A redesigned 007.com was put live today with news stories spanning back to the November press conference. The website had space to promote video games and the car museum event, Bond in Motion, celebrating 50 years of Bond’s wheels.
Michael Wilson filmed a short intro for the website whilst on the set of Skyfall.
The British actor of Harry Potter and Hugo fame has finally explained a little more about her role in Bond 23, know now to be entitled Skyfall.
The 43 year-old appeared on British channel ITV’s show Lorraine where she let slip that she would play a politician and member of the British Parliament called Clair Dowar.
The official twitter feed @007 carried the news a few hours ago.
With Q returning, can we expect a return of Miss Moneypenny as well? Do you still hold any faith in the rumor that Eve (Naomie Harris) turns out to be the famed secretary?
The twitter elves over at @007 – the official James Bond twitter feed – have been busy!
They are celebrating the start of principal photography with a behind-the-scenes shot of the Skyfall clapperboard. The are shooting in what looks to be a damp, dilapidated bathroom… It might even remind fans of the opening to Casino Royale:
The 007 twitter feed also broke the news that two new cast members have been confirmed: Helen McCrory, the British actress who has recently played in Harry Potter and The Queen will be joining the cast. Also confirmed is Ola Rapace, a Swedish actor known for the TV series Wallander.
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.”
Unfortunately we won’t be available to report live on the scene from the forthcoming James Bond 23 press conference but as ever the British Bond site MI6 is offering what looks to be great coverage of the Bond nerd event of the year.
Take a look at MI6 live blog who will be updating with news and views from the events in central London on 3rd November at 11:45AM GMT.
Don’t worry! We will of course to be on the ball with a full summary of the press conference happenings, if, like us, you are unable to tune in live.
The long awaited press conference to confirm principal photography on James Bond 23 is confirmed for Thursday November 3rd 2011.
According to MI6, the Director and “key members of the cast” will be in attendance – along with Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli.
Although it looks like it was intended to be a private affair, journalists and bloggers quickly spread the news via twitter.
It is likely that many casting rumors will be confirmed at the conference, and some fans are expecting a title to be announced
UPDATE: The press conference will kick off 11:45AM British Time.
LONDON, June 2, 2011 – MGM and Sony Pictures Entertainment are delighted to announce the UK release date for the eagerly anticipated 23rd James Bond adventure will be Friday, 26TH OCTOBER, 2012 opening at the Odeon Leicester Square and in cinemas across the UK and Ireland.
The film will open in the United States on November 9, 2012.
BOND 23 will see Daniel Craig continue his role as James Bond in the iconic movie franchise, with British director Sam Mendes at the helm of the as-yet untitled 23rd James Bond adventure. The film will be produced by Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli.
The last two films, Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace, had record-high grosses for the Bond franchise, with Casino Royale taking in $599 million in worldwide ticket sales and Quantum of Solace generating $577 million.
About Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. is actively engaged in the worldwide production and distribution of motion pictures, television programming, home video, interactive media, music, and licensed merchandise. The company owns the world’s largest library of modern films, comprising around 4,100 titles. Operating units include Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc., United Artists Films Inc., MGM Television Entertainment Inc., MGM Networks Inc., MGM Distribution Co., MGM International Television Distribution Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Home Entertainment LLC, MGM ON STAGE, MGM Music, MGM Consumer Products and MGM Interactive. In addition, MGM has ownership interests in domestic and international TV channels reaching over 130 countries. For more information, visit www.mgm.com.
About Sony Pictures Entertainment
Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE’s global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution; television production and distribution; home entertainment acquisition and distribution; a global channel network; digital content creation and distribution; operation of studio facilities; development of new entertainment products, services and technologies; and distribution of entertainment in more than 140 countries. Sony Pictures Entertainment can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.sonypictures.com.
About EON Productions
EON Productions Limited and Danjaq LLC are wholly owned and controlled by the Broccoli/Wilson family. Danjaq is the US based company that co-owns, with MGM, the copyright in the existing James Bond films and controls the right to produce future James Bond films as well as all worldwide merchandising. EON Productions, an affiliate of Danjaq, is the UK-based production company which makes the James Bond films. The 007 franchise is the longest running in film history with twenty-two films produced since 1962. Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli took over the franchise from Albert R ‘Cubby’ Broccoli in 1995 and have produced some of the most successful Bond films ever, including Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace.
With 500 million in funding under its belt, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer is already planning where it can spend its newfound wealth.
However, first on the agenda will be, The Hobbit filmed in New Zealand next year. The Spyglass executives said they were “honored and inspired” to be leading MGM through the challenging time.
The question on industry experts’ lips is “who will be partnering with the big cat to bring us Bond 23? The release of Bond 23, optimistically scheduled for November 2011, would coincide with the50th anniversary of James Bond 007. Trade press Variety predicts that beyond Bond and The Lord Of The Rings prequel MGM’s slate is sorely lacking. Bond may prove the cat’s best hope.
The bankrupt studio, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, who filed a Chapter 11 petition today in Bankruptcy Court, expressed an interest in fast-tracking James Bond and The Hobbit films.
Business news source Bloomberg reports the following:
MGM plans to spend as much as $125 million on operations in the next 15 weeks. MGM said it’s has already spent $20 million to fund production of films based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s novel… New James Bond films may be released every second year starting in November 2012, MGM said. It aims to own 50 percent of Bond 23, due out that year, with an equal partner paying all of the production costs, it said. Later Bond movies would be wholly owned and funded by MGM, the company said.