Bond franchise. U.K.-based helmer Roger Michell is in negotiations to direct the follow-up to "Casino Royale," which has a working title of "Bond 22."
Craig Bonding Again By Josh Grossberg
Tue Jul 18, 6:45 PM ET
He hasn't even graced the gun sight yet, but Daniel Craig is already gearing up for another go-round as 007.
The English thesp, who's getting ready to make his big debut on Nov. 17 as the sixth actor to play James Bond in MGM's Casino Royale, the 21st installment in the four decade-old franchise, is aboard to star in a follow-up now in development.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Roger Michell, the helmer behind the 1999 Hugh Grant-Julia Roberts romantic comedy hit, Notting Hill, and the 2002 Ben Affleck-Samuel L. Jackson thriller miss, Changing Lanes, is in talks to direct the as-yet-untitled project, currently known only as Bond 22.
No word on the story line, but the trade says it comes from an original idea suggested by longtime Bond producer Michael Wilson.
In any case, the move is a big thumbs-up from the Bond brain trust and comes in the wake of withering fan criticism of Craig's casting, with some calling for the ouster of the 38-year-old actor before he had the chance to swig his first martini onscreen.
Back in February, when the Martin Campbell-helmed Casino was still shooting, detractors stirred controversy by launching CraigNotBond.com, to protest the hiring of the first blond Bond as a replacement for fan favorite Pierce Brosnan. The anti-Craig faction called him an "unknown and unattractive" performer and vowed to boycott any Bond film in which he starred. The site further petitioned Eon Productions to revoke Craig's license to kill and bring back Brosnan.
But Craig quickly wracked up an endorsement from original 007 Sean Connery, who rushed to his defense, praising him as a "terrific choice," and three other 007 predecessors, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton and Brosnan, also gave Craig their votes of confidence. Meanwhile, Judi Dench, who plays spy boss M, has also called his performance in Casino "edgy," while Bond babe Caterina Murino told the BBC last week that her costar is a "great actor" who will give fans "something they've never seen before."
While Craig has public appeared unfazed by the fan backlash, Murino said that the criticism has left him feeling a little shaken, but insisted that his rugged depiction of Bond will please fans in the end.
"When he's going to kill someone, he looks like a real killer. When he kisses me, when he makes love, he's so sexy," the Italian actress said, adding that the latest adventure in the Bond series will be much more violent than previous entries.
Bond producers apparently are betting big on him, too. The BBC also reported that Craig is signed to play Bond through 2012, giving him plenty of opportunities to hone those secret agent skills.
Craig most recently starred as an assassin in Steven Spielberg's Oscar-nominated Munich. His other credits include Lara Croft: Tomb Raider The Road to Perdition, Layer Cake and Enduring Love, which was also directed by Michell.
As the world awaits the debut of Daniel Craig as the latest Agent 007, the producers of "Casino Royale" are busy making plans for the next chapter in the James Bond franchise. U.K.-based helmer Roger Michell is in negotiations to direct the follow-up to "Casino Royale," which has a working title of "Bond 22."
Craig Bonding Again By Josh Grossberg
Tue Jul 18, 6:45 PM ET
He hasn't even graced the gun sight yet, but Daniel Craig is already gearing up for another go-round as 007.
The English thesp, who's getting ready to make his big debut on Nov. 17 as the sixth actor to play James Bond in MGM's Casino Royale, the 21st installment in the four decade-old franchise, is aboard to star in a follow-up now in development.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Roger Michell, the helmer behind the 1999 Hugh Grant-Julia Roberts romantic comedy hit, Notting Hill, and the 2002 Ben Affleck-Samuel L. Jackson thriller miss, Changing Lanes, is in talks to direct the as-yet-untitled project, currently known only as Bond 22.
No word on the story line, but the trade says it comes from an original idea suggested by longtime Bond producer Michael Wilson.
In any case, the move is a big thumbs-up from the Bond brain trust and comes in the wake of withering fan criticism of Craig's casting, with some calling for the ouster of the 38-year-old actor before he had the chance to swig his first martini onscreen.
Back in February, when the Martin Campbell-helmed Casino was still shooting, detractors stirred controversy by launching CraigNotBond.com, to protest the hiring of the first blond Bond as a replacement for fan favorite Pierce Brosnan. The anti-Craig faction called him an "unknown and unattractive" performer and vowed to boycott any Bond film in which he starred. The site further petitioned Eon Productions to revoke Craig's license to kill and bring back Brosnan.
But Craig quickly wracked up an endorsement from original 007 Sean Connery, who rushed to his defense, praising him as a "terrific choice," and three other 007 predecessors, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton and Brosnan, also gave Craig their votes of confidence. Meanwhile, Judi Dench, who plays spy boss M, has also called his performance in Casino "edgy," while Bond babe Caterina Murino told the BBC last week that her costar is a "great actor" who will give fans "something they've never seen before."
While Craig has public appeared unfazed by the fan backlash, Murino said that the criticism has left him feeling a little shaken, but insisted that his rugged depiction of Bond will please fans in the end.
"When he's going to kill someone, he looks like a real killer. When he kisses me, when he makes love, he's so sexy," the Italian actress said, adding that the latest adventure in the Bond series will be much more violent than previous entries.
Bond producers apparently are betting big on him, too. The BBC also reported that Craig is signed to play Bond through 2012, giving him plenty of opportunities to hone those secret agent skills.
Craig most recently starred as an assassin in Steven Spielberg's Oscar-nominated Munich. His other credits include Lara Croft: Tomb Raider The Road to Perdition, Layer Cake and Enduring Love, which was also directed by Michell.
07-19-06, 10:13 AM
#4
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I want to go on record in saying that I think Craig is exactly what this franchise needs. He brings some ruggedness to the series and, as much as I like Brosnan and Connery, I do believe the "he looks like a real killer" is accurate.
In the Casino Royale trailer, I LOVE that they show him shooting the gun at the screen in the famous opening from a dingy, dirty bathroom. They are in a serious rut and I am more excited about Casino Royale than I've been for a Bond film since Goldeneye.
In the Casino Royale trailer, I LOVE that they show him shooting the gun at the screen in the famous opening from a dingy, dirty bathroom. They are in a serious rut and I am more excited about Casino Royale than I've been for a Bond film since Goldeneye.
07-19-06, 11:53 AM
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I wasn't too happy about Daniel Craig being cast as Bond. After seeing that trailer though, man, it looks awesome, and I think he'll do an amazing job. It's about time for something new and different, not just more of the same with Brosnan. Craig doesn't fit your stereotypical Bond, but who really gives a crap? If you want the same ol', you got 20 other movies to plow through...
07-19-06, 02:06 PM
#8
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Back when I saw those closing scenes of "Layer Cake", I remember remarking to my wife that Craig was the guy who they should cast as the next James Bond. I've been a supporter of him ever since. I never was all that comfortable with Bond as a "pretty boy". Craig looks like he could get the girl AND f*ck up the bad guys pretty badly.
07-19-06, 04:12 PM
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The best Dalton thread got me in the mood so I watched The Living Daylights last night. In the documentary Michael Wilson talks about how they were going to introduce Dalton by having the story go back to Bond's beginnings like they are doing with Casino Royale. Cubby Broccoli didn't like the idea and scraped it
