Well for the sake of all of the naysayers out there, I hope they're finally used to the idea of Daniel Craig as James Bond because it looks like the guy's going to be around for a long time. The Hollywood Reporter spoke with MGM head Harry Sloan about the current state of the strike and other MGM business activity. According to THR , Sloan spoke about the importance of a successful franchise, calling them, "the base of any studio"and that is why he "signed Daniel Craig to do four more James Bond films". Most fans were already aware that Craig signed to return as Bond for the 22nd installment, but four more films is a big commitment. My guess is that MGM is securing Craig just in case ... Zac Efron needs a few more years? At least this way they won't have to go through another grueling casting process. Personally , I couldn't be happier; I was a big fan of Craig's take on the super spy, as I'm sure a lot of you were.

Bond 22 is already well underway and principal photography is set to begin this January, after the date was pushed back from December to accommodate any lost time due to the strike. Filming will take place on location in Italy, Austria, Panama and South Africa, as well as some studio work back in the UK on the newly christened 007 stage. Plus, there are still plenty of little details to work out: there's the matter of a new Bond girl, a title, and a theme song. Heck, it's possible (and likely) that Paul Haggis' script isn't finished since there's been talk of re-writes. Regardless, Bond 22 is set for release in November 2008.

[via Firstshowing.net]

No ladies, these aren't more shots of Daniel Craig emerging from the ocean in a pair of tighty-whities, but commanderbond does have the first photos of Craig on the set of Bond 22: Bond Harder. Filming took place yesterday at the Palio di Siena horse race in the Tuscan town of Siena. The race is a bi-annual event that dates back to the 11th century and is notoriously dangerous. Over 50 horses have been killed and many more injured there since 1970. Eleonora di Giuseppe of the Italian Federation of Equestrian Sport says that "horses [in the Palio] are exposed to unacceptable risks," and that putting the race in a Bond film would only glamorize the event. When asked if he felt exploited, a nearby horse shrugged and answered "Nay."

The makers of Bond 22 have been ordered not to show any violence "involving either people or animals" that takes place during the race. So filming took place yesterday but the scenes with the actors will be filmed separately and inserted at a later date. How does the race factor into the film? Well, Commanderbond is calling this a spoiler, so heads up. If you like to go into movies completely fresh, you might want to consider not reading on. (You can occupy yourself by reading and re-reading my other posts, and marveling at their grace, texture, and wit). The horse race sequence will likely be the climax of the film and "is said to see 007 pursuing the film's villain down narrow cobbled streets, then across the town's rooftops and through its medieval aqueducts as the horses charge around the Piazza del Campo. The town's bottini, a tangled network of underground tunnels, will reportedly also play a role in the film." Cool! Bond 22: The Legend of Curly's Gold will be in theaters November 7th of next year.

You might think landing a gig as director of the next James Bond film and being part of one of the greatest and most successful franchises of all time would be a dream job most directors would kill, or at the very least maim for. Well, if you do think that, you would be wrong because there's at least one director out there who isn't concerned about those kinds of things. In fact, he actually had the job then decided it wasn't for him and dropped out. Who is this seemingly crazy director? His name is Roger Michell and no, he's not crazy -- he's an artist.

According to an article at The Times Online, Michell, whose previous films include Notting Hill and several others, including two with Bond star Daniel Craig, was the producers' first choice to direct the sequel to the super-successful Casino Royale. He was in active pre-production on the film until late last year when, according to Michell, he realized that the job wasn't really for him after all. "It was because in the end I didn't feel comfortable with the Bond process, and I was very nervous that there was a start date but really no script at all. And I like to be very well prepared as a director," said Michell.

Michell was also concerned that he was doing the film for all the wrong reasons. "I'd be doing it for my friendship with Daniel Craig. I'd be doing it for the money. And not really because I yearned to do it, " said the director. Wow, someone who actually values the filmmaking process is concerned about quality and isn't just in it for the money? I don't really know what to say about that. Too often it's so obviously the opposite -- people doing films explicitly for the money and seemingly not giving any thought to quality at all. I sure hope Michell's decision starts a trend in Hollywood. If so, maybe there's still a chance to save the movie business from itself.

