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The 21st James Bond film is officially confirmed
as Casino Royale directed by Martin Campbell for release
in 2006
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James Bond 21 Is Casino Royale
3rd February 2005
MI6 can confirm that the 21st James Bond film will be titled
"Casino Royale" and will be directed by Martin Campbell. Eon Productions
officially announced the news in a press release today.
Michael G. Wilson and
Barbara Broccoli, producers of the James Bond films, and MGM announced
today that Martin Campbell will direct CASINO ROYALE, the 21st
film in the 007 franchise.
Above: Martin Campbell will direct the
21st James Bond film Casino Royale. |
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This
is Campbell�s second time as helmer of a James Bond film.
In 1995 he directed the hit GOLDENEYE which introduced Pierce
Brosnan to the role of 007 with great success.
Wilson and Broccoli
said: �We are thrilled that Martin has accepted our offer
to direct CASINO ROYALE. He is an extremely talented director
and we believe he will help take our films in a new and
exciting direction. He is currently finishing filming �Legend
Of Zorro�, the sequel to �The Mask Of Zorro�, and will be
joining EON Productions shortly to work on the development
of the script with our writers, Neal Purvis and Robert Wade.�
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MGM Vice Chairman and
COO Chris McGurk said: �Martin is an incredibly exciting filmmaker.
GOLDENEYE was a wonderful movie and helped reinvigorate the Bond
franchise. We�re thrilled to have him back to direct the newest
Bond.�
Born in New Zealand,
Campbell moved to England in 1966 and made his directorial debut
on the popular TV series� �The Professionals� and �Minder�. He
moved to America in 1986 to direct �Criminal Law� and �Defenceless�.
Following GOLDENEYE, he went on to direct �The Mask Of Zorro�,
�Vertical Limit� and �Beyond Borders� and is currently directing
�Legend Of Zorro�.
CASINO ROYALE will be
released in 2006 and distributed world-wide by MGM. No decision
has yet been made regarding casting for the role of �James Bond�.
Rumours Come True
Campbell directed Pierce Brosnan's "GoldenEye" in 1995 and is
set to usher in another new Bond in 2006 with "Casino Royale".
Campbell was rumoured to be linked to the production since July
2003, and the Hollywood
Reporter announced him as "signed" last month
The first ever hint that Bond 21 would be based around Ian Fleming's
first literary 007 adventure "Casino Royale" came in June
2004 when an insider leaked on the MI6 Forums that "elements
of the story have been influenced by Fleming's original 007 novel,
but it is NOT completely based on it".
You Know Your History, Mr Bond
Ian Fleming's first James Bond novel, "Casino Royale"
was published in 1953. The novel was adapted for a 1954
television show and Columbia Pictures' unofficial 1967 spy
spoof "Casino Royale," which starred Peter Sellers, Woody Allen
and David Niven. In 1999, MGM acquired the title and rights in
a settlement with Columbia's Sony Pictures parent. MGM is now
in the process of being acquired
by a Sony-led investor group.
Related Articles
Bond
21 Coverage
Pierce
Brosnan Confirms It's Over - 2nd February 2005
The
Curious History of Casino Royale
Sony
Buys MGM
Insider
Reveals "Casino Royale" Basis For Bond - 17th June 2004
(MI6 Forums)
Martin
Campbell Signs To Direct Bond 21 - 5th January 2005
