News of the casting net being opened for the next Bond Girl, plus a fact-check and round up of the latest rumours on the 22nd James Bond film...

Bond 22 Pre-Production Diary (11)
18th September 2007

Girl Action
Calling all tabloid journalists! The hunt for the next Bond Girl is well and truly underway. But by outlining some of the requirements, the production has thrown a spanner in the works for lazy showbiz reporters - who are used to throwing around random Hollywood names with tenuous 'sources'.

According to casting notices sent out this week, producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson are looking for a Latina actress in her late twenties, preferably with South American roots.

Despite their plea that prospective talent not be worried about fitting the traditional Bond Girl look, since this is the "new" Bond series, she must be quite beautiful, able to handle what promises to be a physically demanding role, fluent in English and, last but most certainly not least, a great actress.

 


The hunt for the right girl is spanning the entire Mediterranean basin, and has even reached as far as Israel. Although the character of the new girl in the script is reported to be Spanish, according local news a dark-skinned Israeli girl could also fit the role.

The veteran casting director Bruria Elback will be in charge of Israeli casting, which is set to commence shortly. "Auditions for the James Bond movie are being held in many countries and to my delight, we too are now part of it," Elbeck said. According to Elback the "candidates for the part have to be of international standard, stunning and dark- skinned. They are definitely not looking for blonds here, but for a Latin look."

Bond 22 Fact Check

Media coverage of the new film varies in quality and often incorrectly reads between the lines. Here are some key facts to clear up any confusion:

  • The climax of the film will not take place at the Palio in Siena, Italy.
  • The character of Vesper from Casino Royale will not return in Bond 22, but a message left by her may form part of the plot.
  • The central Bond girl will have Latina roots and will be in her late twenties - she will not be an Israeli character (although casting notices have been sent to Israel).
  • Jesper Christensen is expected to return as the villainous Mr White, but talk of a Bond torturing him in the pre-credits sequence is pure speculation.
  • Locations in Italy, Austria and Madrid have been scouted by the production team. Switzerland has only been mentioned as a possibility by the nation's film commission.
  • Carice van Houten and Abbie Cornish have both shot down Bond girl rumours as false.
  • The story will not be based directly on any Ian Fleming literary material, but has been influenced by Fleming ideas.
  • Series regulars Q and Moneypenny do not currently feature in the draft script.

Rumours, Rumours, Everywhere...
Danish actor Jesper Christensen who appeared as Mr White - the shadowy boss of Le Chiffre - in Casino Royale has confirmed he will reprise his role in the upcoming 22nd James Bond film. Speaking to TV2 in Denmark, Christensen said he only recently learned he would be returning. The report speculated that his character would endure 007's interrogation methods at the beginning of the film. Christensen is currently in England shooting "Young Victoria".

Daniel Craig has taken to the piste to learn how to ski ahead of the Casino Royale follow-up - according to UK tabloid The Sun. A source said: “For the first time since 1969’s "On Her Majesty’s Secret Service", Bond will be largely snow-bound. Much of it will be filmed in the Swiss Alps. The film is in pre-production for a major ski sequence.”

Craig has been hitting the gym in and bulking up, thanks to Guinness - reports the Daily Express. A source told the paper: “Filming has begun on the next Bond but it’s all been preliminary and filler shots. Daniel has yet to film scenes. He’s been hammering it back in the gym, though. He’s really starting to get even more toned than before. But he’s told us he’s not a fitness freak so it’s really tough getting to the gym. The only thing keeping him going, he said, is regular pints of Guinness."

He may have worn the world's most famous tuxedo for the past 45 years, but James Bond may finally be loosening up, if a report in the Daily Express is to be believed. The paper claims that Daniel Craig will be donning less formal attire in the next outing. According to the report, a spokeswoman for Brioni, who dressed Craig for Casino Royale, said the star would be in more casual attire for the 2008 film.

 


In Brief...
Paul Haggis, who is re-writing a draft script by Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, confirmed this week that he is on page 30...

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Briefing
Produced by Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli (Eon Productions), QUANTUM OF SOLACE was released in the UK on October 31st 2008 and is directed by Marc Forster. Principal photography started on January 3rd 2008 at Pinewood Studios and around the UK, and foreign locations including Italy, Panama, Chile, Peru and Austria. Paul Haggis completed the script based on a first draft screenplay developed by regular scribes Neal Purvis & Robert Wade, with later polish by Joshua Zetumer. The story is a direct continuation of the events of Casino Royale. 007 faces off against villains Mathieu Amalric (Dominic Greene), Anatole Taubman (Elvis) and Joaquin Cosío (General Medrano). Olga Kurylenko (Camille) and Gemma Arterton (MI6 Agent Fields) play the Bond Girls. Dame Judi Dench (M), Jeffrey Wright (Felix Leiter) and Giancarlo Giannini (Mathis) reprise their roles as Bond's allies. It is British actor Daniel Craig’s second outing as James Bond, following his debut film Casino Royale released November 16th 2006.