James Bond 23 News

Unused Kincade poster revealed

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 00:24:35 +0000

The nature of Albert Finney’s role in Skyfall was just one of the many closely guarded secrets whilst the 23rd Bond film was in production. It took months before we got our first unofficial look at Kincade, the Skyfall groundskeeper who aids 007 in his final assault against Silva.

It is quite understandable that the legendary British actor, Finney, was not a major part of the promotion. Nevertheless, artists behind the Skyfall promotional campaign prepared a poster of the fine old gentleman, which has recently been released online.

Sneak peek at “Skyfall” DVD menus

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 00:18:38 +0000

With the latest Bond adventure less than a month away from its DVD release and news coverage of the fantastic, drawn-out production Skyfall coming to a close, there’s not so much to discuss round these parts… but we were delighted to see the beautiful Roger Deakins cinematography showcased in these DVD menus:

First look at the “Skyfall” DVD release

Tue, 01 Jan 2013 00:12:01 +0000

Bond will be back in our homes sooner than one might have thought with the Skyfall DVD release recently brought forward from March to February 2013.

And unlike previous DVD releases in the Craig era, it seems that Bond fans will not be disappointed with respect to the Special Features, bonuses and extras that come with the film.

A preliminary Behind The Scenes feature list has been released:

Intro – 2:21
Opening Sequence – The Death of Bond 4:15
Title Sequence – Working The Titles 2:57
007 – The return of James Bond 3:46
Q- Back to Basics 1:54
DB5 – Behind the wheel 1:33
Women – The Good, The Bad and the Beautiful 4:22
Villains – In The Shadows 7:00
Locations – License To Travel 3:23
Music – The Sound of Bond 3:38
The End sequence – The Beginning of the End 13:57
M – Changes 4:42
The Future – New Beginnings 2:10
Skyfall Premiere 5:00
Soundtrack promotional spot 0:29

Directors and producers commentaries are also expected.

“Skyfall” hits the billion dollar mark

Mon, 31 Dec 2012 23:59:33 +0000

It was announced today that SKYFALL, the 23rd James Bond adventure, has surpassed $1 billion at the worldwide box office. SKYFALL is the most successful Bond film of all time, the highest-grossing film of all time in the UK, the first film to pass £100 million at the UK box office and it is also the most successful film at the worldwide box office in Sony Pictures history.

Skyfall took in $4.6 million this weekend in North America for a cumulative to date of $289.6 million. Overseas, the film grossed $10.3 million for an international total to date of $710.6 million and a worldwide cumulative exceeding $1 billion and growing.

Thank you, Bond fans around the world, for making SKYFALL such an incredible success.

Javier Bardem awarded for his role as Silva in “Skyfall”

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 00:14:00 +0000

The villainous and creepy Silva is ably played by Spaniard Javier Bardem, and the Press Academy agree!

Bardem was amongst the winners at the Satellite Awards this month, securing their “Best Supporting Actor” nod.

Skyfall is being pushed by both Sony and EON Productions to be shortlisted for an Oscar in the New Year.

“Skyfall” earns $33m at the box office in its first day

Sat, 10 Nov 2012 22:24:14 +0000

After breaking all the records in the UK and Europe, Skyfall opened across the US and Canada yesterday and received a impressive $33 million at the box office.

Predictions that the film will have made $80+ million by the end of the weekend are not pie-in-the-sky.

It is understood that the film cost around $200m to make – although an official figure was never released – and so taking into account its UK and European successes, Sony Pictures are already in the black, with several weeks of box office earning (not to mention DVD sales!) to go.

Screenwriter John Logan explains how the “Skyfall” villain goes ‘mano-a-mano’ with Bond

Sat, 10 Nov 2012 22:18:57 +0000

John Logan is new to the Bond franchise, but already his debut, Skyfall, is winning critics hearts and getting the popular vote with phenomenal turnouts at the box offices.

Logan explained how the character of Silva and 007 spar in a long dialogue scene that introduces Javier Bardem’s character.

