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Thread: No Time to Die

  1. #1
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    No Time to Die

    Danny Boyle Exits As Bond 25 Director Amid Creative Differences
    by Mike Fleming Jr and Patrick Hipes
    August 21, 2018 10:38am


    Shutterstock

    Danny Boyle, who had been set as director of the next installment of the James Bond franchise, is leaving the production, producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli said today on Twitter.

    The franchise’s official social media handle said that Wilson, Broccoli and star Daniel Craig made the announcement, and that it was Boyle’s decision.


    View image on Twitter

    James Bond

    @007
    Michael G. Wilson, Barbara Broccoli and Daniel Craig today announced that due to creative differences Danny Boyle has decided to no longer direct Bond 25.

    10:10 AM - Aug 21, 2018
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    It’s unclear how this might impact the distribution plans of the latest in the 007 franchise. New U.S. distributor MGM had already set a November 8, 2019 release date for the pic, which will bow first on October 25, 2019 in the UK as part of Universal’s new international and home entertainment rights deal.

    Craig is back for his fifth film as 007, with a script that Boyle’s Trainspotting partner John Hodge wrote based on an idea by Boyle. Deadline revealed those plans, and we were told then that Boyle was only interested in participating if he could tell that specific story, his way. So it isn’t immediately clear if the producers will stick with the Hodge script, or if they go back to the version that was written by written by Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, who penned Casino Royale, Quantum Of Solace, Skyfall and Spectre. That 007 story got shelved when the producers sparked to Boyle’s pitch.

    It’s also back to the drawing board on filmmakers. At one time, the producers were looking closely at Blade Runner 2049’s Denis Villenueve, Hell or High Water‘s David Mackenzie, and ’71’s Yann Demange. Villenueve seems firmly rooted in Dune — he has Beautiful Boy star Timothee Chalamet set for the lead at Legendary.

    Mackenzie is again available, after completing the Chris Pine as Robert the Bruce Scottish epic Outlaw King, and Demange finished the Matthew McConaughey-starrer White Boy Rick. It is unclear but seems likely the two will be back on the short list. Stay tuned.
    We'll split this off into an indie Bond 25 thread when it gets more established.
    Gene Ching
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    Moving on

    AUGUST 21, 2018 3:30pm PT by Richard Newby
    Why It's Time for James Bond to Move On


    Courtesy of Sony Pictures/Photofest

    As Danny Boyle exits Bond 25 and rumors persist about who could replace Daniel Craig, the franchise should chart a fresh path forward.

    In a surprising turn of events, Danny Boyle has exited Bond 25, which had been scheduled to begin production in December for a November 2019 release. Citing creative differences, producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, along with star Daniel Craig made the official announcement Tuesday afternoon.

    The road to Bond 25 has been a long one. After a long search and much deliberation by Eon Productions, Oscar winner Danny Boyle (2008's Slumdog Millionaire) signed on to direct and write (alongside John Hodge) in March. Though the short production schedule was somewhat worrying, it seemed promising that Boyle would be able to bring something new to the franchise and place Craig’s Bond in a position he hadn’t been in before. Although the star seemed by numerous media appearances to be burned out on Bond, hiring Boyle seemed like a reinvigorating move that would allow this iteration of 007 to go out on a high note. But with the director decamping, and increased rumors and speculation about who will step into the tuxedo and Aston Martin next, maybe it’ll be better for everyone if we admit that it’s time to let Daniel Craig’s Bond re in peace.

    Without a doubt, Craig has headlined some of the long-running franchise’s best films, and he stands as a personal favorite Bond. Earlier this year, I asked if there was anything left for the actor to do as Bond, and landed on the decision that with Boyle, the answer was "yes." But without the celebrated filmmaker, who seemed sure to deconstruct the character in an emotionally cathartic way, what are we looking at? Sure, it’s feasible to imagine some great set pieces, maybe a well-cast adversary or two, but for Craig’s Bond, who has been the most introspective and emotionally damaged of all the 007 iterations, it seems his story has found closure. Unless a new director can find a way to challenge the character that wouldn’t end in “creative differences,” it really does seem like Craig has explored all he has to offer with James Bond.

    Spectre (2015), while not the best of Craig’s run despite bringing back Skyfall’s director Sam Mendes, did manage to tie up all the loose ends of the previous three installments. We see Bond come to terms with his past, finally unveil the reach of Quantum and face off against a classic adversary in Christoph Waltz’s Blofeld. The super spy even manages to curtail his womanizing ways and enter a relationship, with Madeleine Swann (Lea Seydoux), that promises permanence. Although perhaps too tidy, and too dependent on things the franchise had done before, Spectre feels like a far better sendoff than the rest of the Bonds received.

    Despite the sentiment going into Bond 25 that the film will allow Craig to end his tenure with one of the best installments, the fact remains that such an ending has yet to be achieved with any of the long-running Bonds , many of whom stayed well past the age where they could perform without looking stiff and tired. Sean Connery’s run ended with the silly Bond in Vegas entry, Diamonds Are Forever (1971). Roger Moore wrapped things up in A View to s Kill (1985), where he couldn’t match the high energy of Christopher Walken’s villain. Timothy Dalton’s Licence to Kill (1989) was a controversial departure from Bond that owed more to Miami Vice than MI6. And poor Pierce Brosnan was left with what many consider to be the worst in the franchise, Die Another Day (2002). Even the one-and-done George Lazenby’s On Her Majesty’s Secret Service ended on a downer with Bond’s wife being killed. If history serves as a map to the future, then we should consider ourselves lucky if Spectre does end up being Craig’s last entry.

    Although much has been made about Craig’s age, he’ll be 50 if the film still manages to start production this year, that remains a secondary issue. Roger Moore was 58 when he retired from Bond in 1985. Fifty-six-year-old Tom Cruise just delivered one of the best action movies of his career with Mission: Impossible – Fallout, though no one can quite match the youthful vigor of Cruise. Age isn’t an issue, especially since stars have stopped aging like they used to in Connery and Moore’s days. What is an issue is that it feels like Craig has been Bond for a long time. Cast in 2005, Craig has held the role of James Bond longer than any other actor. His 13 years with the mantle edges out Moore’s 12. There’s simply a feeling, blame it on the buzz over Idris Elba being rumored to take over the role, or Craig’s agitated comments about returning for another, that most audiences are ready to see the actor move on. In the time since Craig became Bond to the present, we’ve seen two Supermen, two Batmen, three Spider-Men, new iterations of the crew of the starship Enterprise, and new Jedi. Even Hugh Jackman hung up his Wolverine claws. Every iconic property has its life cycle, and eventually needs revamping and fresh blood to get audiences involved again. In 2018, the prospect of a new Bond feels more exciting than seeing Craig return as 007 in 2019. That’s doubly true without Boyle.