The producers of the James Bond series have historically taken on very traditional directors -- guys who got the job done solidly, with little innovation or originality. It seems, though, that the huge success of Casino Royale has the producers understanding that shaking (not stirring) up the formula can be a good thing. LatinoReview is reporting a rumor (and it is, at this point, still a rumor) that an offer has gone out to Marc Forster to helm Bond 22. Forster made his name with Monster's Ball, solidified his status as a major player with the entertaining but overrated Finding Neverland, and his last project was the interesting Stranger Than Fiction. According to LR, several major directors have met about the possibility of directing Bond 22, including Tony Scott (Top Gun, True Romance), Alex Proyas (The Crow, Dark City), and Jonathan Mostow (the excellent Breakdown, T3).

This isn't the first time Forster has been offered a major franchise. He was asked to direct Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, but chose to work on Finding Neverland instead. I would imagine taking on a Bond film creates the same concerns in a director that it does in the actor who steps into the tuxedo. You don't want to get pigeonholed. But each of these guys has established himself, and each would bring a completely different take to the material. Considering all the love for Casino Royale, it's a little strange Martin Campbell is not in the running, but I think fresh blood is definitely the way to go. Out of the candidates above, I personally would want to see Tony Scott's take most, just because his trashy pop sensibilities might just be what the often stuffy Bond series needs. And I know it's wishful thinking, but wouldn't you love to see what Spike Jonze, Darren Aronofsky, or Alfonso Cuaron would do with the superspy?

Are you a big James Bond fan? Do you have a few thousand dollars to spend on a trip across the pond? Then have I got a party for you! On the oh-so-perfect date of July 7th -- that's right 07/07/007 -- a huge James Bond themed charity ball will take place at the Winter Gardens near Bristol in England. In addition to heated debates with other 007 freaks about which Bond girl was the hottest (Barbara Bach, baby!), what's in store if you pony up for a ticket? The ball will have Casino Royale tables for gambling. There will be aerial performers, fire eaters, living statues, Aston Martins, and KGB agents. There will be live music from bands with names such as -- hoo boy -- "From Russia With Loveshack" (Do the B-52's know about this?).

Tickets for the event are 25...uh...pounds? I've never been to England, sorry. It's the symbol that looks like the squiggly "E." Yes, pounds. In addition, there will be a charity auction, which includes "an Ultimate Edition DVD Box Set signed by Sir Roger Moore, Maud Adams, Shirley Eaton, and more." Profits will benefit charities for prostate cancer, breast cancer, CLIC - Sargent, and Bristol Children's Hospital. Please head over to commanderbond for more info and to view the hilarious flyer -- which announces in huge letters the "Red Carpet Arrival" of Jaws, Oddjob, and Sean Connery! And then in the tiniest print imaginable lets you know that they will in fact be look-alikes! Maybe if they serve enough shaken martinis, nobody will know the difference.

Bondcast returns! Although sadly, both on the bondcast and here, we have to mourn the passing of Barry Nelson, the first actor to ever play James Bond. Oddly enough, he was an American actor, and they made James Bond an American secret agent in the adaptation of Casino Royale that he was in. He passed away on April 7th, leaving behind a pretty impressive filmography, and a lasting honor as the first James Bond. A moment of silence for Nelson, Barry Nelson.

We'll be bringing you a Bondcast review of the Queen Mary SpyFi archives exhibit on the next episode, and our Casino Royale commentary will be coming up very soon as well. It's a summer packed with Bond events, and we're going to be putting on our finest 007-wear and hitting them up. The ever-present Bondcast microphone will bring you back audio reports whenever possible. Thanks for listening, and we hope to see you back on Bondcast!

Big buzz on the Bond beat, baby! (Yeah, you like that alliteration?) As previously reported, frequent Bond scripters Neal Purvis and Robert Wade are writing the script for the 22nd James Bond film, and it will be a continuation of the events in Casino Royale. Now we know a bit more. Purvis and Wade are reportedly basing their script on four of Ian Fleming's short stories: The Hildebrand Rarity, The Property Of A Lady, Risico, and 007 In New York. I'm not a Bond expert, but some online research revealed that bits and pieces from these stories have made it into previous Bond films already. As for plot details, "the duo refused to comment on whether the plot featured Vesper's Algerian boyfriend being a central character in Bond's quest to topple the organization that Le Chiffre worked for." Title-wise, all they're saying is Bond 22 will not be called Risico.

