The stunt team for the "Casino Royale" is in place with pre-production work under way, but without some of the usual famous faces...

Casino Royale Stunt Team In Place
29th September 2005

With pre-production of "Casino Royale" going to schedule, despite the lack of official casting of the lead role, early stunt arrangement for the 21st James Bond film has begun.

A core stunt team has already been put together, under the stewardship of Gary Powell - stunt coordinator. London born Powell has just finished work with director Martin Campbell on his previous film "The Legend of Zorro". Powell already has 007 form, having doubled James Bond in 1999's "The World Is Not Enough" and Pierce Brosnan's debut outing "GoldenEye" in 1995.

Missing In Action
MI6 has learned that long-time Bond family member and stunt director extraordinaire Vic Armstrong, who has been action unit director or stunt coordinator on the last three movies, will not be part of the "Casino Royale" production team.

"Die Another Day" was often criticised for it's over reliance on CGI and editing style of the stunt sequences, which were actually the responsibility of director Lee Tamahori and American editor Christian Wagner respectively. "Casino Royale" action is expected to rely less on technology and will go back to Bond basics.

 


Above: The last 007 outing, "Die Another Day", used a record number of computer effects.

"The World Is Not Enough" stunt coordinator Simon Crane, who is now shooting "X-Men 3" in Vancouver, will also be missing from the "Casino Royale" team according to production sources.

Licenced To Thrill
However, three other stunt artists have been confirmed. Nicola Berwick will return from "Die Another Day" when she acted as Rosamund Pike's stunt double, and also recently worked with Campbell on "Zorro". Fellow "Zorro" performer Diz Sharpe will also join "Casino Royale", following his work with Campbell. Stunt performer Kyle Gardiner has also been confirmed, and is new to the Bond franchise.

Pre-production work is starting in the Bahamas, with a start date of early January still in mind despite the lack of a James Bond. As MI6 reported earlier in the week, an announcement on the casting of 007 has been scheduled for early October, pending an agreement by Eon Productions and Sony this month.

"Casino Royale", the 21st James Bond film, will be directed by Martin Campbell and shooting is scheduled to commence on January 17th 2006 for release on October 19th 2006. No casting decisions have been made officially. Stay tuned to MI6 for the latest and most accurate coverage of Casino Royale.

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