    Spectre may not have gotten the pomp and circumstance of being Craig’s last entry, but perhaps it’s better that way. It’s a fitting end to one of the best interpretations of the character, that is should Broccoli and Wilson see fit to leave it there. Rushing a new script and another Bond into production to meet the release date next year seems ill-advised and an insult to all that Craig has put into his performance. And waiting another year or two for a 2020 or 2021 release date drains any momentum left in an arc that fans are already anxious to see conclude. Rather than force an entry that is apparently no longer there, Eon should go back to the drawing board and figure out who the next Bond is, who can write and direct it, and what the character can mean for the upcoming decade. Craig hasn’t left the role yet, but his Bond seems to be in the midst of death throes. While it may be premature, it seems for now that James Bond is dead. Long live James Bond.
    Seems like just yesterday when Craig came out with Casino Royale.
    Gene Ching
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    Cary Joji Fukunaga

    SEPTEMBER 20, 2018 1:22AM PT
    Cary Joji Fukunaga to Direct New James Bond Film
    By HENRY CHU
    International Editor


    Writer Cary Joji Fukunaga attends The National Board of Review Gala, honoring the 2015 award winners, at Cipriani 42nd Street, in New York2016 National Board of Review Awards Gala, New York, USA
    CREDIT: EVAN AGOSTINI/INVISION/AP/REX/SH

    Cary Joji Fukunaga will direct the new James Bond film, the producers announced Thursday. The 25th Bond installment will begin filming in London, at Pinewood Studios, on March 4, 2019, with a worldwide release on Feb. 14, 2020, a few months after its original target date.

    Fukunaga, who won acclaim for 2015 war film “Beasts of No Nation,” replaces Danny Boyle, who exited the project last month over creative differences with producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson and returning star Daniel Craig. Fukunaga will be the Bond franchise’s first American director.

    “We are delighted to be working with Cary,” Broccoli and Wilson said on Twitter. “His versatility and innovation make him an excellent choice for our next James Bond adventure.”

    Fukunaga won an Emmy in 2014 for helming the entire first season (eight episodes) of “True Detective” and giving the crime series a cinematic look. More recently, he directed multiple episodes of Netflix’s “Maniac,” a new half-hour comedy show starring Emma Stone and Jonah Hill.

    Even so, Fukunaga was not on many – or any – Bond watchers’ radar as Boyle’s replacement. Speculation had centered on Bart Layton, director of “American Animals”; S.J. Clarkson, who has been chosen to direct the next installment in the “Star Trek” franchise; and Yann Demange, the helmer of new release “White Boy Rick.” Demange had been considered a strong contender during the first round before the job went, temporarily, to Boyle, and again during the new search.

    MGM and production company Eon had little time to pick a new director after Boyle’s Aug. 21 departure to keep the project on schedule. As it is, the new release date of Valentine’s Day 2020 is three months later than the original date of Nov. 8, 2019. MGM will distribute the film domestically and Universal internationally.

    Boyle had been hired to direct and to pen the script along with his “Trainspotting” co-writer, John Hodge. The screenplay appeared to have received the green light, and the new Bond girl and villain were soon to be cast, when Boyle and the producers abruptly parted ways. MGM and Eon then began looking for both a director and a writer, insiders said.

    Fukunaga’s debut feature film, “Sin Nombre,” earned him the directing award at Sundance in 2009; in its review, Variety hailed the arrival of “a big new talent.” He also directed 2011’s “Jane Eyre,” with Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender.
    Didn't see that one coming.
    Gene Ching
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    Lea Seydoux

    Time to split off Bond 25 into its own thread, independent of the new james bond thread.


    DECEMBER 7, 2018 10:56AM PT
    Bond 25: Lea Seydoux Returning to Franchise
    By JUSTIN KROLL
    Film Reporter
    @krolljvar


    CREDIT: COURTESY OF MGM

    With its spring shoot fast approaching, Eon and MGM have begun bringing back familiar faces for the next James Bond film as Lea Seydoux is set to reprise her “Spectre” role as psychologist Madeleine Swann, a source confirmed to Variety.

    Daniel Craig is already on board to return, with Cary Joji Fukunaga writing and directing the pic.

    Craig is currently shooting Rian Johnson’s thriller “Knives Out” and Fukunaga is still finishing the Bond 25 script, but insiders say producers have already begun building out the film’s ensemble. Besides Seydoux, Eon is looking for two other actresses — one would play an MI6 agent who works with Bond and another a mystery women — as well as the Bond villain.

    According to insiders, Rami Malek was being eyed for the villain role, but his schedule on the last season of “Mr. Robot,” which shoots from March through July, makes it unlikely that he will be able to take the gig, even if Eon offered him the part.

    MGM will release the film on Feb. 14, 2020 through a partnership with Annapurna Pictures. Universal will handle international distribution.
    Gene Ching
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    Who do you think would make a good next Bond?

    You know who I want? Nick Frost. Nick would be the best Bond ever.

    FEBRUARY 27, 2019 2:47PM PT
    ‘Bond 25’ Casting Gears Up as Production Nears Spring Start

    By JUSTIN KROLL
    Film Reporter
    @krolljvar


    CREDIT: COURTESY OF COLUMBIA PICTURES

    With production expected to start this spring, MGM and Eon are getting closer to deciding who will be joining Daniel Craig in his next outing as Agent 007 in the 25th James Bond movie.

    Producers are continuing their search for two female roles — one a new MI6 agent and the other an accomplice similar to Olga Kurylenko’s character in “Quantum of Solace” — the main villain, and an American CIA agent similar to Jeffrey Wright’s in past installments.

