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Sam Mendes Had Doubts About Daniel Craig as Bond

Daniel Craig and Sam MendesSam Mendes admits he was initially sceptical about casting Daniel Craig as James Bond.

The director revealed he was "one of the people" who didn't think the actor was the right man to play the British spy in 2006 movie Casino Royale, but he was "completely wrong" as Daniel has gone on to star as the secret agent in 2008 film Quantum of Solace and will reprise his role as the character in this year's Skyfall.

"I was one of the people who said I didn't think he was the right casting. At the time I was asked in an interview and I said I'm not sure, I would have advised him not to do it. I was completely wrong," he said.

But Sam admits it was "great" to see Daniel pull off the role after experiencing such "intense pressure" during the casting process for the part: "I bumped into him after Casino Royale and I was so excited [to see him as Bond]. To watch him go through that intense pressure of being cast as Bond with flying colors ... it was great to see him come through that and prove the doubters wrong."

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Daniel Craig Wants to Hold on to Bond Role

Daniel Craig as James BondDaniel Craig wants to play James Bond for as long as he can.

The actor will be reprising his role as the British spy for the third time in new movie Skyfall and says he has no intention of quitting until he is told to. "I will keep going until they tell me to stop," he said.

However, Daniel - who took over from Pierce Brosnan as the suave spy in 2005's Casino Royale - knows there will be a time when he has to give it up: "I know there'll be someone after me, and hopefully someone after them - I'm just trying to keep [the series] going."

Daniel, 44, says despite there being a four-year gap between Skyfall and the last Bond film Quantum of Solace, work had still been going on behind the scenes. "We haven't been resting on our laurels, we've been plotting what to do with this film. The first one was a whirr - it was a new experience and flew by - the second one was the tricky second album, but this one we've really planned and got a great script. It's going to be different from the last one, but it will still be a great Bond movie."


Sam Worthington Not Right for Bond

Sam Worthington has scored roles in Avatar and Terminator Salvation, but there was one major part he just couldn’t nab.

The 33-year-old actor admits he once aimed to become the next James Bond, but he couldn’t work out how to play the suave spy.

“I held off and held off doing the audition because I couldn’t find a way into the character. And when I finally did I went for it,” Worthington recalled. “I got a half a day of acting with director Martin Campbell. I got to do some scenes with some great actors, gave it my all, and it wasn’t right for me.”

However, the experience led Sam to believe in his abilities. That confidence helped him land the role of Jake Scully.

“I was backing myself. I had nothing to lose and everything to gain,” he told ShortList magazine. “I thought the least I’ll get out of this is to act a few scenes with James Cameron, and that’s a hell of an opportunity. I learned that from going for the James Bond audition. If I give it all I’ve got and still don’t get the part, then so be it. This time I did.”

Sam’s next movie - - opens in theaters this Friday.

Read More | ShortList Magazine

Moulin Rouge Tops Decade List

Moulin Rouge

Baz Luhrmann’s has been voted Best Film of the Decade in a poll conducted by LOVEFiLM.

The 2001 musical - which starred Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman - topped a survey of 150,000 movie fans, narrowly beating Batman epic and British zombie spoof Shaun of the Dead.

Two movies from the franchise - Fellowship of the Ring (#4) and Return of the King (#6) - also made the list.

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Daniel Craig Praised for His Torso

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Celeb News, Celebrity Gossip,

Daniel Craig in Casino Royale

has been voted Hollywood’s Hottest Torso.

The 41-year-old actor topped a Lovefilm.com poll for the scene in Casino Royale where James Bond emerges from the ocean wearing a pair of tiny blue swimming shorts. He won 34% of the vote, while came second with 21% for his shirtless scenes as Spartan king Leonidas in 300. Brad Pitt’s sculpted chest and abdomen in Troy secured third place with 13% of the vote.

came an unlikely fourth for his “mankini” scene in Borat, followed by Sean Connery in 1965 Bond adventure Thunderball and Leonardo DiCaprio in The Beach.

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Quantum of Solace Trailer

Of all the sequels releasing in 2008, there are only two that really have me excited: The Dark Knight and .

In this new trailer, we see that Bond () is still quite raw after the death of Vesper Lynd. In fact, the movie (according to co-producer Michael Wilson) picks up “literally an hour” after where Casino Royale left off.


Quantum - also starring , Gemma Arterton, Mathieu Amalric and Olga Kurylenko - is scheduled to open on November 7th.


Mel Gibson Plans Acting Return

Mel GibsonAfter spending some time under the radar, is apparently ready to make a return to acting.

Although Gibson has definitely been busy over the last several years, his primary focus has been on directorial work (, The Passion of the Christ).  It’s actually been some time since Mel has placed himself in front of the camera.  His last major motion pictures hit theaters back in 2002 (Signs, We Were Soldiers).

I’m sure the calculated time off also had something to do with the actor’s brush with the law.  If he could manage to keep out of the limelight, people would eventually forget those anti-Semitic remarks.  Right?

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Variety


New ‘Bond’ Title Announced

Daniel Craig, James BondUp until now, the 22nd installment in the franchise had simply been known as Bond 22.  Now the latest outing officially has a name: .

Solace, which is scheduled for a Nov. 7th release, will pick up where left off.  British actress Gemma Arterton joins Craig on this latest mission as Agent Fields while Mathieu Amalric (The Diving Bell and the Butterfly) will assume the role of the nemesis.  Meanwhile, has the honor of replacing as the latest Bond girl.

Now’s your time to vote.  Which 2008 sequel currently has the worst title:  Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull or ?

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Variety


Next Bond Girl and Villain Cast

Gemma ArtertonProduction on the 22nd Bond film started yesterday with two relative newcomers (at least to American audiences) filling lead roles.

British actress will star as ‘Fields’, the latest woman to give a run for his money.  No other details have been released about her role in this installment, which will pick up where ended.  Based on her photo alone, I’m guessing James won’t be mourning Vesper Lynd for long.

Meanwhile, , who can currently be seen as a paralyzed man in , has been cast as Daniel Craig’s next nemesis.  Fun Optical Fact:  Amalric’s Diving character communicates with others by blinking with his left eye.  Now he’s following up Royale’s Le Chiffre - the man who was known for weeping blood from his eyes.  (Yes, I know that was random.  Sue me.)

The next installment, directed by (The Kite Runner), is scheduled for release on November 7th.

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Variety


Watts And Campbell For ‘The Birds’

The stunning Naomi WattsWith Halloween only a week and a half away, it seems only fitting that we hear more news about the remake of The Birds. First brought to the big screen in 1963 by “The Master of Suspense“ Alfred Hitchcock, has been planning a re-imagining of the terrifying classic for some time now.

The absolutely gorgeous (King Kong, The Ring) will star while Casino Royale director Martin Campbell is in talks to helm the film. Variety reports that Universal is not rushing the film due to the looming possibility of a Hollywood strike. is among the several names reported to be producing the film via Platinum Dunes and Mandalay Pictures.

Watts, who can soon be seen in Warner Independent’s Funny Games, is filming The International and will also appear in the overly titled Kicked, Bitten and Scratched: Life and Lessons at the World’s Premiere School for Exotic Animal Trainers.

Read More | Variety

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