Bond out for revenge in new film

Reuters

SEEKING SOLACE: Daniel Craig, who plays James Bond, and actress Olga Kurylenko, who plays Camille, have started work on a new James Bond film, The Quantum of Solace.

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New James Bond film Quantum of Solace sees the super spy out for revenge on a mission that takes him to Austria, Italy and South America.

Actor Daniel Craig is back with a license 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.

"We have talked about doing some more films with him and he seems very happy to do that," said veteran Bond producer Barbara Broccoli. "So we will do it one at a time."

First details of the 22nd instalment in the Bond franchise, including its name and plot details, were unveiled on Thursday at Pinewood studios near London.

Co-producer Michael Wilson said the title was taken from a short story by Ian Fleming, the author who created Bond.

"We thought it was an intriguing title and referenced what is happening to Bond and what happens in the film," he told reporters.

In the film new Bond girl Camille, played by Ukrainian-born Olga Kurylenko, leads the secret agent to Dominic Greene, a member of a mysterious organisation and ruthless businessman who is conspiring to control huge natural resources.

The plot follows on directly from Casino Royale, as Bond aims to uncover the truth about Vesper, the beauty who seemingly betrayed him.

"James Bond is after revenge, and Camille is after revenge & They have slightly different goals, but in the end they are going to have to collaborate," Kurylenko told reporters.

"WORST BOND TITLE EVER?"

Several reporters at the press launch questioned whether the film makers should have opted for a snappier title. A blogger for the Guardian newspaper was already asking whether it was the "worst Bond title ever?"

Craig defended the name. "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," he said in an interview.

"What is great about it is it also applies to something very important in the plot," he said during a break from filming.

Wilson said Quantum contained 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 and vulnerable.

The villain Greene is played by Frenchman Mathieu Amalric, who starred in the Oscar-nominated The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.

He said he drew inspiration from several European political leaders.

"I was trying to see the smile of Tony Blair, maybe Nicolas Sarkozy – it's the worst villain we ever had," he said.

Actress Judi Dench is back as Bond's boss M.

"The thing about James Bond, isn't it that it appeals to an incredible cross section of people?" she said.

"The appeal for my grandson's friends is fantastic and. . . probably for their fathers too."

On a tour of the main Bond set at Pinewood, journalists were shown three stages, all set in the Italian city of Siena.

In the largest, two actors, including Craig's stunt double, swung from ropes and fought in an old art gallery.

Quantum of Solace is directed by German-born Marc Forster and due for release in November.

- Reuters