Empire released a series of photos today from the set of the 23rd James Bond film. They show, largely, Daniel Craig charging around Whitehall offices. They also show M at her desk in what we assume is MI6 HQ before certain events take their toll…
The most interesting one, we think, is evidence that Ralph Fiennes will not just play a desk jockey in Skyfall.
Skyfall’s high profile cast and top secret characters are creating some insider news and rumors.
According to Movie Web the acclaimed Shakespearian actor Ralph Fiennes is merely dubbed a ‘government agent’ because he is set to rise quickly through the ranks and replace Judi Dench as ‘M’.
The movie news site quotes an EON insider who says: “Ralph Fiennes play’s a government agent, which we never get a name on, because he is set to play the new M.”
The acclaimed Shakespearian actor felt he was a one-time candidate for the role of 007 himself. Ralph Fiennes admitted to the Daily Record that “There was a time in my life when [the role of James Bond] would have appealed to me. But I’m a bit on the old side now.”
Instead, Fiennes can explain that his part in the forthcoming 23rd James Bond adventure, Skyfall, will be one of a government agent. Whether he is working on the side of 007 or as an agent for another government is yet to be revealed. Fiennes is remaining tight-lipped about the details.
He did, however, open up a little about his personal history with the Ian Fleming novels: “I used to be a complete nerd about the books and the detail in them. They are fantastic. There was Fleming’s obsession with different kinds of champagne and caviar. He kind of fetishises these things.”
This hopefully puts to bed long-running rumors that Fiennes was hired to play the arch-villain Blofeld.
Aside from the factoids about the forthcoming James Bond film, the press conference gave 007 fans a teaser of what they can expect this time next year. Here’s a few basic highlights from the press conference:
The MC explains, as was first (to the best of our knowledge) reported on MI6, that 3rd November marks the day that Sean Connery was ushered onto the world stage as 007 in 1961.
Producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli are welcomed to the stage to reveal the “worst kept secret in London” – the title of the James Bond film, Skyfall.
Sam Mendes is welcomed onto the stage to confirm a few rumors. He confirmed that a major set piece was to be shot in London’s Whitehall. Pervis, Wade and John Logan have written a “fantastic script” and Mendes is “incredibly excited”.
Ben Wishaw, Ralph Fiennes and Albert Finney will be playing top secret parts in scenes that Mendes cannot (or will not) reveal. “They might… or they might not…” was the answer Mendes offered for a well-posed question about if these would be characters Bond fans would recognise from the canon.
Just in case you were wondering Mendes pronounces the French actress’s name: “Bera-niece Mar-low” and the long-associated villain of the piece: “Hav-ear Bar-dem”.
Dame Judi is introduced by Mendes as a “young actress” that “some of you might not have heard of” but who “has a promising career ahead of her”.
Asked about what attracted him to Bond 23, Mendes claims to be a “huge fan of the Bond movies”. Mendes got “very excited” when he saw Craig in Casino Royale, which he “loved”, so working with Craig in Skyfall was part of the attraction. “Working with Sam is a dream come true” for Barbara Broccoli. Mendes’ “boyish excitement is really infectious,” says Broccoli.
Wilson says that “nobody thought we would get to 50 years of Bond” in 1961. Wilson tips his hat to the fans who supported the franchise all these years.
Craig says they have an “incredible crew”.
Dench suggests that she will never “get a grip on who M is” – nor anyone in the MI6 offices.
Harris says that she’s well into her training for the action sequences and feel’s “really ready” for what 007 can throw at her.
Mendes explains that there will be “lots of surprises” when quizzed about the return of some typical Bond gadgets. He also explained that the press were “not entirely accurate” in their assumption Bond will be “going back to his roots” with Scotland on the shooting schedule.
Barbara Broccoli dismissed the rumors of budget cuts with a rhetorical, “does it look like we’re cutting back?” The budget, Wilson tells us, is in the same range as the last film. Instead of cutting back they’re “adding” if anything. Barbara echoes her father when she says “it’s all going on the screen”.
