- Title: UNITED KINGDOM: "Quantum of Solace" announced as next James Bond film
- Date: 31st January 2008
- Summary: IVER HEATH, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) MICHAEL G. WILSON, PRODUCER, SAYING: "I think when we were making the last film, the public and some of the critical press had some questions about Daniel. We didn't because we were seeing dailies and we were working with him every day on the set, but those questions didn't disappear until the film opened and then they did disappear. I think the public has embraced him, he is now looked upon as Bond and there is no question hanging over him."
- Embargoed: 15th February 2008 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: United Kingdom
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVA6U9GS7HR04MOPJ3XF6CO94EQA
- Story Text: New James Bond film "Quantum of Solace" sees the British super spy out for revenge on a mission that takes him to Austria, Italy and South America British actor Daniel Craig is back with a "licence to kill" after critics and cinema-goers hailed his debut in "Casino Royale" in 2006, and the first blond Bond looks set to continue the role longer term.
The plot follows on directly from "Casino Royale", as Bond aims to uncover the truth about Vesper, the beauty who seemingly betrayed him.
But doubts have already been raised about the film's title during a press briefing at Pinewood Studios just outside of London resulting in one reporter asking whether it was the "worst Bond title ever?"
Craig defended the name saying, "The statement is an Ian Fleming statement, it comes from the idea that in a relationship, if you don't have quantum of solace in a relationship, then give up. At the end of the last movie his heart's been broken and he doesn't have that quantum of solace, he doesn't have that ... closure on what happened in his life and he needs to find out."
"What is great about it is it also applies to something very important in the plot," he told Reuters in an interview during a break from filming.
The film's producer Michel G. Wilson told the media that "Quantum" contains about twice as many action sequences as "Casino Royale", which was praised for relying less on gadgets and special effects and making the Bond character more realistic, gritty and vulnerable.
British actress Dame Judi Dench is back as Bond's boss M. She believes that the film enduring success has been is its mass appeal.
"What is its secret? Well the thing about James Bond, is that it appeals to an incredible cross section of people? The appeal for my grandson's friends is fantastic and not only my grandsons, but probably for their fathers too. It is a terribly appealing character," she said.
Craig had to endure a barrage of criticism from some quarters of the media and public when he was cast in the lead roll back in October 2005. But the actor determined not to fall at the first hurdle set about proving his doubters wrong.
"I put it to bed six weeks into filming the last movie, I had to otherwise I wouldn't been able to continue. If I had taken it to heart I would have had to have given up. The criticism came, I understood what the criticism was there and I had to move on and just get on with it. From then on in, I was at peace with it."
With Craig at the helm, "Casino Royale" became the most success of all the Bond franchise films.
"I think the public has embraced him," producer Michael G. Wilson told Reuters. "He is now looked upon as Bond and there is no question hanging over him."
But for Craig it is business as usual at Pinewood studios.
"We have got different crew on this, we have got a different attitude towards this film, and this movie has to stand up on its own the same way the last one did. I would not go into this if I felt we could make this a separate movie from the last movie, even though we are carrying on chronologically. And how this affects me in the future? it is not such a bad burden to be holding at the moment."
"Quantum of Solace" is directed by German-born Marc Forster and due for release in November 2008. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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