The sequence makes passing reference to Bond’s homoerotic past as a public schoolboy. Logan clears up some of his thinking behind the references to 007′s “gay past” and the of writing of Bardem’s camp character:

“Some people claim it’s because I’m, in fact, gay but not true at all,” Logan told The Hollywood Reporter at the NYC premiere of the film, thrown by Tribeca Film Institute. “Sam and I were discussing, there were so many scenes where Bond goes mano-a-mano with the villain, whether it’s Dr. No or Goldfinger or whatever, and there’s been so many ways to do a cat-and-mouse and intimidate Bond, and we thought, what would truly make the audience uncomfortable is sexual intimidation; playing the sort of homoerotic card that is sort of always there subtextually with characters like Scaramanga in Man With the Golden Gun or Dr. No. So we just decided that we should play the card and enjoy it.”

“Skyfall” is the UK’s most successful film of 2012

Sat, 10 Nov 2012 02:39:40 +0000

EON Productions, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios and Sony Pictures Entertainment are delighted to announce that SKYFALL has become the biggest film at the UK box office in 2012 surpassing The Dark Knight Rises with an extraordinary box office total of over £57m in just 12 days. It is now also the biggest Bond movie of all time in the UK exceeding the £55.6m achieved by CASINO ROYALE in 2006.

In response to this incredible news, producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli said “We are thrilled and proud to reach this box office landmark in record time and are delighted that UK audiences continue to enjoy SKYFALL.”

“We could not be more proud of this amazing achievement. Kudos again to all involved with this film, which clearly delivers on every level,” said Gary Barber, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, MGM.

“SKYFALL continues to set records in the UK and all over the world and we could not be more proud of the film and its continued success,” said Jeff Blake, Chairman of Sony Pictures Worldwide Marketing & Distribution.

SKYFALL, the 23rd James Bond adventure, continuing the longest running and most successful franchise in film history, opened in 587 cinemas across the UK and Ireland on Friday 26th October. It will release in the US on November 9th.

Mendes considered casting Connery in “Skyfall”

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 00:22:26 +0000

One of the early and usually unfounded rumors to circulate about Skyfall (then just “Bond 23″) was that the old Bond actors would be back for cameos. Of course, non of this eventuated… But, director Sam Mendes has recently revealed that he did consider asking Connery to cameo in the film, possibly in the role that was ultimately filled by Albert Finney.

He told the Huffington Post:

You brought back a lot of nostalgia. There’s a scene in Scotland with Albert Finney. Was there any thought of approaching Sean Connery for that role?
There was a definite discussion about that — way, way early on. But I think that’s problematic. Because, to me, it becomes too … it would take you out of the movie. Connery is Bond and he’s not going to come back as another character. It’s like, he’s been there. So, it was a very brief flirtation with that thought, but it was never going to happen, because I thought it would distract.

Obviously this wasn’t taken too seriously, as Barbara Broccoli (and if we recall correctly, Mendes has echoed this sentiment) has said, several times, that they got their ‘dream cast’ and that people they asked to take part in Skyfall were cast in the film.

If and when you see the film, let us know if you think Connery would be a good substitute for Finney?

New MI6 Confidential magazine packed with “Skyfall” interviews

Tue, 06 Nov 2012 22:56:05 +0000

MI6 Confidential, the full-colour magazine celebrating the world of James Bond 007, returns with its eighteenth issue.

We undeniably have a classic in the making on our hands in the form of “Skyfall”. To celebrate the release of the 23rd adventure, MI6 Confidential takes you behind the scenes of the shoot with an exhaustive account of the production.

Also in this issue, Daniel Craig gives MI6 a candid interview about his role both on screen and off and Sam Mendes comments on the return of some of the classic Bond elements. Rounding out the coverage are interviews with Javier Bardem, the producers, and the new Bond girl Bérénice Marlohe.

Daniel Craig Interview – the 007 star talks about “Skyfall” and the future of Bond
Bringing Bond Home – An exhaustive account of the making of the 23rd Bond film
Classic Ingredients – Director Sam Mendes shares some classic “Skyfall” Bond moments
You Naughty Boy – Bérénice Marlohe reflects on her relationship with 007
Are You Sitting Comfortably? – Javier Bardem dissects his creepy character
Standing on the Shoulders of Giants – Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli on the 007 legacy
Everything or Nothing – The Saltzman & Broccoli families unite to celebrate 50 years of Bond
The Bond Connection – Celebrating Harry Saltzman’s lesser known pre-Bond productions

Issue #18 is now shipping around the world. To order online, visit www.mi6confidential.com.