    Sources indicate that Billy Magnussen is the top choice to play the CIA operative that crosses paths with Bond, though it’s not known if an actual offer is on the table. Magnussen already has a working relationship with “Bond 25” writer-director Cary Joji Fukunaga after recently appearing on his Netflix series, “Maniac.” Insiders say, before coming on to “Bond 25,” Fukunaga had already tried to cast him in his Leonard Bernstein pic, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, that was shelved, and that Fukunaga’s most recent draft had the character written younger to fit Magnussen’s age.

    As for the villain, sources indicate there is renewed interest in tapping recent Oscar winner Rami Malek, after it was initially thought that scheduling could not be worked out with his commitments on the final season of “Mr. Robot.” Insiders say while meetings with other talent have taken place, producers never wavered on trying to land the role for Malek and have worked hard for months to accommodate both shoots.

    The two female leads seem to be the most open-ended as of now. Further chemistry reads with Craig are still being scheduled, since these two characters will spend the most amount of time with him on screen. It’s unknown how far along they are in this process.

    MGM had no comment regarding any news related to casting for the film.

    Fukunaga turned in his recent draft at the beginning of the year, and while reports surfaced that major rewrite work was done to the script, sources say no significant changes were made, and the producers and Craig were excited with what Fukunaga had delivered.

    Lea Seydoux, Ralph Fiennes, and Naomie Harris will also be reprising their roles in the new installment. A recent release date change from Feb. 14 to April 8, 2020, positioned the 25th entry in the series better for the summer season.

    Universal will be handling international distribution on “Bond 25,” while MGM oversees domestic in partnership with Annapurna through the new United Artists Releasing label.
    Gene Ching
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  6. #6
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    a great shame

    Danny Boyle Calls His Bond 25 Departure ‘A Great Shame’ – Exclusive


    Danny Boyle

    After directing Daniel Craig’s James Bond briefly in his Olympics opening ceremony, Danny Boyle was set to return to the world of 007 as the director of Bond 25 – but that all went awry when he left the project in August last year, owing to creative differences with Craig and producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson. His proposed version, with a script by his longtime writing collaborator John Hodge, was abandoned, with True Detective and Maniac director Cary Joji Fukunaga stepping in at the helm, and regular Bond writers Neal Purvis and Robert Wade back on scripting duties (with extra polish from Scott Z Burns).

    Speaking to Empire for our 30th birthday celebrations – Boyle is one of the directors on our 30 Adventurous Filmmakers list – the British movie maestro took on your reader questions. Among them was Ben Gummery, asking: ‘What would your James Bond film have been like?’ According to Boyle, it would have been… well, really good.


    Daniel Craig as James Bond

    “What John [Hodge] and I were doing, I thought, was really good,” Boyle responded. “It wasn’t finished, but it could have been really good.” The filmmaker added that he ‘learned quite a lot about himself’ from the experience, and has no ill feeling towards Fukunaga or the project's current iteration. “We were working very, very well, but they didn’t want to go down that route with us,” he explained on his departure. “So we decided to part company, and it would be unfair to say what it was because I don’t know what Cary [Joji Fukunaga] is going to do. I got a very nice message from him and I gave him my best wishes… It is just a great shame.”

    Since Boyle left the project, it’s undergone a few delays – but as it currently stands, the film will now arrive on 8 April 2020, possibly with Bohemian Rhapsody’s Rami Malek as its villain. Bond 25 is reported to be shooting under the production title Shatterhand – though Barbara Broccoli has debunked claims that it will be the film’s official name.
    I do like Boyle. I luved Trainspotting. Still do.
    Gene Ching
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  7. #7
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    still 25

    Still about a year out...

    APRIL 25, 2019 5:26am PT by Alex Ritman
    'James Bond 25' Cast Unveiled, But Still No Title


    'Spectre,' Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures/Columbia Pictures
    Daniel Craig as 007 in 'Spectre'

    Rami Malek is officially revealed as the chief villain, while 'Fleabag' creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge is confirmed as having joined the writing team.
    What has been known for several years simply as Bond 25 is now... still Bond 25.

    In a special announcement on Thursday, producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson together with director Cary Joji Fukanaga revealed who would be joining Daniel Craig in his fifth and final 007 outing, and teased elements of the plot, but didn't unveil a title.

    Rami Malek, fresh from his Oscar-winning turn in Bohemian Rhapsody and rumoured as the main villain for some time, was officially confirmed, alongside Lea Seydoux, reprising her role as Dr. Madelaine Swann from the previous Bond outing Spectre, plus Ben Whishaw who returns as Q, Ralph Fiennes as M and Naomie Harris as Miss Moneypenny. Also returning are Spectre's Rory Kinnear and Jeffrey Wright, who appeared in Quantum of Solace, while newcomers include Ana de Armas (Blade Runner 2049), Billy Magnussen (Game Night), Dali Benssalah, Lashana Lynch (Captain Marvel) and David Dencik (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy).

    However, for those hoping for a title – the subject of much online speculation – Wilson said that this wasn't ready to announce, claiming that keeping it a secret was "a tradition" (although Spectre's title was revealed during it's official launch)

    Instead, fans were given details of the plot, which sees Bond having left active service and is enjoying a tranquil life in Jamaica. But his peace is short-lived when his old friend Felix Leiter from the CIA turns up asking for help. The mission to rescue a kidnapped scientist turns out to be far more treacherous than expected, leading Bond onto the trail of a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology.

    Fukanaga said the locations would include Jamaica, Norway, where the team has already shot, Pinewood and London before finishing in Italy.

    Bond 25, from longstanding 007 gatekeeper and producer Eon, is being released in the U.S. on April 8, 2020 by Metro Goldwyn Mayer through its United Artists Releasing joint venture with Annapurna, and through Universal and MGM in the U.K. and internationally from April 3, 2020.

    Rather than the usual press conference at the U.K.’s Pinewood Studios, considered 007’s spiritual home, the announcement was made via a live-stream from Jamaica, the scene for iconic titles including Dr. No and Live and Let Die and the home of Bond creator Ian Fleming's Goldeneye villa. Most of the cast were in attendance, with the exception of Malek, who recorded a message from New York.

    "I promise you all I will be making sure Mr. Bond does not have an easy ride of it in this, his 25th outing," he said. Speaking later on Good Morning America, Malek described Bond as "the perfect following up to Bohemian Rhapsody, going from one iconic Brit to an iconic British franchise."

