IFC have been lucky enough to interview Ralph Fiennes shortly after the SkyFall press conference. Fiennes, who was unable to attend due to prior commitments, spoke briefly about his role on the 23rd Bond flick.
“I don’t get laid, that’s for sure”, Fiennes quipped.
Fuelling further speculation of his possible role as Blofeld, Fiennes suggested that “if you’re a Bond fan, then you’ll be happy”.
Despite admitting he prefers the Bond novels over the films, Fiennes praised John Logan’s script and labelled Mendes “a class act”. The English actor went onto say “they’re doing something quite special I think. I think they’re going to be great for Bond.”
Stay tuned to Universal Exports for more on the 23rd Bond film, SkyFall.
On November 3, 2011, the cast and crew of Bond 23 put on a press conference to announce the next James Bond movie: Skyfall.
In attendance were the film’s director Sam Mendes, Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, Dame Judi Dench, Naomie Harris, Berenice Marlohe, and the franchise long-standing producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli.
And, without further adieu, here is the complete press conference.
Some random thoughts I had during the press conference:
“The worst kept secret in the history of London…the title of the film” MGW
Barbara Broccoli had such a pouty face in the beginning.
I like that I’ve never heard of either Bond girl before…but boy are they beautiful!
I hope Javier Bardem puts on a thick “meeester Bond” accent.
Bummer that DC confirmed that there will be no Quantum. Here’s to hoping he’s lying.
I love that it ended with Barbara so emphatically stating that Daniel Craig will be back! Keep ‘em coming.
November 3, 2011 was a huge day in the world of 007. On the 50th anniversary of the announcement of Sean Connery as the first James Bond, the producers held a big press conference to let the world know more about the 23rd Bond movie: Skyfall.
Naturally, the Internet is abuzz with stories about the film. Here are a few of the best ones I’ve come across:
As previously announced, Oscar-winning director Sam Mendes directs his first Bond adventure, which celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2012 when Skyfall is released.
One of the few details Mendes revealed to more than 100 reporters from around the world at the film’s London press launch were his cast and the locations of the blockbuster, which starts production on Monday.
Bond regulars Craig and Judi Dench, as his stern spymaster M, return to their roles, Spanish actor Javier Bardem plays the villain and French actress Berenice Marlohe and Britain’s Naomie Harris are Bond girls.
All five were at the press briefing, where they were joined by Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson.
In addition, Mendes said the latest installment in one of cinema’s longest and most successful film franchises will feature Ben Whishaw “who will be playing a part I can’t tell you about in scenes I can tell you nothing about.
“And Albert Finney, who will also be playing a part I can tell you nothing about in scenes that I can’t really tell you about and Ralph Fiennes, who, similarly, I can give you very little information about.”
Asked whether he had not named all of the characters the leading actors would be playing because Bond fans might recognize them, the “American Beauty” director replied: “They might do. On the other hand they might not.”
What producers have confirmed is that Skyfall will take Bond on another action-packed mission to London, Shanghai, Istanbul and Scotland.
A press release gave a brief plot outline, saying Bond’s loyalty to M is tested “as her past comes back to haunt her.
“As MI6 (British intelligence) comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.”
NO “AUSTERITY” BOND
Mendes and his producers sought to reassure fans that tough economic conditions in the real world would not make the fictional exploits of the suave superspy any less spectacular.
“It, I think, has all the elements of a classic Bond movie, including, to quell any rumors, a lot of action,” Mendes said.
Wilson added: “I think it’s in the same (cost) range as the last film and we really haven’t had to change anything in the script. We haven’t had to sacrifice anything.”
And of course the BBC covered the Skyfall James Bond 23 press conference
The latest 007 adventure will star Daniel Craig for the third time. Leading ladies have been confirmed as French actress Berenice Marlohe and Naomie Harris.
Skyfall is being directed by Sam Mendes, who won an Oscar for 1999′s American Beauty.
Mendes said the storyline will take the secret agent to London, China, Turkey and Scotland.
It will see Bond’s loyalty tested to M, his superior, while espionage headquarters MI6 faces an attack.
The movie, which sees the return of Dame Judi Dench as spy boss M, will also star Ralph Fiennes, Albert Finney and Javier Bardem as the villain of the piece.
It will be released in the UK on 26 October 2012.
Craig told reporters in London that the cast would start filming sequences for the new movie later on Thursday.
Daniel Craig and French actress Berenice Marlohe on their roles in Skyfall
Much speculation about the new film has focused on what Mendes will bring to the franchise, with some suggesting he will tone down – or even abandon altogether – the action sequences.
But the director denied that this was the case. He told reporters in London that the “fantastic script” had “all the elements of a classic Bond movie, including – to quell any rumours – lots of action”.
When asked what fans could expect from the latest film, he added: “The movie will reveal everything, and there’s lots of surprises.”
Producer Barbara Broccoli said no-one had yet been chosen to write and perform the Bond theme tune.
In a recent interview, Daniel Craig was asked if Bond 23 was going to be the final part in a trilogy involving the group Quantum. To this he replied, “No *#$&!@% way. I’m done with that story. I want to lie on a beach for the first half an hour of the next movie drinking a cocktail.” Now the final sentence was obviously a joke, but the interview has led to all news media definitively stating that Bond 23 will be completely different.
While the staff at Universal Exports is torn between this being good or bad news, the fact of the matter is that this was just a random interview with a man tired of James Bond at the moment. There is no script, nor any idea of what the plot will be. All that has been confirmed is what Daniel Craig HOPES for the next film. Granted, he does have more than a little pull, but still, the interview should be taken at face value.
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!”
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”
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
“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.”
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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