Skyfall (sometimes styled as SkyFall) is the 23rd James Bond film, produced by Eon Productions for MGM and Columbia Pictures. The film is due for release on 26 October 2012.[2]
Skyfall | |
---|---|
Directed by | Sam Mendes |
Written by | Ian Fleming (characters) |
Screenplay by | John Logan Neal Purvis Robert Wade |
Produced by | Michael G. Wilson Barbara Broccoli |
Starring | Daniel Craig Javier Bardem Ralph Fiennes Naomie Harris Judi Dench Albert Finney Berenice Marlohe Ben Whishaw |
Cinematography | Roger Deakins |
Edited by | Stuart Baird |
Production companies | |
Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Columbia Pictures |
Country | Template:Film UK |
Language | English |
Budget | $135,000,000[1] |
Plot
James Bond's loyalty to M comes into question when MI6 is attacked. Bond must seek out and eliminate the threat while dealing with the consequences of M's past actions.[3] It has been confirmed that the events of Skyfall are unrelated to Casino Royale or Quantum of Solace.
Cast
The cast of Skyfall was officially announced at a press conference held at the Corinthia Hotel in London on 3 November 2011.
- Daniel Craig as James Bond
- Javier Bardem as the film's villain
- Ralph Fiennes as a villain. Director Sam Mendes admitted that the role was "so secret" that even he could not reveal the character's name.
- Naomie Harris as Eve. Speculation suggested that Harris would play Miss Moneypenny,[4][5][6] but the character was specifically described as "a field agent" and no surname was given.
- Bérénice Marlohe as Severin
- Albert Finney
- Ben Whishaw
- Judi Dench as M
Production
Production of Skyfall was suspended throughout 2010 because of MGM's financial troubles; however, following MGM's exit from bankruptcy on 21 December 2010, the resumed pre-production and in January 2011 was officially given a release date of 9 November 2012 by MGM and the Broccoli family, with production scheduled to start in late 2011. Since then, MGM and Sony Pictures announced that the UK and Ireland release date would be brought forward to 26 October 2012, two weeks prior to the USA release date, which will remain 9 November.[7] The film will be part of yearlong celebrations of the 50th anniversary of Dr. No and the Bond franchise. According to producer Michael G. Wilson, a docmentary crew will follow production of the film to celebrate the anniversary.
Title
In August 2011, several news websites reposted a rumour that originally appeared in Serbian newspaper Blic stating that Bond 23 would be entitled Carte Blanche and would be an adaptation of the recent continuation novel by Jeffery Deaver.[8] On 30 August, Eon Productions officially denied any link between Bond 23 and Carte Blanche, stating that "the new film is not going to be called Carte Blanche and will have nothing to do with the Jeffery Deaver book."[9]
On 3 October 2011, fifteen domain names including 'jamesbond-skyfall.com' and 'skyfallthefilm.com' were reported to have been registered on behalf of MGM and Sony Pictures by internet brand-protection service MarkMonitor. This led to supposition in media that the film had been given the name "Skyfall". These reports were not confirmed at the time by Eon Productions, Sony or MGM.[10]
Skyfall was later confirmed as the title at the November press conference.
Crew
Skyfall will be directed by Sam Mendes with a script by Bond screenwriting regulars Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, as well as John Logan.[11][12][13] Peter Morgan was originally commissioned to write a script, but left the project when MGM filed for bankruptcy and production of the film stalled. In September 2011, Morgan stated that the final script was based on his original idea, retaining what he described as the film's "big hook".[14] Roger Deakins has signed on as cinematographer, having previously worked with Mendes on Jarhead and Revolutionary Road.[15]
Locations
Sam Mendes and Barbara Broccoli travelled to South Africa for location scouting in April, 2011.[16] With the film moving into pre-production in August, reports emerged that shooting would take place in India,[17] with scenes to be shot in the Sarojini Nagar district of New Delhi[18] and on railway lines between Goa and Ahmedabad.[19] The production crew faced complications in securing permission to close sections of the Konkan Railway.[20] Similar problems in obtaining filming permits were encountered by production crews for The Dark Knight Rises and Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol.[21] Permission was eventually granted to the Bond production crew, with some additional restrictions put in place at the request of the Indian authorities;[22] however, it was later reported that the production crew had elected not to shoot in India.[23] Further reports emerged stating that filming of the film's opening scenes would take place in Istanbul's Sultanahmet Square[24] and Duntrune Castle in Argyll, Scotland for the finale.[25] China will also be featured for the first time in a Bond film.
