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The 22nd James Bond film due in 2008 will be
a closely related sequel to Casino Royale, with an
appearance from Vesper Lynd planned... |
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Bond 22 - A Direct Continuation
27th October 2006
As is usual for the James Bond film series,
the latest installment is yet to open in theatres but already
there is talk of the "next" one. With
Daniel Craig's debut outing "Casino
Royale" opening November 16th 2006 in
the UK (and the following day in the USA), details about its
sequel are already emerging due to the extensive press coverage
the franchise is currently enjoying. The 22nd film in the Eon Productions
franchise was originally pitched
with a slightly optimistic May 2nd 2008 release, but was
later pushed back to November
7th 2008.
A Bond Girl "Returns"
Actress Eva Green, who plays Bond girl Vesper
Lynd in "Casino
Royale" was interviewed by UK magazine Arena
this month. She revealed that Bond
22 is a direct continuation
in terms of story as it revolves around a dark secret Vesper
had, involving her lover being tortured (as with the backstory
to the character in Ian
Fleming's original 1953 novel).
This leads Bond to his next mission. When asked is she
would return in flashbacks she says that Vesper will likely
return on a computer, a pre-recorded message by a web cam
on the internet.
MI6 reported
back in August that Green had a clause in her contract
that gave her an option to return to the series in a
future 007 movie featuring Daniel Craig.
When producer Barbara Broccoli was interviewed
in March whilst "Casino Royale" was filming
in the Bahamas, she confirmed this tidbit: "We're
already thinking about it. We're in the early stages.
[Bond 22] is an original story, but it's going to continue
part of what the story is in this film."
Right: Eva Green as Vesper Lynd |
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Craig hinted of the story continuation in a
press interview about Casino Royale, "He gets his heart broken
because he gets double crossed. It creates this person who is
no longer
emotional,
but
is actually going to go out for revenge."
Craig's Contract
Details of Craig's contract to play 007 are
somewhat sketchy. Back in March the BBC reported that Craig was
under
contract
to play James Bond until
2012, and with an average gap between
films of two years, that could mean Craig shoots at least a further
three 007 movies after "Casino Royale". Then in July,
the expected news broke that Craig had signed
up for another outing and would definitely return for a second
film. Recent interviews Craig has given may allude to a shorter
tenure than past mainstays
Sean Connery and Roger Moore though. After completing his second
007 film, Craig recently commented that he would "then get
on with the rest of [his] life". Whether this means a longer
break between films, or the end of his run as 007, remains to
be seen. When the later release date of Bond 22 was announced,
the trade press stated Craig was signed
for three films.
Above: Daniel Craig as James Bond 007
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Writing...
Back in October 2005, screenwriters Neal Purvis and Robert Wade,
who penned the script for "Casino Royale" before
handing it over to Paul Haggis for a final polish, confirmed
they had started work on the story for "Bond 22" once
Daniel Craig had been signed by producers. The plot is said
to be based on an orginal idea by producer Michael G. Wilson.
MI6 learned later, in August, that Purvis & Wade were no
longer on the project, and playwright
Tom Stoppard and "Love
Actually" screenwriter Richard
Curtis were both being rumoured to have taken over. The
inevitable title conjecture has already started, with one "hot
tip" from Pinewood citing the 22nd adventure could
be called "Risico" after
an Ian Fleming short story.
Directing...
Helmer Roger Michell walked
away from production of the 22nd
James Bond film in August 2006 according to Variety. Michell
was reported to
be in negotiations to direct the film to follow "Casino
Royale" but ended his relationship with the film following "creative
differences" with producers. When the November 7th 2008
date was released to the press, Sony Pictures Entertainment
vice chairman Jeff Blake said the studio, along with partners
MGM and British production company EON Productions, were
in talks to bring on a new director after Michell bowed
out of the project. No new names have yet been mentioned.
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.
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