Casino Royale Casino Royale is next Bond movie Casino Royale, author Ian Fleming's first James Bond book, is to be the next Bond film, with Goldeneye director Martin Campbell behind the camera. It will be the 21st James Bond film to hit the big screen, and speculation has been rife over who will play the lead. Casino Royale was turned into a spoof spy movie by John Huston in 1967, with David Niven in the lead role. Pierce Brosnan led the past four Bond films but said producers axed him after offering him the chance to return. Among the favourites to take over the coveted role are Scottish actor Dougray Scott, Oscar nominee Clive Owen and Australian star Hugh Jackman. Producers say no decision has yet been made on who will become the seventh actor, including Niven, to play Bond on film. Kill Bill director Quentin Tarantino had talked of wanting to take on the Casino Royale project, and said he had spoken to Brosnan about it. Shooting on Casino Royale is expected to begin once Campbell has finished work on The Legend of Zorro, a sequel to The Mask of Zorro, starring Catherine Zeta Jones and Antonio Banderas. Producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson expect the film to be released in 2006. Card game The script will once again be developed by Neal Purvis and Robert Wade who have both worked on two previous Bond movies. Fleming's book saw the introduction of Bond pitted against a Russian spy in a game of baccarat. Simultaneously, a woman arrives on the scene to take his eye off the game. The novel is one of Fleming's most violent and sadistic stories, with 007 suffering a savage beating from his nemesis Le Chiffre. In addition to the 1967 film, it was also adapted for television in 1954 with actor Barry Nelson as an Americanised "Jimmy" Bond. MGM Vice Chairman Chris McGurk said: "Martin (Campbell) is an incredibly exciting film-maker. Goldeneye was a wonderful movie and helped reinvigorate the Bond franchise. We're thrilled to have him back to direct the newest Bond." New Zealand-born Campbell moved to the UK in 1966 and directed TV series such as The Professionals, Minder and Bergerac. His film credits include Vertical Limit and Beyond Borders, which starred Angelina Jolie and Clive Owen. Link So the Goldeneye guy directed Clive Owen in Beyond Borders. I wonder if this puts Owen closer to landing the job.
I would love to see Hugh Jackman. I think he would make the perfect Bond. Im a bond freak so this is great news!!!
I'm happy that Campbell is directing. Goldeneye was the best 007 film in the Brosnan era, and IMHO was one of the best 007 films of them all. Since Goldeneye, the 007 films have gotten a little crappier with each film, and the most recent one, Die Another Day, was quite possibly the worst 007 film of them all (yes, worse than Moonraker). I kinda feel like they should get an uheard-of actor to do Bond. -- droxford
I will never see any of the Hugh Jackman Bonds if he is selected. He is a terrible actor and I hope he never gets the role!
Man, this article just reminded me of how awesome the N64 Goldeneye videogame was. Best "run around and shoot your friends" game ever, I think.
Dude, Dougray Scott sucks. Thank God he was too hurt to play Wolverine in the first X-Men movie. Jackman would be cool, but X3 and Bond 21 are both supposed to be out next year. I wonder if he can film both or if the producers of Bond would want a guy who is already established in another franchise. I remember that before he was cast as Batman, there was chatter about Christian Bale being the guy. On top of that, Bale was interested in the role as well. Batman already wrapped and it seems like he has the time to do Bond before the next Batman film, but it depends if the producers would allow the star of a different franchise to be the star of this one (they are controlling, Brosnan couldn't even wear tuxedos in other movies). Also, it seems like Bale wants to only do a few big movies and fill the time in between with smaller movies that interest him. I think CR was the first Bond book, so it would make sense to get a younger guy and Bale is 30.
Casino Royale was an obvious choice, being the only Bond book not yet turned into a movie. And I like Jackman, but I'd prefer a Brit in the role of Bond.
Ok, here's something incredibly geeky...anyone else remember the episode of Star Trek TNG that included this book as the main premise?
Hugh Jackman Date of birth (location) 12 October 1968 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Mini biography Born in Sydney of English parentage, and the youngest of 5 children Gee I don't know Australia was in Europe. Ya his parents were English but no. Not quite the same thing. He has an australian accent and that folks ain't Bond. Hell No.
He was from the same country. Scotland is a part of Gt. Britain, last time I checked. Seeing an Aussie working for Her Majesty's Secret Service just doesn't sit right.
