Columbia Pictures has just issued a press release announcing Olga Kurylenko as the new Bond girl (and Bond's leading lady) in Bond 22. According to the release, Kurylenko will play "the dangerously alluring Camille, who challenges Bond and helps him come to terms with the emotional consequences of Vesper's betrayal." The Ukranian actress is probably best known for her part opposite Timothy Olyphant in the recently-released Hitman. See the full press release below (which, in case you were wondering, clearly states that Gemma Arterton will be playing a fellow MI6 agent).

"Producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli of EON Productions Ltd, Sony Pictures Entertainment and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios announced today the start of principal photography on the eagerly anticipated 22nd James Bond adventure. Daniel Craig reprises his role as 007 in the film which is directed by Marc Forster and follows the success of Casino Royale, the latest and highest grossing film in the series.

Starring alongside Craig is an impressive international cast led by the critically acclaimed French actor Mathieu Amalric as the sinister villain, and the Ukranian actress Olga Kurylenko who plays 007's leading lady. Returning to Bond 22 (working title) from Casino Royale are Judi Dench in her role as M, Jeffrey Wright as Felix Leiter and Giancarlo Giannini as Mathis. Newcomer to the Bond franchise, Gemma Arterton, will play the role of MI6 Agent Fields.

Commenting on the announcement, Wilson and Broccoli said, "We are fortunate to continue in the Bond tradition of attracting the finest international actors for our starring roles. Mathieu in the role of Dominic Greene, a leading member of the villainous organization introduced in 'Casino Royale,' will be a powerful counterpart to Daniel's portrayal of Bond. Olga Kurylenko will play the dangerously alluring Camille, who challenges Bond and helps him come to terms with the emotional consequences of Vesper's betrayal."

More after the jump ...

Looks like the rumors were correct this time, as The Hollywood Reporter has just officially confirmed the casting of Gemma Arterton as the new Bond girl in next fall's highly-anticipated follow-up to Casino Royale, currently titled Bond 22. The trade says she'll play a character named "Fields" in the flick, which is scheduled to be released on November 7th. All that was said about her character was that "it's a nice-sized role," which came from a production company rep. Not much is known about the film as of now, except that it will pick up right where Casino Royale left off. For a brief look at Arterton's on-screen career, might I quote Monika from her piece early last month when Arterton's name first circulated as a major player in the casting of James Bond's next leading lady: "Gemma Arterton just spent some time Capturing Mary on television. She's about to follow that up by wreaking havoc at St. Trinian's, and from there -- she's spent some time in Guy Ritchie's RocknRolla, before being Lost in Austen as Elizabeth Bennet, and then co-starring in 3 and Out." She's young, she's unknown and she's fresh out of drama school. Arterton will join Daniel Craig (reprising his role as Bond), as well as Mathieu Amalric, who was just cast as the film's main villain.

So, does Gemma have what it takes to become a successful (and memorable) Bond girl?

[Special thanks to Patricia for the heads up]

Is this the new Bond girl? According to MI6, a local television show in Mexico is reporting that actress Mayrin Villanueva (who's done a ton of TV work in Mexico) has landed a part in the next James Bond film, currently titled Bond 22. Producers for the film, as well as Daniel Craig, have been scouting dozens of actresses and models in South America in search of an unknown, yet unbelievably gorgeous girl as the next potential Bond female. Though we're not sure whether she'll play a huge role in the film, or just serve as one of Daniel Craig's flings while he's hanging out below the border, the gal definitely looks like she can handle the super spy between the sheets. Can she recite a line or two? Who knows ... and do we care? MI6 says local news coverage in Mexico cities are receiving their news from Villanueva's husband (sorry guys) who's apparently saying that she attended several casting sessions before "producers requested her presence for the film which is currently in pre-production." So until something official comes our way, we'll consider this just a rumor -- what do you think of the gal? Directed by Marc Forster, Bond 22 is due out on November 7, 2008.

[via Latino Review]

Is it bad that I just got around to seeing Casino Royale for the first time a couple weeks ago? Lame, I know, but I needed to work up to it in my Netflix queue. Nevertheless, I absolutely loved it and anticipate Bond 22 just as much -- if not more than -- my fellow Cinematical writers. As was the case in the months leading up to Casino Royale, most of the talk revolved around who would be cast as the next Bond girl. Things came right down the wire last time, with Eva Green and Caterina Murino landing major roles. This time around, the list of female contenders became available almost immediately after Royale left theaters. Sticking with that somewhat exotic, unfamiliar vibe, names like Carice van Houten, Abbie Cornish and Rose Byrne were being thrown around. And the most concrete rumor came in the form of an Aussie scoop that claimed Cornish had flew to Singapore to meet with producers about the role. Since then, nada.

