 |
| |
The owner of Duntrune Castle has confirmed the location
will be used for the finale of the 23rd James Bond
film...
|
|
Scottish Castle Finale
8th October 2011
It was first rumoured
back in August when a
pre-production team from the
23rd James Bond film (including
director Sam Mendes) were reported to be scouting Scottish castles,
but it
has
now been
confirmed
by the owner that Duntrune
Castle on the Poltalloch
Estate near Lochgilphead in mid-Argyll will be used in Bond
23.
The BBC were told by Patricia Malcolm, who lives
in the castle with her husband Robin, that several days of filming
would start at the end of February 2012. "They
are coming here at the end of February and are going to film for
several days," she said. "They are using the castle - just the
outside - it's going to be used for the end of the film. They
want a
winter
scene,
so they are going to bring their own snow. It looks as if
they are going to construct the set and then blow it up. I
think they are going to attack the castle from land and sea - there
are going to a lot of bangs and explosions."
However, she went on to speculate that
the location is integral to the plot because of James Bond's
heritage (his father
was Scottish) and that 007 "would bring all the villains here."
These theories were touted by fans when the first hint of a Scottish
location was discussed months ago. It is unlikely that residents
of the location would be given any plot details.
Builders are set to begin work on the site early
in the new year - and boost the local economy by employing craftsmen
from the area. Clan chief Robin Malcolm, who owns the 5,000-acre
estate,
confirmed: "Preparatory work begins as soon as everybody
sobers up after New Year, but I can’t go into details.
I am sworn to secrecy."
He was first contacted by a location scout
six months ago, and they arrived three months ago on a tour
that took in three different locations on the same day. "We
never heard any more from them, then they said could they come
again?", Malcolm told the Daily
Record. "By then, Sam
Mendes in particular had decided in his heart."
Anywhere 007 goes, tourists are sure to follow. "I
reckon it will be good for the economy of mid-Argyll," Malcolm
said. "I have asked them to use local labour as much
as they can and they will be staying locally. The number
of cast and crew here will peak at just over 200. An awful
lot of friends are coming up to me and saying, 'Could you squeeze
me in as an extra'? I have suddenly become
popular."
EON Productions said: "We have looked at various
locations for B23. We won't confirm anything until our start
of production press conference some time next month."
The castle is just 20 minutes from Loch Craignish, where the
climatic boat chase was filmed for "From
Russia With Love" after
they abandoned the original Turkish location. Bond
23 is also scheduled to shoot in Istanbul, the major location of "From
Russia With Love".
Briefing
The 23rd James Bond
film, "Bond 23", will commence principal photography in November 2011
for a UK
release on October 26th, 2012 and the USA on November
9, 2012. MGM will produce, finance and distribute 007's
23rd adventure in
partnership with Sony Pictures Entertainment.
Daniel Craig will
be returning as the legendary British secret agent, alongside Judi
Dench as "M", with Sam Mendes directing a screenplay written by Neal
Purvis, Robert Wade and John Logan. Five-time 007 composer David
Arnold will score James Bond's 23rd official on-screen adventure.
It it will be the longest gap between Bond movies without
a change in the lead role. In addition, 2012 marks the 50th anniversary of
the EON Productions series of James
Bond films.
MI6 Homepage 
