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The Turkish Culture Minister has granted permission
for Bond 23 to shoot in Istanbul...
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Bond Returning To Istanbul
9th September 2011
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According to press reports in the country,
the 23rd James Bond production will
also be taking in the scenery of Istanbul, Turkey, when
Daniel Craig suits up as 007 for the third time.
Director Sam Mendes is reportedly keen to use the city’s
historical neighborhood Sultanahmet Square, and has received
permission from Turkish Culture Minister Ertugrul Günay.
The requests to shoot Bond
23 in the Square (pictured opposite), which lies
between the iconic Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque,
were submitted
a few
weeks
ago. |
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“Shooting will start within the next few
months. We have discussed the issue and rather than closing the
square completely, some parts could be partially closed from
time to time for the filming,” Günay said, adding
that it would be difficult to close the whole square. “We
have to consider our tourists, but we can accommodate foreign
film production companies that want to use Turkey as a platform.”
Two James Bond films have featured
Istanbul: most notably "From
Russia With Love", and to a lesser extent "The
World Is Not Enough". Back in 1963, Sean Connery's second
outing as 007 based the majority of their location
shooting in
the city and the surrounding areas. Ian Fleming also joined the
production on location while they were shooting
at the Hagia Sophia Mosque
and at Sirkeci Train
Station that stood in for all three of the train stations on
the Orient Express line. While Fleming was reportedly delighted
by
the progress and the atmosphere on set, Istanbul
proved a tough shoot.
The major confirmed location
for Bond 23 is India, with South
Africa and China also rumoured.
Filming at Pinewood Studios is scheduled to start in November
2011, with the film's UK release just under a year later on 26th
October 2012.
Briefing
The 23rd James Bond
film, "Skyfall", commenced principal studio photography on 7th 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. The cast will also include Bérénice Marlohe,
Javier Bardem, Naomie Harris, Ralph Fiennes, Albert Finney and Ben Wishaw.
The film will shoot at Pinewood Studios and on location in London, England;
Scotland; Shanghai, China and Istanbul, Turkey.
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.