Now, however, MTV is reporting that Rose Byrne may have let slip some major casting information during a recent interview with the actress. When they asked her whether she was up for the Bond girl role, the gal denied it but said: "I think Abbie Cornish's got it." Byrne and Cornish are both Aussies, but they're also friends -- which means it's quite likely that one would know which roles the other had landed. If Cornish has landed the role, there's a good chance negotiations are still ongoing and we won't hear about it for a little while. Cornish is known for going both brunette (A Good Year) and blonde (Candy, Somersault) in her roles, but I personally would like to see some blonde on blonde action between her and Daniel Craig. What about you?

Bonus trivia question: Name the last film that featured a blonde Bond girl?

Her name is Green...Eva Green. This time the rumors turned out to be true after Casino Royale producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli (why do I love that name so much?) officially proclaimed today that Eva Green will play the next Bond girl, Vesper Lynd. It's been a wild 24 hours over at Bond camp, having just announced yesterday that Mads Mikkelsen had snagged the role of the evil Le Chiffre, prompting writers like to me to start caring again. Jeffrey Wright fans can high-five one another because the actor has also signed on to play Felix Leiter.

But who is Eva Green? {Cue theme song from The Dating Game} Well, she's 26 years old and was born in Paris, France. She's a former Emporio Armani model and can be seen in films like Kingdom of Heaven and The Dreamers. Eva has a twin sister named Joy and her father is a Swedish dentist. Oh, and she's beautiful. Wilson and Broccoli supported the casting choice today by saying, "We are thrilled that Eva and Mads have joined the cast of 'Casino Royale' completing a first rate international cast. They bring exceptional talent to the characters Ian Fleming described so vividly in his first James Bond novel."

 

If only because we haven't posted a Casino Royale Bond Girl Update lately, I feel it's important to share the latest word from one of the many alleged Vesper Lynds, Thandie Newton. According to Newton, she's totally not doing it. Though this news will greatly sadden those of you who think the Russian looks like a man and for some reason aren't into the fake lesbian, Thandie herself actually rather liked our collective, rumor-mongering attention because it "gave [her] an opportunity to fantasize about something that wasn't ever going to happen." Ah well. Bygones.

Meanwhile, of course, the movie shoots away in Prague, totally chick-free (Judi Dench might be there, but come on - she's a Dame, not a chick). It's getting so late that I'm starting to wonder if they're not just going to go out on the street and cast the first hot Czech number who walks by.

According to CommanderBond (the most obsessive Bond fan site on the web), London's Daily Mail is reporting that little-known Australian actress Rose Byrne has won the role of Vesper Lynd, Casino Royale's very own Bond girl. Though the official announcement will not be made until Friday, the Mail knows its Bond: it was the first paper to break the news that Pierce Brosnan was out, and also the first with confirmation that Daniel Craig was in. So, if we're going to believe any press rumors, this one is probably better than most.

The Mail also offers an amusing tidbit about the audition process, revealing that even casting a Bond movie requires spy skills. "She had to give a special password, Alcazar, to get into the audition." - one certainly hopes that any actress who proved incapable of remembering her password was eliminated. Wait. Do you think anyone who tracked down a password could audition? Because that would go a long way towards explaining the apparent randomness of some of the names we've been hearing.

I can't believe I just typed that headline. US Weekly, here I come...

When the tabloids started spreading the news that Angelina Jolie had turned down the role of Vesper Lynd in Casino Royale, most of us assumed that Angie's decision was based on the fact that she's obviously too big of a star to play what essentially amounts to a girlfriend role. But British rag The Globe (via Perez Hilton) is reporting that Angie's starry eyes aren't nearly as big as her stomach – or, read: She's freakin' preggers! If the tabs are to be believed, she wanted the part, but had to turn it down because of its action requirements. Jolie is said to be at least four months along, and as the Mirror reports today, a spy on the set of her latest film, A Good Shepherd, says her costumes have already been altered to make room for the – no, I can't. I can't do it. Okay, I can – baby bump. Perez also has a paparazzi shot of Miss Jolie, which seems to provide irrefutable evidence that the Oscar winner is, in fact, incubating a baby Brad – or else, she got caught on camera after a really big lunch.

I'm going to go wash the grease off of my soul before Bonnie Fuller sniffs it out and offers me a job. One last thought: wouldn't you rather have a pregnant Bond girl than see Jessica Simpson do it?

Blah blah blah Bond Girl. Blah blah blah Naomi Watts. Blah blah blah blah blah blah...

Oh, I'm sorry. You probably want me to actually pretend to care that another A- list actress has been named in association with the role of Vesper Lynde in Casino Royale. This time it's Naomi Watts, who is cowering from a few embarrassing quotes she spat out about what a big freakin' star she was about to become, right before King Kong opened to B business and she found that she was still able to roam the streets of New York and be recognized only as "that sallow blonde woman holding hands with Liev Schreiber." The rumor, reported by The Sun, is that Bond producers want Watts to do a screen test early in the new year, but that the actress is worried about taking the role for fear of being "typecast". I say, being typecast is exactly what Naomi Watts needs – at least then we might be able to pick her out of a lineup.

[via Egotastic]