    Although the wheels now seem to be fully in motion, the 25th Bond has already been through more ups and downs than most 007 titles.

    Trainspotting director Danny Boyle was originally set to helm from a script he had put together with his long-standing collaborator John Hodge. But they parted ways with Eon over “creative differences” and Fukunaga was announced in late 2018, with regular Bond scribes Neil Purvis and Robert Wade having returned to the writing team, later joined by The Bourne Ultimatum's Scott Z. Burns. Just last month, reports emerged that Fleabag creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge had been brought on board to liven up the script. Waller-Bridge's involvement was confirmed by Wilson.

    The various changes have seen the release of the film — which has already begun some pre-production work in Italy, Norway and Jamaica, and at its regular base at Pinewood — get pushed back several from late 2019 to February 2020 and now April 2020.
    Gene Ching
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  8. #8
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    failed fireball test

    JUNE 04, 2019 11:00am PT by Alex Ritman
    'Bond 25' Accident Leaves Crewmember Injured, Pinewood Stage Damaged


    'Spectre,' Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures/Columbia Pictures
    Daniel Craig in 'Spectre'

    A controlled explosion went wrong while filming on the 25th 007 film.
    Bond 25 has suffered yet another setback, following a major accident on set at Pinewood Studios in the U.K.

    According to a statement from the official James Bond Twitter account, a controlled explosion went wrong, resulting in damage to the exterior of the famed 007 stage at the iconic studio. While it claimed there were no injuries on set, it did report that a crewmember outside the stage had suffered a "minor injury."

    View image on Twitter


    James Bond

    @007
    During the filming of a controlled explosion on the set of Bond 25 today at Pinewood Studios, damage was caused to the exterior of the 007 Stage. There were no injuries on set, however one crew member outside the stage has sustained a minor injury.

    1,197
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    The Sun newspaper claimed that crew were testing a stunt involving a fireball in a laboratory when the incident took place.

    "There were three huge explosions and it’s blown part of the Bond stage roof off and some wall panels off the stage," a source told the paper. "There were three loud explosions, one after another, and a member of the crew was lying on the floor outside the building injured."

    The news lands just weeks after 007 himself Daniel Craig reportedly damaged ankle ligaments while shooting in Jamaica, with production cancelled for a week as he underwent surgery.

    Cary Joji Fukunaga helms the latest Bond instalment, having stepped in to replace outgoing director Danny Boyle in 2018. The lineup, which was unveiled in April, sees Rami Malek cast as the main villain, while Ben Whishaw will return as Q. Also, Lea Seydoux will reprise her role from 2015's Spectre as Dr. Madeleine Swann, Naomie Harris will return as Miss Moneypenny and Ralph Fiennes will be back as M.

    The film's plot begins with Bond enjoying a tranquil life in Jamaica after leaving active service. But his peace is short-lived when his old friend Felix Leiter from the CIA turns up asking for help. The mission to rescue a kidnapped scientist turns out to be far more treacherous than expected, leading 007 onto the trail of a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology.
    I'm glad they are going back to Jamaica. If you know the original Fleming books, you know how much JA figures prominently in Bondage.
    Gene Ching
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  9. #9
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    Lashana Lynch

    Bold move.


    The black woman who will be the next 007: New James Bond film will feature British actress Lashana Lynch taking over the famous codename (but that doesn't stop legendary agent trying to seduce her)
    In a 'popcorn-dropping moment' the actress is handed Bond's number
    Bond girls have been renamed as Bond women in the new movie
    The new Bond movie pays tribute to the past 007 films
    By CAROLINE GRAHAM FOR THE MAIL ON SUNDAY IN LOS ANGELES
    PUBLISHED: 17:02 EDT, 13 July 2019 | UPDATED: 04:20 EDT, 15 July 2019

    Since Daniel Craig announced he was standing down as James Bond, debate has raged whether the next 007 should be a woman, or black.

    Now The Mail on Sunday can reveal that she will be both – thanks to the intervention of feminist TV writer Phoebe Waller-Bridge.

    In what's been called a 'popcorn-dropping moment', British star Lashana Lynch, will be given Bond's licence to kill in the 25th movie in the franchise, currently being shot in Italy and the UK.


    Come in 007: British star Lashana Lynch walks in when the James Bond spy number is called

    However, traditionalists can relax: she's not the new Bond, but a new character who takes over his secret agent number after he leaves MI6.

    The story begins with Bond retired in Jamaica. But spymaster M – played by Ralph Fiennes – calls him back in desperation to tackle a new global crisis.

    A movie insider said: 'There is a pivotal scene at the start of the film where M says 'Come in 007', and in walks Lashana who is black, beautiful and a woman.

    'It's a popcorn-dropping moment. Bond is still Bond but he's been replaced as 007 by this stunning woman.

    'Bond, of course, is sexually attracted to the new female 007 and tries his usual seduction tricks, but is baffled when they don't work on a brilliant, young black woman who basically rolls her eyes at him and has no interest in jumping into his bed. Well, certainly not at the beginning.'

    The source added that the phrase 'Bond girls' is now forbidden, saying: 'We were all told that from now on they are to be addressed as 'Bond women'.'

    Waller-Bridge, who wrote the BBC comedy Fleabag and the female-led thriller Killing Eve, was recruited to ensure the 57-year-old franchise moved with the times. She said: 'There's been a lot of talk about whether or not Bond is relevant now because of who he is and the way he treats women.


    007: Daniel Craig in action in the new movie which promises to be packed with humour

    'I think that's b******s. I think he's absolutely relevant now. [The franchise] has just got to grow. It has just got to evolve, and the important thing is that the film treats the women properly. He doesn't have to. He needs to be true to his character.'

    Ms Lynch, 31, had a breakthrough role as the fighter pilot Maria Rambeau in Captain Marvel, released earlier this year.

    Film-makers create avatar of Daniel Craig’s face for dangerous stunts
    Daniel Craig’s desire to do all his own stunts on the new Bond film has been thwarted by injury.

    But now producers have come up with a high-tech solution worthy of Q to make it look as if he’s in the thick of the action.

    Special-effects wizards have created a computer avatar of the 51-year-old star, which will enable his face to be digitally superimposed on to the body of his stunt double – Frenchman Jean-Charles Rousseau, 31.

