Paul Haggis on "Casino Royale"

[j over]

From ComingSoon.Net (Original Source: The Hollywood Reporter)


- Oscar-nominated writer Paul Haggis (Million Dollar Baby, Crash) was recently hired to rewrite Casino Royale, Sony and MGM's 21st installment of the James Bond franchise. The Hollywood Reporter talked to Haggis in Toronto about what the film will be like.

"It's going to be good," Haggis said. "We're trying to reinvent Bond. He's 28: no Q, no gadgets." The movie's script is based on the 1953 Ian Fleming novel.

Martin Campbell (GoldenEye, The Legend of Zorro) will direct his second 007 film. Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, who wrote Bond films The World is Not Enough and Die Another Day, wrote the previous draft.

Haggis adapted James Bradley's World War II book Flags of Our Fathers for director Clint Eastwood, currently filming in Iceland. Director Tony Goldwyn is editing Haggis' romantic comedy script The Last Kiss and Haggis is set to direct New Line Cinema's Honeymoon With Harry.

He is also working on Warner Bros. Pictures' military true story Death and Dishonor, based on a Playboy investigative piece about a career officer's search for his soldier son, who went missing on his way home from the front lines of Baghdad. "Hopefully, Clint will star," he says.


LINK: http://www.comingsoon.net/news.php?id=11235

[Biohazard]

"We're trying to reinvent Bond.

Destined for failure.

[Bad Liver]

I have a feeling "reinvent" is a poor choice of words. I'll bet they're just going back to a more "pure" Bond. I may be wrong, I hope not.

[Evil Elf]

As long as it doesn't look like the Woody Allen/David Niven version of Casino Royale, they can't lose. I'm still trying to cleanse my brain of the sordid image of David Niven letting his intestines down every morning and scrubbing them.

[Pen Dragon]

whenever I read a script on triggerstreet that makes no sense I think about that version. The movie where half of Hollywood's greats went on a collective acid trip.

[elephant1978]

28? C'mon. I'm almost 28. And I'm no James Bond. He should at least be mid-thirties. There's a distinguished maturity to Bond. He's well-worn. 28 is too young..

Seems like they're concerned about solidifying a contract with some young actor that will keep him in the part for the next 25 years.

Ele...

[GreatOz]

I think it's wise to reinvent Bond at this point. The last film was so over-the-top ridiculous (i.e. the invisible car, surfing the wave caused by the collapsing ice), he's turned into a comic book superhero.

He's been reinvented before, with varying degrees of success. Who knows? He's an iconic character that will always be with us in one form or another. A younger Bond? Sure, why not? Give it a shot.

[dpaterso]

As long as it doesn't look like the Woody Allen/David Niven version of Casino Royale, they can't lose. I'm still trying to cleanse my brain of the sordid image of David Niven letting his intestines down every morning and scrubbing them.That film was a hoot! A truly supercool Bond (several of 'em, in fact). Women to die for in every frame. Gadgets galore and a great evil mastermind HQ. Super theme! "They've got us on the run! With guns! And knives! We're fighting for our lives!" The only thing that didn't ring true was the French arriving at the end to lend a hand. Come on Hollywood, what do you think we are, stupid?

-Derek
Derek's Web Page - stories, screenplays, novels, insanity. (http://hometown.aol.co.uk/DPaterson57/scripts.htm)
"What's the strategy, sir?"
"Get out of the bloody place before it blows up."
~Casino Royale

[Authorized]

"It's going to be good," Haggis said. "We're trying to reinvent Bond. He's 28: no Q, no gadgets."

Reinvent Bond = :eek:

He's 28 = Frankie Munoz (Agent Cody Banks)

No Q, no gadgets = BORRRRRINNNG!

[Pen Dragon]

I'd love to see a retro bond taking on cold war era villains in a serious but at times tongue-in-cheek adventure, driving a 60's aston martin, wearing an after six tux, short cropped hair, smoking unfiltered cigs, listening to Herb Alpert, rolling in the sack with chicks in beehive do's. Lots of people say that won't work, that modern audiences wouldn't relate to the passe period and fashions and character. Which is exactly of course why Raiders of the Lost Ark didn't work...

[elephant1978]

It won't work because Bond has always been an agent of the times. He's dealt with Russians, Nukes, Cold War, Space Technology (admittedly not his high point), and so on. Doing a period piece would break a 40 year tradition. It's just too much to handle for the audience. Saving Bond is simple -- good script, tight directing, no silliness, and a charismatic, convincing lead.

Ele...

[Pen Dragon]

bond has always been an agent of the times. Bond has been irrelevent since The Man With the Golden Gun. Has there been a good Bond movie in the last 30 years? Modern Bond movies put most people to sleep. Face the truth. I haven't bothered with a bond film in the theatre since For Your Eyes Only. Put Bond back in the time and setting where he's fun and interesting and I'd come back. Bond fighting Venezuelan socialists in Aruba while driving a missile laden Hummer and wearing Armani? pfft

Doing a period piece would break a 40 year tradition

god, if only

[alipali]

You said it.

[elephant1978]

Bond fighting Venezuelan socialists in Aruba while driving a missile laden Hummer and wearing Armani? pfft


No argument here, Pen. This isn't the answer to fixing Bond. But that doesn't mean the new movie can't be a tight film like the Connery era Bonds while still set in modern times. The obvious answer is making this guy a human being again. That can be done in 2005.

For the record, I'm not saying the new Bond films have matched the first Connery films. But I certainly wouldn't say they're all terrible. There have been some bright spots.

Ele...

[roscoegino]

Reinvent Bond?

Can someone say Transporter 3?

The Bourne Redundancy?

[evolution]

Reinvent Bond? How about resurrect old classic Bond, not the PC rubber doll version we've had in the last 5 Bond movies - all tricks and stunts, no soul, no class.

Bond needs to go back to being a bastard, being more ruthless, doing what he does best - serving his country above all.

Connery epitomised this best, remember the scene where he asks the pretty girl a question and when he doesn't get the answer he wants he removes her bra and strangles her with it....that guy is ruthless :D

Having said that though, Haggis has some real depth, it'll be interesting to see what he can do without the old tricks.

This seems almost like....Bond Begins.....lol

[Mickster]

The new Bond Daniel Craig is a great choice. He was superb in Britflick "Layer Cake".

[Republic of Stephen]

I thought Layer Cake was an incoherent mess and didn't finish watching it. Not impressed with Craig as Bond. He's a good actor but not right for Bond. Jason Statham, Clive Owen would've been a better choice.