MOVIE PREVIEW – Is James Bond 25 Already in Big Trouble Just as the Shooting Begins?
James Bond Producers, Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli confirmed the start of principal photography on James Bond 25 begins on 28 April 2019. From Albert R. Broccoli’s EON Productions and Metro Goldwyn Mayer Studios, the film is helmed by Cary Joji Fukunaga and stars Daniel Craig, who returns for his fifth film as Ian Fleming’s James Bond 007.
Also, Metro Goldwyn Mayer will release the 25th James Bond feature film domestically through their United Artists Releasing banner on April 8, 2020; through Universal Pictures International and Metro Goldwyn Mayer in the UK and internationally from April 3, 2020.
Director, Cary Joji Fukunaga confirmed the returning cast, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Rory Kinnear, Léa Seydoux, Ben Whishaw, Jeffrey Wright and introduced Ana de Armas, Dali Benssalah, David Dencik, Lashana Lynch, Billy Magnussen and Rami Malek.
Never say never again
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.
The 007 film will be based at Pinewood Studios in the UK, and on location in London, Italy, Jamaica and Norway. Wilson and Broccoli commented.
“We’re thrilled to return to Jamaica with Bond 25, Daniel Craig’s fifth instalment in the 007 series, where Ian Fleming created the iconic James Bond character and Dr No and Live And Let Die were filmed.”
Written by Neal Purvis & Robert Wade, Scott Z. Burns with Cary Joji Fukunaga and Phoebe Waller-Bridge, other members of the creative team are; Director of Photography Linus Sandgren, Editor Tom Cross and Elliot Graham, Production Designer Mark Tildesley, Costume Designer Suttirat Larlarb, Supervising Stunt Coordinator Olivier Schneider,قnd Unit 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.
Spectre, the 24th James Bond film, was a global box office hit, opening #1 in 81 territories around the world, including the U.S., and earning $880 million at the global box office. The film broke a new all-time box office record in the UK with the biggest seven-day opening of all time at $63.8 million. Skyfall, the 23rd film in the series, earned $1.1 billion worldwide.
The home of Ian Fleming
The start of production launch of Bond 25 was streamed live on the official James Bond channels: 007.com, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, and the video is now available on demand on all of these sites.
The announcement took place at GoldenEye in Jamaica, once the home of Ian Fleming where he created the James Bond character in 1952. Ian Fleming wrote novels and two collections of short stories on the island. GoldenEye is owned and operated by Island Outpost, founded by Chris Blackwell who formerly owned Island Records. GoldenEye will not be used as a filming location for Bond 25.
The first 007 film, Dr No, produced by Albert R Broccoli and Harry Saltzman, Fleming’s sixth novel, filmed on location in Jamaica in 1962 starring Sean Connery.
The production has employed approximately 500 local Jamaican cast and crew and has support from the Government of Jamaica led by the Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Tourism and the Film Commission.
James Bond is the longest running, and one of the most successful franchises of all time, with twenty-four films produced and the twenty-fifth about to commence principal photography. Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli succeeded Albert R ‘Cubby’ Broccoli and have produced the past eight Bond films together, including the highly successful Skyfall and Spectre. All of the James Bond films have been made in collaboration with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios or United Artists, its predecessor.
Bond 25 Villain Rami Malek Talks About Daniel Craig’s Final 007 Movie
Rami Malek will officially play the villain in the upcoming James Bond 25. After some unconfirmed reports earlier this year, the news was confirmed early this morning when director Cary Joji Fukunaga and producer Barbara Broccoli announced the production start date and the rest of the cast. Malek took part in an interview to coincide with the news and explained what it was like getting to be a part of the James Bond franchise and what he has in store for Daniel Craig.