    Craig was forced to change his stunt plans after injuring an ankle while filming a chase scene in Jamaica in May. In his 13 years as Bond, he has also smashed two teeth, dislocated a shoulder, sprained a knee and sliced the tip off one of his fingers.

    A source said: ‘Daniel is in great shape but there are some scenes he can’t do because they are too physically challenging. Plus the insurance company won’t let him. So his face will be superimposed later.’

    Originally from Hammersmith, West London, she made her debut in the 2011 drama Fast Girls, has appeared in Silent Witness and Death In Paradise and was a regular cast member on the short-lived 2015 BBC show Crims. She also played Rosaline Capulet in the American period drama series Still Star-Crossed, set after the deaths of Romeo and Juliet.

    The source said: 'Lashana is absolutely brilliant and Phoebe's script is as sharp and funny as you would expect. This Bond pays tribute to some of the earlier films with a lot of humour.'

    Indeed, one photograph taken on set shows Ms Lynch in a safari suit similar to the one Roger Moore famously wore when he played 007.

    'This is a Bond for the modern era who will appeal to a younger generation while sticking true to what we all expect in a Bond film,' the source added. 'There are spectacular chase sequences and fights, and Bond is still Bond but he's having to learn to deal with the world of #MeToo.'

    So hopefully the script will be the least of the problems for a film that has already been hit by the replacement of original director Danny Boyle, injury to Craig, and a crew member getting hurt in an explosion on set.


    Rolling back the years: Lashana Lynch's outfit will be inspired by the Roger Moore's safari suit
    Gene Ching
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  10. #10
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    Just got this press release

    Changed the title of this thread from 'Bond 25' to 'No Time to Die'

    “No Time To Die” Official Title of the 25th James Bond Film
    Directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga
    Produced by Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli
    Starring Daniel Craig as James Bond 007
    “No Time To Die” is Set to Release in the U.K. on April 3 and in the U.S on April 8

    LOS ANGELES – August 20, 2019 – James Bond Producers, Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli today released the official title of the 25th James Bond adventure, No Time To Die. The film, from Albert R. Broccoli’s EON Productions, Metro Goldwyn Mayer Studios (MGM), and Universal Pictures International is directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga (Beasts of No Nation, True Detective) and stars Daniel Craig, who returns for his fifth film as Ian Fleming’s James Bond 007. Written by Neal Purvis & Robert Wade (Spectre, Skyfall), Cary Joji Fukunaga, Scott Z. Burns (Contagion, The Bourne Ultimatum) and Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Killing Eve, Fleabag) No Time To Die is currently in production. The film will be released globally from April 3, 2020 in the U.K. through Universal Pictures International and in the U.S on April 8, from MGM via their United Artists Releasing banner.

    No Time To Die also stars Rami Malek, Léa Seydoux, Lashana Lynch, Ben Whishaw, Naomie Harris, Billy Magnussen, Ana de Armas, Rory Kinnear, David Dencik, Dali Benssalah with Jeffrey Wright and Ralph Fiennes.

    In No Time To Die, Bond has left active service and is enjoying a tranquil life in Jamaica. His peace is short-lived when his old friend Felix Leiter from the CIA turns up asking for help. The mission to rescue a kidnapped scientist turns out to be far more treacherous than expected, leading Bond onto the trail of a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology.

    Other members of the creative team are; Composer Dan Romer, Director of Photography Linus Sandgren, Editors Tom Cross and Elliot Graham, Production Designer Mark Tildesley, Costume Designer Suttirat Larlarb, Hair and Make-up Designer Daniel Phillips, Supervising Stunt Coordinator Olivier Schneider, Stunt Coordinator Lee Morrison and Visual Effects Supervisor Charlie Noble. Returning members to the team are; 2nd Unit Director Alexander Witt, Special Effects and Action Vehicles Supervisor Chris Corbould and Casting Director Debbie McWilliams.

    Casino Royale, Quantum Of Solace, Skyfall and Spectre have grossed more than $3.1 billion in worldwide box office collectively. Skyfall ($1.1 billion) and Spectre ($880 million) are the two highest-grossing films in the franchise.

    Official Posts:
    • 007.com: https://www.007.com/no-time-to-die-i...le-of-bond-25/
    • YouTube: https://youtu.be/ChJ_afRiUzo
    • Twitter: https://twitter.com/007/status/1163843400644403200
    • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamesBond00...65973060090354
    • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/B1ZENeKATNd/
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  11. #11
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    Bond Women



    Bond Women: How Rising Stars Lashana Lynch and Ana de Armas Are Helping Modernize 007

    by Rebecca Ford November 06, 2019, 5:00am PST

    In London with the 'No Time to Die' actresses, part of The Hollywood Reporter's Next Gen Talent list, as they open up about bringing James Bond into the #MeToo age: "There is an evolution."
    When Ana de Armas first arrived at London’s Pinewood Studios to shoot No Time to Die, the 25th installment in the James Bond franchise, she was a bit starstruck — though not when introduced to lead Daniel Craig. It happened as she was walking into a meeting with director Cary Joji Fukunaga, who was chatting with Phoebe Waller-Bridge, the British creator of Fleabag and Killing Eve who’d been hired to bring a fresh female perspective (and some humor) to the film’s script.

    "I saw Phoebe, and I just blushed — I got red like a tomato," says de Armas, 31. "I was like, 'Oh my God, can I hug you? I want to be your friend.' " De Armas' co-star, Lashana Lynch, had a similar reaction when she learned of Waller-Bridge's involvement. "I very literally squealed when I first heard her name," says Lynch, 31. "I thought, 'Oh my gosh, British girl just like me. She's going to know how to actually take care of women onscreen.' "

    Never has that been so critical for a Bond film. When it's released April 10, the $250 million No Time to Die will be the first entry in the series to land in a #MeToo and Time's Up world. And while the $7 billion franchise may forever be best known for its womanizing namesake agent, director Fukunaga (True Detective, Beasts of No Nation) and producer Barbara Broccoli have worked hard with both Lynch and de Armas to create a new type of female Bond character who is much more fully realized than the "Bond girls" of films past.

    "It's pretty obvious that there is an evolution in the fact that Lashana is one of the main characters in the film and wears the pants — literally. I wear the gown. She wears the pants," says de Armas, curled up in a chair in the lobby of London's Charlotte Street Hotel.

