Judi Dench as M

The 73 year old Dame Judi Dench has said in an interview recently that she is not too keen to play M in the next James Bond movie, stating that she doubts her return.

According to ContactMusic, Dench has often threatened to walk away from the role but is usually convinced to do another one by Bond producer Barbara Broccoli.

According to Broccoli, “She had such a great relationship with Pierce on the screen and she has such a great relationship with Daniel. She is our anchor. She is the real Bond girl – the one that keeps it all going, and I don’t want her to leave. She keeps threatening to leave but I will not let her!”

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Roger Moore shows off his star on the Hollywood walk of fame

Whew, there sure has been a ton of Roger Moore related stories floating around these days; mostly because of the release of his new memoirs, My Word is My Bond. The latest from “jocular” Bond is that he does not like the new, more violent Bond.

According to an interview with Reuters, “I am happy to have done it, but I’m sad that it has turned so violent. That’s keeping up with the times, it’s what cinema-goers seem to want and it’s proved by the box-office figures,” Moore told Reuters.

Moore, recalled being appalled at the violence in A View to a Kill, “That wasn’t Bond,” he said. In his book, Moore writes of his distaste for guns, ever since he was shot in the leg by a friend with a BB gun as a teenager.

While making The Man With the Golden Gun, director Guy Hamilton wanted Bond to be tougher and had him threaten to break Maud Adams’ character’s arm to get information, he writes. “That sort of characterization didn’t sit well with me, but Guy was keen to make my Bond a little more ruthless.

“I suggested my Bond would have charmed the information out of her by bedding her first. My Bond was a lover and a giggler, but I went along with Guy,” the British actor wrote.

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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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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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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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Sean Connery and Lois Maxwell as James Bond and Miss Moneypenny

While fans and critics alike agreed that change is good after the release of Casino Royale, many were still miffed by the exclusion of Miss Moneypenny and Q from the franchise’s reboot. As Quantum of Solace is a direct continuation, it really didn’t make sense to have either character in that movie either, much to the chagrin of Bond fans worldwide.

However, Daniel Craig has recently revealed that Bond 23 might feature not only the return of Miss Moneypenny, but the first actual romantic scene between her and James Bond. While Moneypenny fantasized about Bond in Die Another Day and the two shared a passionate moment in a virtual reality environment, the two have never done anything more than flirt in ‘real life.’

According to Newspost Online:
‘I think you offer it to the best actors you can. You say, Forget what’s happened. Reinvent it and tell us what you think this character should be’, the Daily Star quoted him as saying. ‘That’s where it should come from,’ he added.

‘They said Bond could never be blonde and then Daniel Craig got the part,’ a source said.

Moneypenny is being cast with a view to the next Bond movie and who knows, she could end up in bed with Bond. Whatever happens, she will feature more than ever before, the source added.

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Daniel Craig, Judi Dench and Marc Forster at a Quantum of Solace press event

Paltalk, a Socialcasting Web site, invites you to take part in an online voice and video interview with Quantum of Solace director, Marc Forster, on October 23, 2008 at 5pm EST.

According to the Web site, “Get the insider scoop on the latest Bond gadgets and hear how Bond defeats the baddies one more time. We’ve even created a cool contest where you can submit to us your fantasy Bond Girl profile – just for fun. Two winners will get a special Bond gadget pack signed by Marc Forster. Just go to http://www.paltalk.com/bond-contest/ and enter the contest.”

For more information or to sign up to participate, head over to Paltalk’s Hollywood Now page.

The interview is completely free. Only registration is required.

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In a theft worth of Francisco Scaramanga, the original prop golden gun from 1974′s The Man With the Golden Gun was stolen on Friday, October 10, 2008, from Elstree Studios.

Francisco Scaramanga - The Man With the Golden Gun

According to Telegraph.co.uk,
Police were called to the Hertfordshire studios at Friday lunchtime to investigate the theft of the prop, believed to be worth £80,000. The gun was being cared for by Elstree Props, a tenant based at the studios.

Its website states that it offers storage of film props, as well as a service to “police the internet, dealer network and auction sites to counter theft and piracy”.

Stephen Wickenden, its managing director, said: “I’m hoping the gun will be offered to one of the memorabilia dealers and from them we can trace it back to the thief.

“We have no idea who stole it or when it was stolen but things do not usually go missing.”

It was being housed in a cabin at the studios. A spokesman for Hertfordshire Police said: “We were called to Elstree Studios in Borehamwood at 1.25pm after a report of a theft of a prop, which was the golden gun. Inquiries are ongoing.”

Asked about the theft, a spokesman for Sir Roger joked: “You’d better ask Christopher Lee about this. Search his house.”

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