Craig is “incredibly proud to be part of this gang of people” making Bond 23.
Bardem suggests that we should not conflate “a villain” and “a bad person”!
Mendes says he’s is very happy to be working with Alexander Witt and his second unit and that the action and special effects is the part that is new and exciting for him. He explains that the “action needs to coexist with the drama”. In addition he says that Oscar nominations (or wins for that matter) are “not the reason you do any movie and certainly not the reason you do a Bond movie”.
Asked what kind of training he has had to go through, Javier Bardem says “English vowels!”
Harris has been having a bit more of a workout with “stunt driving and firing machine guns”.
Sam Mendes was put on the spot at the conference when he was asked if he would be open to doing more than one Bond film. He was prompted by Broccoli and Wilson commented that “this is a question we’ve been trying to get the answer to”. Sam answered: “if in six months time I am still as excited as I am now, then the answer would be ‘yes’.”
The title, Skyfall, Barbara says, will have some “emotional context”.
Mendes says that it “doesn’t connect with the last two movies.” Quantum will not appear in Bond 23.
Craig was asked if he would be “doing this for a few more years?” / “Ask her,” said the Bond star, pointing at producer Barbara Broccoli. Cubby’s famed daughter answered, “yes, definitely.”
After months of speculation almost all of the most salient details pertaining to James Bond 23 – now known as Skyfall – have been revealed.
Production has started on James Bond 23 as of 3rd of November 2011. The regular press conference that announces the start of filming was moved from its ‘spiritual’ home of Pinewood to central London in order that the cast and crew be on hand for shooting in London that very day. We understand Pinewood is expecting the lead cast on the 7th of November 2011.
Speaking of cast, almost all of the rumors we’ve been taking seriously these last few weeks have come to fruition. As such, the cast is confirmed to include:
Many familiar faces will be returning to take their positions behind the camera. Dennis Gassner of Quantum of Solace production design fame will be returning along with Chris Corbould, Gary Powell and Debbie McWilliams – whose job, as casting director, has been underway for months.
Although Tariq Anwar ‘confirmed’ his involvement in Bond 23 earlier in the year, Stuart Baird will edit Skyfall.
The press conference also confirmed a number of locations, including Scotland, Istanbul and Shanhai – which was only recently rumored as a location of substance.
At the same time as launching the film, Sony pictures opened up an official James Bond fan page on Facebook and claimed the username @007 on Twitter.
Several of the below photos (and a video from the conference are available on the Facebook account).
A short synopsis is now available: “In SKYFALL, Bond’s loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.”
According to fans posting on a James Bond discussion forum the British star of Schindler’s List, The Constant Gardner and the Harry Potter series has signed on to James Bond as of last week.
Here is what a user of ajb007 posted about the news:
I had a meeting with Sony Australia reps on Wednesday and they confirmed Ralph Fiennes for Bond 23 while talking about their 2011/2012 lineup. Apparently he signed last week, and Sony were most pleased with Ralph joining the film. Straight from the horses mouth so to speak
…and in a later post it was mentioned:
It was casually mentioned that he would be a villain.
If Fiennes really is cast cast, we ask whether Javier Bardem will still be involved in the series?
The trade press, Variety, casually dropped the following paragraph into an article that covers the casting of Fiennes in Trevor Nunn’s new West End Shakespeare…
Fiennes’s movie commitments mean the run will be strictly limited. He is skedded to start filming on the Sam Mendes helmed “Bond 23″ In December. The latter is scripted by John Logan who also scripted Fiennes’s recent movie helming debut “Coriolanus.”
It is curious that such big news has made such a small splash but Variety has a good reputation for accurate reporting and insider scoops.
Fiennes was recently rumored to have a role as a James Bond villain in the new Bond movie. This coupled with December being a likely time for Bond 23 to kick off production, lends extra credentials to this rumor.
Keep your eyes peeled.