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Martin Campbell has revealed details on the James Bond casting situation, plus MI6 wraps up production news for "Casino Royale"...

Casino Royale - October Report
4th October 2005

News on the latest James Bond production "Casino Royale" is beginning to hot up as the start of principal photography in January gets ever closer.

The French James Bond Club scored a brief interview with director Martin Campbell this week, and the New Zealander spilled the beans on the 007 casting status. Campbell said that the race to become the sixth James Bond was now between Goran Visnjic, Henry Cavill, Daniel Craig and Sam Worthington. MI6 reported exclusively back in March that Visnjic was Campbell's favourite for the role before screen testing had begun. Campbell also confirmed that all four had performed final screentests.

In other casting news, Campbell said that he was thinking of casting a French actor in the role of Le Chiffre - the original villain from Ian Fleming's debut 1953 novel. Contradicting screenwriter Paul Haggis' back to basics comments last month, Campbell said there would be "some" gadgets in the film.

An announcement on the role of James Bond is due in less than three weeks time according to Campbell, which is in line with last month's report when MI6 learned from integrated sources that a date in October had already been penciled in pending an agreement on the casting.

Above: Director Martin Campbell returns to helm 007 after 1995's "GoldenEye".

Production Update
Bollywood actor Gulshan Grover is making more noise about being cast as a villain in "Casino Royale", backing up comments in March that he had been approached by Eon casting agents.

Star Trek Nemesis director and career editor Stuart Baird has been named as editor on "Casino Royale", continuing his association with director Campbell from "Legend of Zorro".

As reported last month, the stunt team is being added to under Gary Powell as he returns to the Bond franchise as stunt coordinator. He previously worked with Campbell "Goldeneye" on the elaborate tank chase sequence, and later the Q-boat aerial boat spin for the opening of "The World is Not Enough".

The team behind the lens so far also includes cinematographer Phil Meheux, casting director Debbie McWilliams, production designer Peter Lamont, costume designer Lindy Hemming, post production supervisor Michael Solinger, special effects coordinator Chris Corbould and composer David Arnold.

"Casino Royale", the 21st James Bond film, will be directed by Martin Campbell and shooting is scheduled to commence on January 17th 2006 for release on October 19th 2006. No casting decisions have been made officially. Stay tuned to MI6 for the latest and most accurate coverage of Casino Royale.