    She and Lynch, chatting about their career trajectories for THR's annual Next Gen issue, are both in the midst of breakout years. In addition to Bond, de Armas plays a lead in Rian Johnson's Knives Out (Nov. 27) and will portray Marilyn Monroe in Netflix's Blonde, arriving in 2020. Lynch co-starred in March's blockbuster Captain Marvel and will soon begin shooting FX's anticipated comic book adaptation of Y: The Last Man.

    Now they are one week away from wrapping what has been an epic six-month Bond shoot, and both are exhausted. De Armas pours two packets of sugar into her coffee. "I use a lot of sugar," says the Cuban-Spanish actress apologetically as she cracks open still another packet. "I usually put condensed milk in it — we call it café bon bon."

    Lynch, who plays a British agent in the film, is presently at her West London home sleeping after shooting late into the night, but during an interview at the Ace Hotel the next day, her voice cracks from strain and she orders a hot tea. "Luckily, we don't have any speaking scenes next week, so I don't have to use it," she says.

    These two rising stars don't have much in common when it comes their paths to Bond. One was born in Cuba. The other in London to Jamaican parents. One cut her teeth on Spanish TV, the other on the stage. But both have roots tied to this latest Bond outing, which is set in Cuba and Jamaica. And through their characters, they're helping redefine what it means to be a Bond heroine. "Everyone was really responsive to having her be what I wanted," says Lynch. "You're given a fresh perspective on a brand-new black woman in the Bond world."


    Zoe McConnell
    “Onscreen, I want to see the world as I see it when I open my front door in the morning,” says Lynch when it comes to representation. “If I have anything to do with it, it will happen.”

    Bond girls have a complicated history. For decades, they've had a reputation for being eye candy, wooed by Bond and then cast off. In 1964's Goldfinger, ***** Galore (Honor Blackman) says repeatedly she's not interested, but Bond tosses her to the ground and kisses her; in From Russia With Love (1963), Bond attempts to beat a confession out of Tatiana Romanova (Daniela Bianchi); and in 1971's Diamonds Are Forever, Bond pulls a bikini top off Marie (Denise Perrier) and strangles her with it. Recent films have brought more fully realized female characters into the series, including Judi Dench's M, Naomie Harris' Moneypenny and Léa Seydoux's Madeleine Swann, the latter two of whom return in No Time to Die. Still, both de Armas and Lynch paused before signing on.

    "[The women] have been sexualized before, a stereotype, a kind of woman who will always be in danger and waiting to be rescued by Bond," says de Armas.

    De Armas notes that she has worked hard to avoid being typecast. After attending Cuba's National Theater School, she moved to Spain when she 18. "Literally two weeks after I moved, I was cast as one of the lead actors in a new TV show that became like the most successful TV show for the next three years," she says of booking El Internado, a drama set at a boarding school. But after a few years in Madrid, she found herself outgrowing it — she was 22 playing 16. She moved to Los Angeles, where her Hands of Stone co-star Édgar Ramírez introduced her to his agent.


    Zoe McConnell
    “There’s been an evolution. She’s not just there, going from point A to B, just walking and looking beautiful,” says de Armas of her character in Bond. “She has a purpose.”

    The problem was, she didn't speak English. She found herself at CAA, sitting with "a full team that I really couldn't communicate with," she says. She even booked a major horror film, Knock Knock with Keanu Reeves, without speaking the language. "I learned it phonetically," she says. "I wasn't really sure what I was saying." She quickly enrolled in English classes and, as soon as she could say a few words, called her team with a mandate — she didn't want to go out for Latin-specific roles: "I said, 'I don't want to audition for Maria, Juana and Lola and all these things. I want to audition for the same parts that everybody is auditioning for.' "

    She booked War Dogs with Miles Teller and Jonah Hill and Overdrive with Scott Eastwood. A role in 2017's Blade Runner 2049 as Ryan Gosling's love interest was supposed to be her breakout, but the film underperformed. "I think I was home literally doing nothing for a year," she says. The paycheck did allow her to buy her first big splurge, a house in Cuba, which she still visits regularly.

    When her agents told her about a role in Knives Out, Johnson's comedic mystery ensemble, she was put off by the "pretty Latina caretaker" logline and passed on even auditioning. "I'm like, 'Latina again, really? No! I am not doing this.' " She only agreed to go in when they sent her the script and she realized the part was the heart of the film, a kind caregiver with secrets of her own who is swept up in the family drama (and vomits when she's lying). "She's obviously got tremendous skills as an actor," says Johnson, who cast her, "but those eyes, man, you just look at those eyes and instantly you're on her side." (The film features her Bond co-star Craig as well as Toni Collette, Chris Evans and Michael Shannon.)


    Dave J Hogan/Dave J Hogan/Getty Images
    From left, Sylvia Hoeks, Harrison Ford, Ryan Gosling and de Armas promoted Blade Runner 2049.


    Claire Folger/Lionsgate
    De Armas (left) and Katherine Langford in Knives Out.
    continued next post
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    Continued from previous post


    It was Bond producer Broccoli, who has overseen the franchise with her half brother Michael G. Wilson since 1995, who first thought of de Armas for No Time to Die. The two had met five years earlier, when de Armas, still new to L.A., was brought to Soho House by Knock Knock producer Colleen Camp. She introduced the actress to Broccoli, who was there with Spectre helmer Sam Mendes. "We met very briefly because I couldn't say anything [in English]," says de Armas. "But I guess Barbara never forgot that meeting." When de Armas had wrapped Knives Out, she says she got a call from Fukunaga, who told her that part of the Bond film is set in Cuba and "he wanted to write something for me."

    Broccoli, who also was key in bringing Lynch on board, has been vocal about the franchise's need to evolve. "#MeToo has influenced our culture, which is a great thing, so of course it's going to influence everything we do on Bond," she told the Daily Mail in April. "The films are representative of the times they're in."

    After producing a 2018 London play in which Lynch starred, Broccoli reached out to the actress for the role of Nomi (Lupita Nyong'o previously had been eyed, but a deal was never made, according to sources). "I trusted Barbara from the beginning," says Lynch. "I think the franchise has changed so much over the years — with the past five movies, I've witnessed the change."

