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Exclusive: MI6 can reveal that production of the
22nd James Bond film will be based at Pinewood Studios
in the
UK, with shooting scheduled for January 2008...
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Bond 22 Returns To Pinewood
6th June 2007
Although producers are yet to announce a director,
one keystone in the 22nd James
Bond film has fallen in to place.
MI6 can exclusively reveal that Pinewood Studios will be home
to Daniel Craig's second outing as 007.
Bond Back Home
Producer Michael G. Wilson hinted
last month that
they hoped to "get back in to Pinewood
and be in familiar surroundings on our old stomping ground
again", but that "London
is one of the most expensive cities in the world, especially
when you're bringing actors in from outside the country".
Despite a modern-day record exchange rate
between Pound Sterling and the US Dollar, Pinewood has
succeeded in the
battle for Bond against Barrandov Studios in the Czech
Republic, which hosted a large proportion of Casino Royale
(the only set built at Pinewood for Casino Royale was the
sinking house in Venice). Barrandov did put in a strong
bid to host Bond 22, but the potential cost savings, which
were attractive for the Casino Royale production, did not
outweigh the advantages of shooting at Pinewood this time
around.
MI6 can confirm that the deal between Pinewood and Eon
Productions was signed at the Cannes Film Festival. |
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Production Schedule
The newly rebuilt 007 Stage will once again
be central to the schedule, and Bond 22 is expected to take up
much of Pinewood's lot. Pre-production and set construction is
expected to begin late this year. Filming is due to start in
January 2008 with Daniel Craig resuming his duties as 007 for
a theatrical release on 7th November 2008. No details on foreign
shooting locations are available yet, as no official announcements
have been made.
The New 007 Stage
Just after work on Casino Royale had wrapped last July, the world
famous 007 Stage was wrecked
by fire - again. Like a phoenix
from the flames, the stage was
rebuilt and opened for business last month.
The new stage is currently the largest in Europe with an internal
area of 59,000 sq ft and an immense tank capable of holding 5.25
million litres. A number of features that have been incorporated
to enable filmmakers to get the most out of the stage include
a vehicle access ramp directly into the tank, aircraft hangar
style loading doors, and improved sound proofing.
The world famous 007 stage at Pinewood was built in 1976 for
the Bond movie "The Spy Who Loved
Me" and has since housed some
of the most spectacular sets in cinema history. Ahead of Bond
22, ironically, former James Bond actor Pierce
Brosnan will be
one of the first to use the new 007 Stage for the production
of "Mamma
Mia!" later this month.
Pinewood Shepperton PLC images used with permission; not to
be reproduced.
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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