Bond 23: Skyfall

[SiHart]

The 23rd Bond film has officially been announced as in production today, following all the troubles at MGM over the last year or so...

Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli of EON Productions, together with Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum, Co-Chairmen and Chief Executive Officers of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc., today announced that the 23rd James Bond film will commence production in late 2011 for a worldwide release on November 9, 2012.

Daniel Craig will be returning as the legendary British secret agent, with Sam Mendes directing a screenplay written by Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and John Logan.

http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=73150



Si xx

[Jonno]

It's good news, but on the other hand it's getting close to catching Carry On as the "film franchise with the most films"!

Is it second to Carry On in that respect? Some of us were debating this in the pub the other night!

[Larry]

I thought it was already in production but was suspended because of money problems..

[Darren]

Apparantly, they want Michael Sheen to play Blofeld.

[SiHart]

I thought Blofield was lost somewhere in rights hell? It'd be great of they could bring him back- it's been far too long since Bond fought his arch -nemesis.

Si xx

[Darren]

His last appearance was allegedly in For Your Eyes Only. Allegedly, because he was not mentioned by name in the film, and the actor wasn't credited.

[SiHart]

And thrown down a great big chimney too.

I believe he was played by the guy who played Sondergaard in The Mutants- John Hollis.

Si xx

[SiHart]

It's called Skyfall according to this morning's press conference.

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.

Javier Bardem plays the villain, Dame Judi is back as M and Albert Finney and Ben Whishaw are co-stars.

[Anthony Williams]

Javier Bardem plays the villain, Dame Judi is back as M and Albert Finney and Ben Whishaw are co-stars.

But who will be the bikini-clad eye candy!?

[SiHart]

Ben Whishaw?

[Anthony Williams]

In a bikini!?!?

[SiHart]

Well, it might be a bit odd at first, but I'd soon get used to it...

[Anthony Williams]

I'm sure you would!

[Richard Brinck-Johnsen]

Si I thought you'd seen The Hour. Ben Whishaw is skinnier than me so I'm not convinced about him in a mankini.

The bond girl is confirmed as Bérénice Marlohe

[Dirk Gently]

The bond girl is confirmed as Bérénice Marlohe

I might have to check this movie out @ the cinema.

[Rob McCow]

Ooooo! Ben 'The Hour' Whishaw?

Great title - Great premise - YES!!!

[Anthony Williams]

The bond girl is confirmed as Bérénice Marlohe

Oooooh lovely

[Rob McCow]

Q's Back!

British actor Ben Whishaw has been cast as Q in the new Bond film Skyfall, his agent has confirmed.

The role of 007's gadget designer was played by Desmond Llewelyn in From Russia With Love and most recently by John Cleese, opposite Pierce Brosnan, in 2002's Die Another Day.

At the age of 31, Whishaw is 12 years younger than Bond actor Daniel Craig, a first for the Q character.

Whishaw recently starred in the BBC's 1950s news drama The Hour.

He is due to play Richard II opposite Rory Kinnear in a new BBC Shakespeare adaptation which is part of next year's cultural programming to coincide with the Olympics.

The actor played Ariel in Julie Taymor's recent film adaptation of The Tempest opposite Dame Helen Mirren.

His other credits include Criminal Justice, Brideshead Revisited and the literary big screen adaptation of Perfume.

Q is the head of Branch Q, the fictional armoury division of the secret service. He appeared briefly in the first Bond film Dr No in 1962 under his real name Major Boothroyd, played by actor Peter Burton.

His next appearance was in 1963 in From Russia With Love, played by Welsh actor Llewelyn, who played the role in every subsequent Bond film, except Live And Let Die, until his death in 1999.
Desmond Llewelyn's final Bond film was The World Is Not Enough.
The character returned just once in 2002, played by former Python Cleese.

As well as Craig returning as 007 in his third outing, British actors Naomie Harris and Albert Finney will join him in the 23rd Bond film, due out next year.

Oscar-winning Spanish actor Javier Bardem has been cast as Skyfall's main villain.

Could be big things for Ben Whishaw? I saw him in 'The Hour' and thought he was fantastic!

[SiHart]

yay!

[Richard Brinck-Johnsen]

Ben Whishaw was my first choice for the 11th Doctor and if I didn't want to see an older actor next time would probably still be my first choice for number 12 so I'm delighted by this news.
Also totally failed to realise Whishaw was playing Richard II in the new BBC version of that coming next year. As that's one of my favourite Shakespeare plays I might just about persuade myself to stay in the country for the cultural olympiad after all.

[Si Hunt]

Why isn't Cleese back? He needs the money!

Si.

[SiHart]

Because he wasn't very good!

[Darren]

The first trailer for SkyFall.

Is it me or does Daniel Craig look a little gaunt?

[SiHart]

There's a new Q in town and look who it is...

[Nyder]

Marvellous. A cute Q. Whatever next?