Quantum of Solace

**Geo** · 09 Jul 2007, 04:27 PM

http://www.mi6.co.uk/sections/articl...announced.php3

Marc Forster Confirmed As Bond 22 Director
19th June 2007

Press Release
CULVER CITY, Calif., June 19, 2007 – Marc Forster will direct the 22nd James Bond adventure, it was announced today by Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, producers of the James Bond films, Sony Pictures Entertainment, and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios.

Forster is the acclaimed director of the highly anticipated motion picture The Kite Runner, adapted from Khaled Hosseini's best-selling novel. He also recently directed the comic hit Stranger Than Fiction for Sony Pictures. Previously, Forster directed the award-winning and critically acclaimed films Finding Neverland, which was nominated for seven Academy Awards® including Best Picture, and Monster's Ball, for which Halle Berry won a Best Actress Oscar®.

Forster will commence work shortly with screenwriter Paul Haggis on a draft of the screenplay by Neil Purvis and Robert Wade.

Daniel Craig will reprise the role of James Bond in the as-yet-untitled Bond 22 production, which follows Casino Royale, the highest-grossing film so far in the most successful franchise in motion picture history.

With nearly $600 million in worldwide box-office receipts, Casino Royale was also regarded by critics as one of the best Bond films yet. Bond 22 will begin filming at Pinewood Studios, London, in December 2007. Columbia Pictures will release the film worldwide on November 7, 2008.

Wilson and Broccoli said, "We are delighted that Marc Forster, with his exceptional talent and unique vision, has agreed to direct our next James Bond film."

Forster said, "I have always been drawn to different kinds of stories and I have also always been a Bond fan, so it is very exciting to take on this challenge. The new direction that the Bond character has taken offers a director a host of fresh possibilities and I look forward to working with Daniel Craig, Barbara Broccoli, and Michael Wilson, as well as the team at Sony and MGM on this new film."

Amy Pascal, Co-Chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment, added, “We had a great experience working with Marc on Stranger than Fiction and we are excited to be working with him again. He’s an actor’s director; he approaches material with intelligence and taste. What makes him the perfect choice for Bond 22 is that he will bring to this film all the elements Bond audiences expect – action, humor, suspense, and thrills."

"The Bond franchise is one of MGM's most treasured legacies," added Harry Sloan, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, MGM. "We share Michael and Barbara's confidence in Marc Forster's directing talents and support him in his efforts to continue the evolution of the Bond story for today's filmgoers."

http://www.mi6.co.uk/sections/articl...y07.php3?t=&s=

Writer & Director Discuss Bond 22
5th July 2007

The Los Angeles Film Festival event last week was a meeting of minds for the 22nd James Bond film due out on 7th November 2008. Both the recently announced director Marc Forster and returning writer Paul Haggis were in town for the festival, and spoke to the press and fellow movie makers about Daniel Craig's second outing as 007. In separate interviews at the festival's Coffee Talk forum, Forster and Haggis discussed their respective workloads and how Bond 22 is shaping up.

Forster is not known for directing big action-packed blockbusters, but when asked whether this would be an issue for Bond 22, he said "I've been trying to look into it for a while and been looking for the right project, I just haven't found it until now so I always had the fascination. I just always enjoyed them very, very much, loved the whole Indiana Jones series, the old Bonds, all those movies."

Haggis, who directed the Oscar-winning picture "Crash" before coming onboard "Casino Royale" for a script polish, was offered the job of helming Bond 22 - but turned it down. "There are certain things you can write and there are certain things you can direct. I just felt that it takes a big commitment to direct a Bond film. It's a 120 day shoot. It's a two year commitment basically to do it. If you do that on top of writing, it's almost a three year commitment. So I just didn't want to dedicate that much time. It's going to take me six months to get the script into shape as it is. I think I'll do that and then I'll go off into the next project."

Although a mammoth 007 project is looming, both are busy completing their current projects: "The Kite Runner" for Forster and "In the Valley of Elah" for Haggis - both are directing.

Although Haggis is still busy with "In the Valley of Elah", he said he was scheduled to work on the Bond 22 script as soon as the event wrapped at noon. Several crew members have commented that the film will be a 'direct continuation' of Casino Royale, but Haggis does not deem it so black and white. "I wouldn't describe it as such," said Haggis. "I think it's going to stand on its own although it does follow right on the heels of Casino Royale". One of his tasks is to mould cutting-edge action sequences in to a character-driven script, like the construction site chase in Casino Royale. "I didn't come up with the chase sequence in the beginning. That was Martin Campbell who came up with that and it was presented to me. But just the stairwell scene and things like that, I'd come up with, so I've got a couple of those planned."

I'm really looking forward to this, Casino Royale is by far my favorite Bond film and it sets up this movie very well.

It's no secret at all, but Giancarlo Giannini will reprise his role as Mathis.