Bond Ambitions

Now that they’ve found themselves a Bond (Daniel Craig, for all those who’ve been living under that famous proverbial rock), the team behind the next franchise entry have started to spill more details about the film.

Talking to USA Today, director Martin Campbell has explained that while the film is indeed based on Ian Fleming’s first Bond novel and focuses on formative years in the super spy’s life, it ditches the Cold War setting – and will unfold in the present day. Some of the key elements will remain, however: the plot features a gambler named Le Chiffre, who has to win back money he lost for SMERSH, 007’s old enemies.

“He has to mount a card game in order to win the money back,” Campbell says. “Bond is sent in to make sure he doesn’t win.”

We’ll also get to meet female agent Vesper Lynd, who later helps Her Maj’s finest recover after he is brutally tortured. “She’s the one who forges him into the Bond that we all know and love,” says Campbell. “He certainly falls in love with her, and it does change him forever. It’s a genuinely deeper relationship. The film deals much more on a personal level with Bond.”

Casino Royale starts shooting in January for a 17 November 2006 release.