Bond 22 UK date confirmed

Sony Pictures has just informed us that Quantum of Solace has a new UK release date. It had recently been set to hit British cinemas on November 6, but that date has come forward October 31. So you can get your next fix of Bond goodness a week early and go dressed as a witch, pumpkin or other Halloween-themed whathaveyou.

The 22nd Bond film is currently shooting under the watchful eye of Marc Forster.

Source: Empire

Filming for the BBC One drama begins later this month in the West Country.

The four-hour adaptation is due to be screened in the autumn.

Tess Of The D’Urbervilles was named the nation’s 12th favourite book in a poll for World Book Day last year, and was last adapted for TV by London Weekend Television in 1997.

The BBC’s adaptation was written by David Nicholls, whose credits include Cold Feet and the James McAvoy film Starter for Ten.

Source: BBC News

A few months ago, Gemma Arterton was an unknown actress making ends meet working in a beauty shop in London’s Covent Garden.

Now the 22-year-old is not only the newest Bond girl but has won the role of Tess of the d’Urbervilles in a major BBC TV series.

Gemma was named as 007 Daniel Craig’s sidekick in the new Bond movie Quantum Of Solace just six months after graduating from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

And yesterday, the BBC confirmed she will play Thomas Hardy’s heroine Tess, alongside a top cast including Anna Massey and Jodie Whittaker, who starred opposite Peter O’Toole in the film Venus.

Ruth Jones, from BBC3 comedy Gavin and Stacey, plays Tess’s mother.

Read the full story »»

St. Trinian’s will be released on DVD in the UK on April 14, 2008 and can be pre-ordered from Amazon. No word on special features yet. We will have screencaptures and video clips of Gemma’s role once the DVD is out. I personally cannot wait to re-visit her performance!

Thanks to Lorna for sending in a scan from the April 2008 issue of Empire featuring a “Who’s Who?” in Quantum of Solace.

GALLERY LINKS:
- Magazines: Empire (UK) - April 2008

Caps from the 3 and Out trailer have now been added to the gallery. I’m loving Gemma’s look in this film!

I’ve added 2 new St Trinian’s stills, 1 article about the film from Heat magazine, and 1 interview with Gemma from Empire to our gallery. You can find a transcription of Gemma’s Empire interview in the Press Archives.

Last but not least, the first 3 and Out stills were released this week. And Yahoo! Movies UK has posted its trailer today as a world exclusive. Go here to check it out. Thanks to Billy for the heads-up. Gemma looks amazing! Captures will be coming soon. The official movie site is fully working now as well, but the trailer isn’t available there. If you watch the trailer, please share your thoughts with us and leave a comment.

The Insider and ET went to the top secret Panama City set of the new James Bond film Quantum of Solace and they both aired their exclusive interviews with the main cast and Marc Forster tonight. I made captures of Gemma’s interviews and they can be found in our gallery. The Insider and ET videos can be viewed here and here. The questions may not have been the best (”Is James ready to have sex again?”, “Is Daniel a good kisser?”, etc), but it’s always exciting to see new Bond-related promotion.

— TV Alert —

Break out that martini — shaken, not stirred; DANIEL CRAIG is back for his sophomore outing as James Bond in Quantum of Solace, set for release November 7, and ET’s own JANN CARL jet-setted all the way to Panama City to visit the super-secret set!

The 22nd Bond film in the franchise is a direct continuation of the events set in motion by Casino Royale, with 007 out for revenge on a mission that takes him to Austria, Italy and South America.

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly star MATHIEU AMALRIC is the new Bond villain, while sultry OLGA KURYLENKO and GEMMA ARTERTON step in as the new Bond Girls. Oscar winner JUDI DENCH also returns as Bond’s boss, M, with JEFFREY WRIGHT and GIANCARLO GIANNINI reprising their roles as Bond’s allies Felix Leiter and Mathis from Casino Royale.

Source: ETonline.com

Gemma is featured in the April issue of Total Film and we have scans thanks to Lorna. The young British actress talks about her character in Quantum of Solace, landing the role, (not) doing much stunt-work, living the high life and her iconic Bond moment (that will take place in a hotel room)…

GALLERY LINKS:
- Magazines: Total Film (UK) - April 2008

New UK distrib Worldwide Bonus Entertainment has launched with a five pic deal with shingle Rovinge Motion Picture Company.

The first project out of the deal is Jonathan Gershfield’s Three and Out, a laffer starring Mackenzie Crook (Pirates of the Caribbean), Colm Meaney (Kings), Imelda Staunton (Vera Drake) and Gemma Arterton (St Trinian’s).

Pic opens April 25 in the UK.

A second untitled project, said to be based on real-life events, is currently in development and slated to go into production later this year.

WBE is an integrated film and music distribution and book publishing company.

Source: Variety

Late last week, British tabloid paper Daily Star ran a report alleging that the Panama filming for the newest James Bond film, Quantum of Solace, was currently in a state of turmoil.

The crew was ‘reportedly’ being robbed by locals. The film-makers ‘reportedly’ asked a rival gang for help(!). The film’s stars, including Daniel Craig, were supposedly dodging bullets fired left and right from rival gang mambers. And so on…

Any truth to this? Not so, according to producer Barbara Broccoli.

Read the full story »»

James Bond star Daniel Craig has been caught up in a real-life action thriller, dodging bullets and armed gangs while making the new 007 film.

The 39-year-old actor found himself at the centre of a deadly gun battle after movie crews upset a fragile truce between rival mobsters.

Police guarding the star have already “taken out” one gangster in a hail of bullets. And that led to an explosion of violence that has left dozens injured.

While the stars try to film death-defying action scenes, they are also having to brave genuine gun battles on the streets of Panama.

Read the full story »»

Telemetro.com and ITN have posted videos of the Quantum of Solace welcome party in Panama as well as other footage from the set. Go here to see the Telemetro video and here for the ITN video.

GALLERY LINKS:
- Talk Shows & Interviews: Online News Segments - Telemetro (February 9, 2008)

CommanderBond.net has posted the worldwide release dates for Quantum of Solace, which you can find here.

The filming continued this Saturday.

Daniel Craig and Gemma Arterton filmed scenes for Quantum of Solace in Panama City this Friday.

Gemma Arterton’s a goddess in Tess’s tale

Calling her a “nature goddess”, the BBC is pursuing girl of the moment Gemma Arterton to star as Thomas Hardy’s earthy heroine Tess of the D’Urbervilles.

The 22-year-old actress is currently shooting the new James Bond film, Quantum Of Solace, on locations in Panama with 007 Daniel Craig. Gemma’s playing the kick-boxing Agent Fields.

Read the full story »»

The first teaser poster for the 22nd James Bond film Quantum of Solace has been officially unveiled.

Released by AOL and 007.com, the teaser poster features the shadow of James Bond. It shows 007 in a similar pose to which he ended the previous film Casino Royale, whilst interrogating Mr White. The new film will start moments later. Solace picks up a mere 20 minutes after Casino Royale concludes, making it the first direct sequel in ‘Bond’ film history.

AOL Moviefone has also released a new behind-the-scenes video. You can watch it here. Gemma can be seen towards the end. I obviously made captures of her brief appearance.