References
- ^ Harlow, John (2 May 2011). "More than a word from 007's sponsors". The Australian. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
- ^ "James Bond 23 movie title confirmed as 'Skyfall'" on DigitalSpy, retrieved 3 Nov 2011
- ^ Eon Productions, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios and Sony Pictures Entertainment Announce 7th November Is Start of Production for 23rd James Bond Film "SKYFALL" London, Nov. 3, 2011 via PRNewswire, retrieved 3 Nov 2011
- ^ Naomie Harris confirmed as 'James Bond 23's Miss Moneypenny Friday, Jul 8 2011 at DigitalSpy, retrieved 3 Nov 2011
- ^ Naomie Harris set to bring Miss Moneypenny back in Bond 23 Monday 11 July 2011, The Guardian, retrieved 3 Nov 2011
- ^ Naomie Harris confirmed to play Moneypenny in 'Bond 23' 07/08/2011 at The Grio, retrieved 3 Nov 2011
- ^ "Bond 23 Release Dates Confirmed". MI6-HQ.com. Retrieved 5 June 2011.
- ^ "Serbian to play cello in Bond movie". Blic Online. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
- ^ "EON Productions officially deny bogus 'Carte Blanche' title rumours". MI6-HQ.com. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
- ^ Thompson, Paul (7 October 2011). "007 now has a name! The new troubled James Bond film will be called Skyfall". The Daily Mail. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
- ^ McNary, Dave (11 January 2011). "Bond to return with Daniel Craig, Sam Mendes". Variety. Retrieved 11 January 2011.
- ^ "New James Bond film starring Daniel Craig is announced". BBC. 11 January 2011. Retrieved 11 January 2011.
- ^ "Bond 23 confirmed: Daniel Craig back as 007 in new film". Guardian. 12 January 2011. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
- ^ "Daniel Craig's 'James Bond 23' retains Peter Morgan plot idea - Movies News". Digital Spy. 8 September 2011. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
- ^ "Roger Deakins confirms James Bond 23 involvement". MI6-HQ.com. 1 May 2011. Retrieved 1 May 2011.
- ^ "Bond 23 Location Scouting In South Africa". MI6-HQ.com. 6 April 2011. Retrieved 6 April 2011.
- ^ "Bond will be shot in India". Hindustan Times. 30 July 2011. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
- ^ "Latest James Bond film to be shot in India". Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
- ^ "Bond going off track in India?". Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
- ^ MI6-HQ Copyright 2011 (30 August 2011). "India negotiations continue for shooting Bond 23 railway and train stunts :: Bond 23 (2012) - The 23rd James Bond 007 Film :: MI6". Mi6-hq.com. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Unbonding with India?". Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 30 August 2011. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
- ^ MI6-HQ Copyright 2011 (31 August 2011). "Information and Broadcasting Ministry of India green-lights Bond 23 to shoot in the country :: Bond 23 (2012) - The 23rd James Bond 007 Film :: MI6". Mi6-hq.com. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Bond could have shot". Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
- ^ "007 James Bond to return to Turkey". Medasist International. 2 September 2011. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
- ^ "Scotland's oldest inhabited castle to star in next James Bond movie". The Daily Record. 25 September 2011. Retrieved 8 October 2011.