    Lynch, who is of Jamaican descent, was born and raised in London, and describes herself as a "London girl through and through." She attended ArtsEd drama school then jumped into theater work, doing odd jobs to make ends meet (retail, a car service). "There was never a plan B, from 5 years old to now, there's never been one," she says. After her feature debut, the 2013 British film Fast Girls, she starred in the short-lived 2017 ABC series Still Star-Crossed, produced by Shonda Rhimes, and signed with ICM.

    Her big break came when she landed the part of Maria Rambeau, a former Air Force pilot and a single mother, in Captain Marvel, which earned $1.1 billion worldwide. "Getting into the Marvel universe was something that I'd been aiming for for two to three years," says Lynch, who had sent tapes in for Black Panther and Spider-Man: Homecoming.


    Walt Disney Studios
    Lynch in Captain Marvel.


    Charley Gallay/Getty Images
    From left: Lynch, Brie Larson and Gemma Chan at the March premiere of Captain Marvel, in which Lynch plays a pilot and single mom.

    "It's her empathy," says Captain Marvel star Brie Larson of Lynch's appeal. "It is impossible not to connect with her when you're watching her onscreen."

    Lynch says creating her Bond character was about working with Waller-Bridge and Fukunaga to shape a real woman. "I didn't want someone who was slick. I wanted someone who was rough around the edges and who has a past and a history and has issues with her weight and maybe questions what's going on with her boyfriend," she says.

    She even talked to Waller-Bridge, who is only the second woman in the history of the franchise to be a credited writer after Johanna Harwood (1962's Dr. No and 1963's From Russia With Love), about adding an issue that nearly every woman faces but rarely makes its way into action films. "We had one conversation about her maybe being on her period in one scene, and maybe at the beginning of the scene — and I spoke to Cary about this — throwing her tampon in the thing," says Lynch, making a motion of tossing trash into the bin. (She's mum about whether it made it in.)

    No Time to Die suffered no shortage of offscreen drama. Though both Lynch and de Armas joined after the director switch-up (Danny Boyle was attached but dropped out over "creative differences"), they were both impacted when Craig sustained an ankle injury in May while filming in Jamaica and had to undergo surgery. "Daniel is fierce and wonderful, and I'm sure if his eyeball was falling out he'd still be at work giving his best and giving the best shots ever," says Lynch, who continued filming while Craig recovered. De Armas' schedule was shuffled, so she left for three months and returned in October to film her scenes.

    Along with London's Pinewood, where the Cuba scenes were shot on a set, the cast filmed in Scotland, Italy, Norway and Jamaica, the latter of which was especially significant for Lynch, whose parents emigrated when they were teens. "There's a heat and spice that comes with Jamaica that no matter what you're shooting, whether it's a drama or an action movie, you can't help but feel that," she says.

    Being a part of one of the biggest franchises in movie history — and one of the most secretive — brought its own challenges. Rumors leak, both true and not (for example, de Armas says reports of an intimacy coach being hired for her scenes with Craig are false). Everything the actresses say about the film makes headlines — and they can't say much. In the lobby of the Charlotte Street Hotel, de Armas begins to talk about Paloma, then gets nervous. "I don't know how much I can tell you," she says. Five months out, only their character names have been officially confirmed, though when pressed, both actresses do divulge a little more than previously known.
    continued next post
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    Continued from previous post


    Zoe McConnell
    "I have this unwavering confidence that whatever I’ve chosen to do is gonna happen," says Lynch. "I stand firm in what I’ve decided and have chosen my team very carefully in order to be of the same mind as me."


    Zoe McConnell
    "She’s nervous, but then when she has to do what she needs to do, she nails it," says de Armas of her character in No Time to Die.

    "[Paloma] is a character that is very irresponsible," says de Armas. "She's got this bubbliness of someone who is excited to be on a mission, but she plays with this ambiguity — you don't really know if she's like a really trained, prepared partner for Bond." Sure, de Armas is running around in a gorgeous gown with sky-high heels ("No one can train you or prepare you for that," she says), but she adds that "brains and looks are equal this time. She's very smart. She helps Bond navigate through certain things that he wouldn't be able to do alone."

    So far, the biggest leak about No Time to Die is that Lynch's character begins the film having inherited the "007" designation from Bond, who has retired. (Lynch won't confirm the rumor, but sources close to the film tell THR that it's accurate.)

    When the rumor leaked, the trolls on Twitter went crazy, with many people expressing fervent anger that a black woman was being named 007. Lynch says she's been taking it in stride. "It doesn't dishearten me. It makes me feel quite sad for some people because their opinions, they're not even from a mean place — they're actually from a sad place," she says. "It's not about me. People are reacting to an idea, which has nothing to do with my life."

    She said every once in a while, she has messaged a hater back, usually saying something very nice. "Then they've been like, 'Oh my gosh, thank you so much!' But it's an interesting test because it reminds them that they definitely wouldn't say that to someone's face," she says, though she adds that she doesn't plan on interacting with trolls anymore.

    It's not only Lynch and de Armas who have a lot riding on No Time to Die, but also studio MGM, which for the first time will distribute the film via its United Artists Releasing banner co-owned with Annapurna (Universal is handling international). "Lashana and Ana both have that magical combination of a remarkable acting range matched with undeniable charisma," says Jonathan Glickman, MGM's Motion Picture Group president, noting that the team behind Bond is "committed to continuing to bring on emerging talents that allow the films to expand their relevance."

    In the meantime, both actresses will remain busy until they take off on the global promotional tour ahead of the film's release. In the new year, Lynch will shoot FX's new series Y, based on the comic book series Y: The Last Man, set in a postapocalyptic world where women rule after a cataclysmic event leaves just one man alive. "Every female character has agency and is equipped to take over the world, which is a nice reflection of where the world — and our industry in particular — is going right now," she says.

    De Armas' Marilyn Monroe biopic Blonde, from Plan B and Netflix, is awaiting a release date. "It's not what I think people think or have seen before about Marilyn," she says. "It's a very deep, raw, dark side of the same story we think we know — behind the smiles and the glamour." She's going straight from the Bond set to New Orleans to shoot New Regency's erotic thriller Deep Water with Ben Affleck. She says, with a wry smile, "So maybe I'll sleep next year, someday."


