Bond 22 to Visit the Inner Bond

Want to start the New Year with a look in to the next Bond film? Look no further, ‘cause it’s all here!
The James Bond franchise has been a success from the moment that ex-Naval Intelligence Commander Ian Fleming decided that a look in to the clandestine world of MI-5 would be a good read. Since then, six actors have portrayed Bond, James Bond, and the franchise is one of history’s most popular film franchises.

So it is good news that principal photography begins on Bond 22 January 3rd.

The latest Bond, Daniel Craig – who has also been in the spotlight for his role in The Golden Compass – has almost unanimously been voted the most popular Bond ever. There will always be fans of Connery and Moore, and maybe even a fan or two for Lazenby, but Daniel Craig has reinvented the character, by going back to the books roots.

The director for the latest incarnation of the series is Swiss born Marc Forster. He’s picking up where Martin Campbell left off, but taking a different tact. Instead of a jet setting Bond as we’ve grown to know and love, we’re travelling inside Bonds head.

"When Bond began in the Connery days, travel was a luxury not everyone could afford. Today, the world has become smaller,” said Forster in a recent interview. “If Bond goes to a beach with palm trees it's almost banal now. The only interesting trip remains the journey inwards, deep in to the psyche".

And it looks like Forster has the head for the job as well, adding later that the studios have only vetoed ideas of his that were simply too expensive. "Financially, there are limits - even on a Bond film", he said, "otherwise, I have been able to realise my vision".

Being cast alongside Daniel Craig (we think) is British actress Gemma Atherton. The 22 year old actress will next be seen on screen alongside Caterina Murino, also of Casino Royale fame, in the movie St Trinian's. That being said though, it appears that Atherton will not be the main Bond girl, with whom Bond recovers from the loss of his true love, played by Eva Green in Casino Royale.

Lastly, the baddies – or as Mathieu Amalric prefers to be known – the villains. The actor who seems to have a lot of French films under his belt, but not much else (not necessarily a discredit to his name, mind you) will be playing a character named Maurice Green.

Mexican actor Joaquin Cosío will apparently also line up alongside Amalric, in a movie which apparently has several baddies. "There are several antagonists [in the film] and I am one of them. I play General Medrano, the enemy of Bond in Latin America, although there are other villains who are Europeans."

So for all of us who have some serious Bond cravings, and even more Daniel Craig cravings (I’ll admit, I have a serious man-crush on Craig), it’s nice to see this movie getting on with being filmed. And, according to our friends over at IMDB, it’s making its international debut on the 5th of November 2008, and American debut on the 7th. All good news from where I’m sitting!
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JHill
1/2/2008
MI6