James Bond 25 starts production on April 28th, which is just a few short days away and Rami Malek can’t wait to join up with the rest of the cast and crew. Malek talked about joining the franchise and how much it means to him, especially after coming off the crazy success of Bohemian Rhapsody, which earned him the Academy Award for Best Actor. But, one of the main things he spoke about was the chance to work with Daniel Craig on his last 007 outings. Malek had this to say.
“I’m gonna give him a run for it…”
“I think Daniel has just done such an astounding job with just making him in a way relatable. Obviously, there’s a lot of things that none of us can do as James Bond, but he brings this class to it but this human factor, and he’s kind of cynical at the same time and ruthless, but you’re always rooting for him. He’s been terrific. It’ll be very interesting to go up against that man… It’s gonna be thrilling, and it’s Daniel’s last film. But I’m gonna give him a run for it,” – told Malek
As far as Rami Malek‘s favourite Bond movie, he chose Dr No, which got a big response from the live audience. Sean Connery played 007 in said movie, which is the first instalment in the mega-successful franchise. There are also some similarities to James Bond 25 because they are shooting part of the movie in Jamaica, where Dr No was shot. This has led to some speculation about a possible deeper connection between the two movies. Malek wasn’t able to elaborate for obvious reasons.
Rami Malek also couldn’t be present at the Jamaica event as „he was stuck in production” in New York, but he sent a Twitter message to those present.
A word about #BOND25 from Rami Malek pic.twitter.com/CLJ5mpO9mu
— James Bond (@007) April 25, 2019
„Do you expect me to talk? – „No Mr Bond, I expect you to DIE!”
Even though it seems like things were just starting to really get on track for James Bond 25, there may well be trouble in paradise. Eon Productions recently revealed the official cast for the upcoming entry in the long-running franchise, which has been in the works ever since Spectre was released in November 2015. While that was a nice moment for fans, in some ways, there are now rumors swirling that the production, behind the scenes, is something of a mess.
According to a new report, even though principal photography is about to get underway, and even though director Cary Joji Fukunaga has already filmed certain scenes, there is really no telling where James Bond 25 is heading. We don’t mean in the “it’s a mystery to those outside the writer’s room” sense. It seems, according to a source close to the production, who chose to remain anonymous in said report, that a train could be barrelling down the tracks on its way to becoming a wreck. Here’s what the source allegedly had to say about the situation.
“They don’t have a script, there’s no title, it is nearly five years since the last Bond. It starts with a retired Bond living in wedded bliss, but the rest of the script is still being worked over. They rolled out the cast this week at Ian Fleming’s villa in Jamaica because if they wait much longer Daniel Craig, who is 51, will be too old, and then he really won’t do the film.”
We’ve heard rumored titles, such as Shatterhand, floating around. Those were either incorrect or have since been abandoned. Either way, many were expecting the title reveal during the recent event, which didn’t come. The event itself was scrutinized, given that the gatekeepers behind the Bond franchise, Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, usually hold an elaborate and splashy press conference to announce the next entry in the franchise. This proved to be anything but. Even the big surprise wasn’t a surprise, as it had already been revealed through trade publications that Rami Malek (Bohemian Rhapsody) was set to play the main villain in the movie.
There’s also the matter of Daniel Craig. He famously said he’d rather “slash his wrists” than do another movie in the franchise just as Spectre was coming out. While he eventually changed his tune, this source claims he’s not exactly easy to work with these days.
“Everyone on the production side detests working with Daniel, he’s so difficult and makes things impossible. But [Bond producer] Barbara Broccoli thinks he walks on water, and only her opinion matters.”
Also, of note, this report mentions that Grace Jones, who appeared previously in Roger Moore’s final outing, A View to a Kill, is set to make some sort of appearance in the movie. On that note, it’s worth mentioning that Moore was 57 while filming his final movie. So Daniel Craig is by no means too old at 51. It’s also said that Christoph Waltz, who portrayed Blofeld in Spectre, will appear in a limited capacity.
James Bond 25, troubled as it may be, is set to hit theaters on April 8, 2020.
-BadSector-
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