Jeff Blake, a Sony Pictures Entertainment executive, says the script is not yet completed, but that "two things are definite: Daniel Craig is returning, and we're going November 7th [2008]. After that it gets complicated...The idea is for the movie to start shooting at the beginning of next year. It would be nice to have the draft next week. [Laughs]. The sooner the better. It's not an easy thing to do, because the bar was raised with the last picture, so we have to raise our game again." Hopefully this "game raising" doesn't involve invisible cars.

And it just wouldn't feel right if Cinematical didn't bring you at least one "Bond Girl" rumor each week, so here's the latest. There is supposed to be a "Kickboxer Girl" in the new Bond movie, which shrinks the casting pool considerably. A Turkish beauty named Fulya Keskin has submitted photos and is generating a lot of interest, because she is that all too rare commodity: "a model famous for her kickboxing talent." I thought I was the only one! Head here to check out a photo of the Turkish delight so stunning I spat out my coffee. The picture is more Maxim than Playboy, but I still wouldn't bring it up at work.

When Casino Royale buzz was in its earlier stages, there were a lot of rumors going around about Pierce Brosnan's displeasure -- mainly in promises of future regret and showers of a certain four-letter word. Personally, I find the latter funny, since the desire to be given a chance is just what Daniel Craig was feeling; the man had to put up with a ton of crap before he could prove himself on-screen. As the buzz died down and everyone got used to the new Bond, Brosnan seemed to calm down. Last week, as part of a junket report on Seraphim Falls, Cinematical asked Brosnan about the Bond bitching. He seemed to be free of the bitterness and said he hadn't even seen the new Bond film.

Somehow, amidst a blistering schedule of promoting his new film, Brosnan has apparently found time to watch Casino Royale. Hollywood.com reports that the old 007 said the new 007 is the best 007. Ever. Talk about a change in attitude! Pierce is now giving Craig the ultimate praise and finally putting out the fiery anger surrounding his stint as the super-spy. While he is still "proud to be part of that legacy," Brosnan is quoted as saying: "Daniel Craig is the greatest Bond ever and deservedly so. He was a great choice." Good on ya, Brosnan -- that can't have been easy to say.

James Bond films are always known for their action, sex appeal, explosions, guns, vehicles, Bond girls ... and the opening credit sequences. I still remember being about twelve years old and seeing Octopussy (I'm really dating myself here). My friend and I were like, "Holy crud. You can almost see naked women!" Yes, when you're twelve years-old and living in Texas, that's some pretty exciting stuff. Although these were the days before the Internet was invented, so that's probably all changed now. Believe me, it was hard enough convincing my mom to let us go see a movie called Octopussy.

The point is that the Bond film openings are meant to ooze sex and mystique. They all do an extremely good job of that, except Dr. No which is all wacky flashing lights until about halfway through, and then it morphs into a semi-sexy "Samba Lessons for Adults" sequence, and then jumps the shark into bizarro-land with a Jamaican version of "Three Blind Mice" ... we kid you not. They figured it out by From Russia With Love, and every Bond movie has had a similar opening sequence ever since.

Since we brought you every Bond movie trailer imaginable on Monday, you can find every Bond opening title sequence after the jump. YouTube user jmkaos, if you're out there reading this, thanks for all your hard work. The first martini is on us. (We can expense those, right?)

For months now, every sort of complaint has been lodged against Daniel Craig playing James Bond. "He has no charisma!" "He doesn't look the part!" "He has big ears!" You name it, people have said it. Hell, even a website was created to complain about his casting. Personally, I saw the Casino Royale trailer before Borat, and he just looked too rough. Isn't Bond supposed to be smooth and saucy, clad in a suit that seems as natural to him as his own skin? Craig is definitely an action hero, but Bond? I'm not sure.

In the latest GQ, Craig is speaking out against his critics, equating them with schoolyard bullies. He definitely has a point, and people are going to surprising lengths to express their disappointment. But should he be surprised? Fans and creaters have both vehemently hit back at casting choices of literary heroes, let alone film icons who have been around for decades. Sometimes people eat their words, like Anne Rice retracting her thoughts about Tom Cruise playing Lestat, and others are proved right, like those who were unhappy when Alicia Silverstone put on the Batgirl suit.

However, the British press is starting to review Casino Royale, and aside from a mediocre review from The Guardian, other publications like The Sun and The Daily Mail are "gushing." It is even being said that Craig is the best Bond since Connery. Are they right? Or, did someone put drugs in the ventilation system?

[via exposay.com and Dark Horizons]