    Zoe McConnell
    "I want her to have things that she’s dealing with before she enters a scene," says Lynch of her Bond character. "I think I had enough space to explore her humanity as much as I could."


    Zoe McConnell
    Between filming Bond, de Armas shot her Marilyn Monroe film, Blonde, in Los Angeles. "It was two months of extremely intense, emotional, exhausting work," she says. "I was in every scene, in every shot. It was the most intense feeling."


    This story first appeared in the Nov. 6 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine.
    Bond girls to Bond women
    Gene Ching
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  14. #14
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    wokest?

    EXCLUSIVE: The 'wokest' 007 ever: James Bond gets an electric Aston Martin and a wife who refuses to take his second name in new Time To Die movie (but rude innuendo survives thanks to Fleabag's Phoebe Waller-Bridge)
    James Bond will drive an electric Aston Martin Rapide E in the upcoming film
    The script has Mr Bond marrying a doctor who then refuses to take his last name
    Fans might be surprised that innuendo has survived the 'woke' Bond makeover
    By CAROLINE GRAHAM IN LOS ANGELES FOR THE MAIL ON SUNDAY
    PUBLISHED: 17:01 EST, 9 November 2019 | UPDATED: 21:52 EST, 10 November 2019

    It has been billed as the most politically correct James Bond movie yet – but No Time To Die has not entirely done away with Benny Hill-style innuendo, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

    In one scene, Daniel Craig's suave secret agent is struggling to get a seaplane airborne as his passenger cries out 'Get it up! Get it up!' – prompting the wry reply: 'I've never had a problem with that before.'

    Fans who have come to love such doubles entendres might be surprised that they have survived the franchise's 'woke' makeover that has banned outdated sexism and introduced strong female characters, such as Lashana Lynch as another top British secret agent.


    The script has Bond marrying Dr Madeleine Swann – the psychologist played by French actress Lea Seydoux who first appeared in 2015's Spectre. But she refuses to take her new husband's name. The pair are pictured together above

    However, plans for her to become the first black, female 007 – taking over the codename from Craig's Bond after he retires – could be scrapped after a social-media backlash. Sources say she is now likely to get another agent number, 001.

    Earlier this year, this newspaper revealed that Fleabag creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge had been brought in as a scriptwriter to ensure the blockbuster was appropriate for the #MeToo era.

    And now we have learned more secrets from the £200 million movie, due out in April.


    Crew members were given reusable water bottles which they filled from taps, saving an estimated 230,000 single-use plastic water bottles. Daniel Craig is pictured above with reusable drink bottle on set

    The script has Bond marrying Dr Madeleine Swann – the psychologist played by French actress Lea Seydoux who first appeared in 2015's Spectre. But she refuses to take her new husband's name.

    The morning after their wedding, Bond wakes sleepy-eyed and says 'Good morning, Mrs Bond', to which she replies: 'Don't you mean Ms Swann?'

    A source said: 'The phrase 'Bond girl' was outlawed from the set. The women in this film are all strong, brave and fiercely independent. These women are not helpless girls who jump into bed with Bond – their reactions are very different from what people might think.

    'Bond tries his usual seduction techniques but they fail miserably. It's very funny.'

    Ms Lynch, 31, said of her double-O role: 'Everyone was really responsive to having her be what I wanted. You're given a fresh perspective on a brand-new black woman in the Bond world.'

    She was determined her character should be a 'real' woman 'who has issues with her weight and maybe questions what's going on with her boyfriend'.

    She even discussed something which has never made it into a Bond film before: 'We had one conversation about her maybe being on her period in one scene and… throwing her tampon [into the bin].'

    At the start of the new film, Bond has officially 'retired' to Jamaica.


    Fans who have come to love such doubles entendres might be surprised that they have survived the franchise's 'woke' makeover that has banned outdated sexism and introduced strong female characters, such as Lashana Lynch as another top British secret agent

    A movie insider said the original plan was for a 'popcorn-dropping moment' when M, played by Ralph Fiennes, says 'Come in 007' and 'this beautiful, strong black woman walks through the door'.

    Craig's Bond is brought out of retirement to work alongside the female special agent to save the world from a villain who has developed a deadly algae which threatens to kill the world's oceans – a nod to the concerns of climate campaigners.

    In that vein, producers were determined to make the most environmentally friendly 007 film ever.

    Crew members were given reusable water bottles which they filled from taps, saving an estimated 230,000 single-use plastic water bottles.

    More than 11 tons of packaging waste was also recycled, while producers sent 30 tons of food waste and biodegradable packaging to 'anaerobic digestion', in which micro-organisms break down material, producing a gas that can be used to generate electricity.

    A further 1.6 tons of food was donated to feed the homeless through the City Harvest charity.

    Even Bond's beloved gas-guzzling Aston Martin hasn't escaped the green makeover.

    Craig will drive an electric Rapide E model. Only 155 of the £250,000 vehicles have been built.


    Adele won an Oscar for the theme to 2012's Skyfall, and now speculation is rife that the singer-songwriter – who is about to release a new album – is working on the theme song for No Time To Die

    However, the character hasn't stopped flying, with filming having taken place in Italy, Jamaica, Norway and London.

    The 'get it up' double entendre comes after Bond commandeers a seaplane as police cars, sirens wailing, race along a jetty. He lands the plane on a fishing trawler and a major fight sequence takes place.

    For all the changes, fans might be able to look forward to the return of one high-value asset: Adele.

    She won an Oscar for the theme to 2012's Skyfall, and now speculation is rife that the singer-songwriter – who is about to release a new album – is working on the theme song for No Time To Die.

    '[Producer] Barbara Broccoli and Daniel Craig both asked Adele to do the title music,' our 007 source said.

    'Adele always said she didn't think she could top Skyfall but the rumour is that she's working on something.'


    Craig will drive an electric Rapide E model. Only 155 of the £250,000 vehicles have been built. However, the character hasn't stopped flying, with filming having taken place in Italy, Jamaica, Norway and London
    Ian Fleming is spinning in his grave.

    Actually, I take that back. Having read the original books, which were completely different in tone than the movie franchise, Ian was probably spinning in his grave when those first came out.
    Gene Ching
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  15. #15
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    NO TIME TO DIE Teaser

    Gene Ching
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