There has been a lot of Casino Royale chatter flying around the Net over the past few days and instead of a bunch of small James Bond articles I have put them together for this one larger one… easier on me and easier on you, even if people start chanting, “Old News!” Nevertheless, here goes.
Digital Spy is carrying a story concerning the looks of Daniel Craig as the new Bond as detailed by ex-Miss Moneypenny actress Lois Maxwell. Apparently Miss Maxwell doesn’t think Craig is handsome enough for the role saying, “He’s not as handsome as Roger or Sean, is he? He has what you’d call an interesting face. Perhaps the make-up girls could do something to him – maybe give him a wig.”
Not exactly kind words, but let’s face it, Craig is no Pierce Brosnan, but if you saw Layer Cake you have a sneaking suspicion that he might really give us one hell of a unique Bond. Maybe she is just upset that the role of Moneypenny is being cut out of the new film, “Bond without Moneypenny is a travesty,” she said. “It’s the end of an era.”
It seems the female crisis doesn’t stop at Moneypenny however as The Sun (not always the most reliable source) tells us actresses are turning down the female lead role left and right with rumors that Charlize Theron, Angelina Jolie and Scarlett Johansson have all passed on the opportunity to follow-up Halle Berry‘s turn and star alongside 37 year-old Daniel Craig. With shooting scheduled to begin soon a female lead will be needed, they better get a move on. Why not Sienna Miller? She and Craig recently starred together, she’s hot and, uh… she’s hot.
Next up, MTV had the chance to sit down with new Bond, Daniel Craig, while he was out and about promoting his turn in the Steven Spielberg feature Munich and he talked to the music television station about his new found role saying that Bond is “never working class. [Crash writer/director] Paul Haggis has done a rewrite of the script and has written great dialogue. The lead girl part is fantastic, the characters are all fantastic. It’s a Bond film. We’re making a Bond movie first and foremost.”
As for whether or not the film will follow suit with director Martin Campbell‘s earlier Bond GoldenEye or Craig’s favorite Bond From Russia With Love he told the site the following:
“It’s going to be very different from anything else … it will have certain elements that will make it a Bond movie,” including Ian Fleming source material, reportedly updated to change Bond’s game of baccarat into the trendier Texas Hold ‘Em. “The cars are newer too,” Craig laughed. “There’s a lot of similarities with the book but yes, of course it’s been updated. It has to be. It’s a suspension of disbelief that we’re renewing Bond, and that this is the first time you see him.” Finally, he admitted, “Yes, I could fail miserably, but maybe I can do something that’s different and make the franchise last another 30 years — as opposed to another three.” Either way, he’ll get to play with some cool toys and drink a lot of martinis. “I do that anyway,” he grinned. …
The only thing left to cover, besides who will be playing the bad guy in Casino, is the even more important question of who will be recording the new theme song?
Okay, so maybe that isn’t all that important, but there are some rumors floating around involving Robbie Williams and what seems to be the current front-runner, George Michael.
The Daily Record out of the UK is reporting that George Michael has been approached by the makers behind the new James Bond movie to record the soundtrack for Casino Royale. Apparently Michael attended a meeting with the “movers and shakers behind the film” and is said to be “really chuffed that he’s been asked to meet up with the guys behind Casino Royale.”
So there you have it, a bit of this and a bit of that, but all in all, not really a whole lot of concrete information at all…
Casino Royale hits theaters on November 17, 2006.
