Akon

In recent days, both Daniel Craig and Pierce Brosnan have thrown their support behind casting the first black Bond. These statements have come hot on the heels of Barack Obama being elected the first African American President of the United States of America. Well, now rapper Akon has tossed his hat into the ring, stating that he would love the chance to be the next Bond.

According to The Hindu, Akon is quoted as saying “my ideal Bond girl would be Nicole. I think she’d be perfect. Lewis wouldn’t mind if I borrowed her for a minute. He seems like a pretty secure guy. He’s handsome and a world champion. I don’t think he’d be worried”.

The report goes on to say, “Akon is even making plans to fund his own Bond venture if the present producers refuse to sign him. He said, “a lot of people don’t know that I’m heavily trained in martial arts. And when it comes to cars – that’s my thing. I was raised on cars. I could do acting. It would probably take me six months to a year of training to make sure I’d get the role. I could handle that role, no problem. If I don’t ever get the opportunity then I’m gonna shoot my own”

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Barack Obama

Last week, Daniel Craig caused a stir when he said that now that Barack Obama has been elected as the 44th President of the USA, the time was perfect for a black James Bond. Well, Pierce Brosnan has taken that statement one step further by saying that Obama himself would make a quality 007.

According to ET Online, “He’s cool enough. He’s definitely got the walk and the talk, yes,” the actor told People magazine at the second annual Jane Goodall Institute Global Leadership Awards Celebration in Washington, D.C. “But I think he’s going to make a greater president,” Brosnan said, adding, “And Mr. Daniel Craig is a great Bond of his time.”

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A new deal was just inked between MGM Studios and YouTube that will allow the popular streaming video site to offer visitors full-length movies. MGM is the first movie company to sign a contract and it is currently not known exactly what films it will provide YouTube. All that is known for sure is that none of the Bond movies will be amongst those put online.

According to TechRadar, Jim Packer, MGM’s Co-President of Worldwide Television, admitted: “I don’t think you are going to be seeing a James Bond movie on YouTube. That’s a very special franchise for us. We are very cautions about where we put those movies.”

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This year, Big Apple Con is proud to say that George Lazenby is appearing at the convention in addition to several other guests. Also appearing will be Gloria Hendry and Lynn-Holly Johnson. There is also an extensive list of guest artists as well as several other Celebrity personalities such as Kate Mulgrew from Star Trek and Michael Uslan, producer of several Batman films as well as a dealers room with a variety of vendors.

Big Apple Con takes Place in NYC at the Penn Plaza Pavillion, 401 Seventh Ave at 33rd Street. New York City.

2008 November 14th, 15th and 16th

Friday 1pm-8pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am-7pm

Kids FREE Sunday – Under 12 with adult

To discuss this story and all the latest James Bond news with 007 fans from around the world, please visit the MI6 Debriefing Room

ReelzChannel, a digital cable channel in the USA, will be airing a week of James Bond themed programming from November 10 – 16, 2008. Segments will include a behind-the-scenes look at the franchise, a review of the characters, exclusive interviews, classic trailers and lots of Quantum of Solace coverage.

Click here to see if ReelzChannel is available in your area

In addition, www.reelzchannel.com will join the celebration with original Bond-themed online content and pop-culture elements including “The Worst-Laid Plans of Bond Villains” and “Ten Bond Girls We’d Like to See,” as well as star interviews, clips and features from the network’s programming event.

The exclusive programming will include:

“Secret’s Out” (Monday, November 10, 10 p.m. ET/PT, encore on Friday, November 14, 9 p.m. ET/PT). Hosted by renowned movie critic Leonard Maltin, the series spotlights those movie gems that, while they didn’t make box-office history, deserve the attention of movie fans. For “Bond Week,” Maltin will interview James Bond movie expert Collin Stutz, co-author of the “James Bond Encyclopedia.” He also will review hidden gem movies featuring the cast of Quantum of Solace, including Daniel Craig (Sylvia); Mathieu Amalric (The Diving Bell and the Butterfly), Jeffrey Wright (Syriana), Giancarlo Giannini (Swept Away) and Judi Dench (The Shipping News).”

“Dailies” (weekdays beginning Monday, November 10, 8 p.m. ET/PT) ReelzChannel’s signature daily movie news and information show Throughout “Bond Week” the “Dailies” team will present fascinating segments and breaking news about the latest in the storied James Bond franchise. Interviews include the movie’s stars Daniel Craig and Olga Kurylenko and director Marc Forster. Also included are features on the history of James Bond’s cars; a review of the success of past Bond movies; the ultimate James Bond fan, whose collection is so compelling that the CIA requested it for display at their headquarters in Langley, VA; and reviews of Quantum of Solace from Variety’s noted movie critics. The show’s “First Fans” feature will get immediate reactions from Bond loyalists who score tickets to the very first screenings.

“Movie Mob” (Monday, November 10, 8:30 p.m. ET/PT) Criticism and passions are sure to run high during this opinionated half-hour hosted by former mob member Sara Fletcher. The series is the first show to feature an all-online cast who vie each week to keep their coveted spots as movie critics. During “Bond Week,” Mob members weigh in on Quantum of Solace as well as debating who has been the best James Bond and what has been the best Bond movie. Mob members will also re-enact their favorite James Bond movie moments.

