Let’s hope that Daniel Craig didn’t pig out over Christmas, because the new 007 movie – rumoured to be entitled 007, of course – starts shooting today at Pinewood Studios, giving the blond Bond no time for detox.
And, going hand-in-hand with the announcement that director Marc Forster is even now, as you read this, yelling ‘action!’ for the first time on a Bond set, some more cast members have been announced. And we’re delighted to see that Jeffrey Wright is returning to the Bond fray as CIA agent, Felix Leiter.
Bond fans will know how important Leiter is to the franchise – he’s Bond’s American liaison and bestest buddy who often popped up in the ‘old’ 007 films until his legs were chewed off by a shark in Licence To Kill. Casino Royale being a reboot, though, meant that Leiter could be used and although it was a small role last time out, Leiter brought enough sly intelligence and promise of a burgeoning relationship with Craig’s MI6 agent to make his return a welcome one.
Interestingly, Giancarlo Giannini – who played the corrupt cop Mathis, last seen being carted off by British agents at the end of Casino Royale – has also been confirmed as a returning cast member. This lends further credence to the rumours that the new film will follow on directly from Casino Royale, so perhaps Bond has to interrogate Mr White for information about the criminal cartel that killed… well, we’ll not say just in case you’re somehow reading a story about Bond 22 without having first seen Bond 21.
There’s still no female lead in place, although an announcement is due in roughly two weeks, apparently. And, even though today’s first day is nearly a month behind schedule, Sony and MGM are still aiming for a release date of November 7 this year. Bond, Indy and Batman in one year? You lucky, lucky people.