It’s official! Mr. Bond, James Bond himself is returning to the big screen in 2012 in the newest cinematic outing titled “Skyfall” — that’s assuming, of course, that the world doesn’t end in 2012 the way they all keep saying!
The Hollywood Reporter reports that at a press conference brought Bond actor Daniel Craig back together with producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson along with Dame Judi Dench. Joining them were new villain Javier Bardem and director Sam Mendes.
Now it should be noted that in addition to being the 50th anniversary since the release of the first Bond Film, DR. NO, 2012 also puts a four-year gap between films with the same actor in the lead role. With the exception of Sean Connery in NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN, that has never happened before. The average time span between films for the actor playing Bond himself is between 2 and 3 years. If you think about it, that kind of makes sense if you want to get the most films out of your actor, but given Roger Moore’s 12 years in the part, I guess Mr. Craig COULD last… then again it got to be kinda creepy towards the end watching Roger Moore with women who could well have been his daughters.
Either way, according to THR , Broccoli and Wilson see Craig in the role for the next six years. At this rate, that’s one and a half more movies. So get it while you can.
Mendes is an interesting choice for directing duties. I loved his film AMERICAN BEAUTY and he brought a wonderful performance out of Daniel Craig in ROAD TO PERDITION, but very little can prepare you for the red-line-adrenaline necessary to direct a modern-day Bond film (they used to be a bit more subdued and therefore a little more manageable, if not any easier technically.)
In my opinion Javier Bardem makes a great villain. While he has been know to project romanticism and vulnerability, he also has the ability to be as sinister looking as any bad guy you’d ever want to avoid. This should be good.
I’m hoping that the time delay will give the production time the perspective that QUANTUM OF SOLACE could have used. That film was a disaster. It couldn’t decide if it was the second part of the first movie or something totally different. Bond films tend to succeed when they can stand alone. And while it NEVER hurts to not to previous films (see FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE, ON HER MAJESTY’S SECRET SERVICE, FOR YOUR EYES ONLY and LICENSE TO KILL to name a few instances), it’s not necessary to pick up RIGHT where you left off. Just tell a good story and let the rest take care of itself.
In the meantime, grab your Walther, order your martinis and press your tux!
James Bond WILL return in SKYFALL in 2012
Can’t wait. I LOVE the bond movies.
I am a Bond fan and have many of the books and all the videos icnduling Barry Nelson in the original Casino Royal’.However I am most dissapointed with the new Casino Royal and Quantum of Solace. Daniel Craig although a good actor is miscast he is just not convincing as James Bond, he lacks the sophistication and sardonic humour of his predecessors. Please return to the well proven format of the Cubby Broccolli films, James Bond theme in the background, lots gadjets and escapism with spectacular violence and movie sets, and coments like I think he got the point’ when Sir Sean Connery shot an opponent with a speargun in Thunderball’I hope that you find these comments helpful.John Keating