“The Big Tease” (Wednesday, November 12, 8:30 p.m. ET/PT) Jill Simonian and Jeremy Parsons host this lively half-hour original series dedicated to the beloved movie trailer. This special edition of the show pays homage to six Bond movies – one for each of the six actors who have portrayed the legendary spy. Featured: Daniel Craig (Quantum of Solace); Pierce Brosnan (GoldenEye); Roger Moore (The Spy Who Loved Me); Timothy Dalton (The Living Daylights); George Lazenby (On Her Majesty’s Secret Service); and Sean Connery (Goldfinger).
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“ReelzChannel Spotlight: The Legacy of Bond” (Thursday, November 13, 8:30 p.m. ET/PT) “Dailies” correspondent Gerrad Hall hosts this special episode from London and talks one-on-one with stars of Quantum Solace including Daniel Craig and Olga Kurylenko. Special segments include a look at Bond creator Ian Fleming and his inspiration for the character; an interview with Monty Norman, one of the men credited with creating the famous Bond theme music; a timeline review of the Bond movie franchise; a report on the Bond Girls over the years; and an eye-popping look at what it REALLY costs to live the extravagant Bond lifestyle.

“Movie Up” (Friday, November 14, 9:30 p.m., ET/PT) Hosted by Tory Shulman, this series is the definitive home-entertainment guide to what’s new and hot on DVD, VOD/PPV and premium channels. In a special salute to “Bond Week,” the series will feature the Blu-Ray releases of the classic 007 adventures Dr. No, Live and Let Die, and For Your Eyes Only, and a special edition DVD of the 2006 Bond re-boot, Casino Royale.

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Given the recent US presidential election victory by Barack Obama, Daniel Craig has gone on record saying that he now believes the world is ready for a black James Bond.

Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States of America

According to the Sydney Morning Herald:

“I think the role could easily be played by a black actor, because the character created by Ian Fleming in the 50s has undergone a great deal of evolution and continues to be updated.”

However, the idea might not be well received by Fleming, Craig said.

“I think he’d probably turn in his grave … [at the thought of a black Bond],” said Craig.

Craig last month suggested Senator Obama himself might make a good James Bond. At the least, he’d make a better Bond than opponent John McCain, he said.

“Obama would be the better Bond, because, if he’s true to his word, he’d be willing to quite literally look the enemy in the eye and go toe-to-toe with them,” he told American magazine, Parade.

“McCain, because of his long service and experience, would probably be a better M. There is, come to think of it, a kind of Judi Dench quality to McCain.”

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Pierce Brosnan with children...it just looks wrong if he is 007

Quantum of Solace director Marc Forster has recently revealed that the plot of the movie almost revolved around James Bond looking for Vesper Lynd’s orphaned son. It was later decided to eliminate that plot point from the movie in an effort to not deal with questions such as what to do with the son after Bond finds him. Would 007 feel like he had a responsibility to take care of the child? Would he just abandon it? These were questions that, thankfully, would never need to be addressed as writer Paul Haggis was outvoted on the idea.

According to the Coventry Telegraph:
Forster said: “Haggis had an idea they weren’t fond of, and I didn’t know if it would work or not. The idea was that Vesper in the last movie, maybe she had a kid, and there would be an orphan out there. It wasn’t anything to insult the franchise. But they felt it wasn’t particularly Bond – him looking for the kid. I think Paul thought he just leaves the kid, he doesn’t deal with it.

“But [the producers] thought that would be really nasty, too, because Bond was an orphan himself. If he would find a kid, would he just leave it? They were so vehemently against it. That was the only time I saw, really, ‘No, we can’t do that.’ They said, ‘Once he finds the kid, Bond can’t just leave the kid. It’s not right.’”

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In a plan worthy of James Bond himself, Sony Pictures is using night vision goggles in theaters in Sweden to find anyone using a camcorder to bootleg Quantum of Solace. These are unprecidented measures meant to ensure that the film does not wind up on the Internet weeks before it’s US release.

According to The Local:
“This isn’t some sort of PR-stunt, believe me, it’s simply self defence,” said the head of Sony Pictures in Sweden, Zoran Slavic to TT-Spektra.

Slavic explained that the audience is informed of the surveillance before entering the theater and that it involved security personnel equipped with night vision goggles standing in the aisles.

“It’s not something you record, it’s sort of like night binoculars which don’t cause any disturbance whatsoever,” said Slavic, who refused to divulge whether or not the measures had netted any would-be bootleggers.

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Forget Harry Potter…there’s now a new king of the one-day UK box office opening. On October 21, 2008, its first day of release, Quantum of Solace took £4.9 in ticket sales, beating out Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire’s £4.025 million take back in 1995. These numbers also eclipsed Daniel Craig‘s first James Bond movie, Casino Royale, which pulled in £2.9 million in ticket sales on its first day of business in the UK.

Source: The Press Association

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