More Bond for Daniel Craig?

This doesn't come as much of a suprise, but the Brit actor is being touted as a possible record-holder for most appearances as Bond in the ongoing franchise.  Daniel Craig is certainly going to be picking up discussions as to whether or not to continue for 5 more films with the franchise, once production completes on the third outing: Skyfall, directed by Sam Mendes.

Hoping to surpass Roger Moore's seven appearances, producer Michael G. Wilson is hoping Craig will enlist for more action packed spy games as James Bond:

Click to read more ...

Naomie Harris Confirmed as Miss Moneypenny in 'James Bond 23'

The cast for 007's next adventure, the currently titled Bond 23, is shaping up rather nicely with some notable additions.  The latest confirmation has actress Naomie Harris slated to provide the sexual tension as Mr. Bond's secretary Miss Moneypenny in the 23rd installment, according to Dailymail.  

I was completely ignorant to who Harris was, until I realized she was in the awesome horror flick 28 Days Later.  Apparently she's also been in a few of the Pirates movies, and again my ignorance comes into play regarding those movie sequels as well.

Click to read more ...

Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes as Villains in Bond 23?

Word is director Sam Mendes plans to take the James Bond franchise into darker, more mature territory in the next film.  Earlier in the week, the studio offered a role as the main villain to Javier Bardem and are currently in talks with Ralph Fiennes about a similiar part, according to Daily Mail.

The Daily Mail also claims that unspecified offers have went out to two more well known actors for the cast of Bond 23.  I'll be curious to find out who else has been added to this already impressive cast list, if Bardem and Fiennes have officially joined Daniel Craig on the role sheet by then.  

Click to read more ...

Sam Mendes Directing 'Chocolate Factory' Musical

Because 007 is on the sidelines right now until MGM gets sold or ditches the franchise to help pay off its mountain of debt, the key players are finding other things to do. Daniel Craig has already been cast as Robert Downey, Jr.'s replacement in Cowboys & Aliens, and he may have just landed the male lead in The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, arguably the biggest uncast role in Hollywood at the moment.

Sam Mendes might be/might have been directing Bond 23, and he was certainly some kind of creative consultant on the project before EON Productions officially hit the brakes on it. So now, Mendes is going back to his roots, directing the stage version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. While Mendes is also working on a film called Chesil Beach with Carey Mulligan, the musical version of Chocolate Factory is probably more noteworthy. The songs are by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, who previously adapted John Waters' Hairspray into a big time musical. The plan is to premiere the show on the West End in 2011, then bring it to Broadway after that.

Click to read more ...

Downey, Mendes Visiting the Land of 'Oz'

We didn't mention Sam Mendes when we discussed the indefinitely delayed Bond 23, because there was still some uncertainty about his role. He was definitely going to be the showrunner, to borrow a TV term, but was he directing? That was the rumor, but it had never been announced.

But now, he's got something to fill his time until Bond comes around again. The Playlist says Mendes is in talks to direct Oz the Great and Powerful, a Wizard of Oz prequel that Robert Downey, Jr. may star in. How weird is this: Daniel Craig, Mendes' James Bond, replaced Downey in Cowboys and Aliens. Shouldn't be this small a world, should it?

Click to read more ...