Daniel Craig Unveiled As New James Bond

**UPSyours2** · 10-14-2005, 01:20 PM

http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/...ory?id=1213083

Daniel Craig Unveiled As New James Bond

Daniel Craig Introduced As First Blond James Bond and Only Second Englishman to Star As Agent 007

LONDON Oct 14, 2005 â€” Blond. James Blond. Daniel Craig, a 37-year-old, sandy-haired Englishman was introduced Friday as the new James Bond, ending months of speculation. He'll star in "Casino Royale," directed by Martin Campbell, due out next year.

"I had a couple of martinis when I found out," said Craig, who replaces Pierce Brosnan in the role of the suave spy.

Craig is the first blond actor and only the second Englishman to star as Agent 007 in the movie series. His selection was revealed as he was whisked down the Thames River on Friday aboard a military boat to a waterside news conference.

"It is a huge iconic figure in movie history, and those things don't come along very often," Craig said.

Producer Michael G. Wilson said 200 actors had been considered for the role, but Craig was the only one who had been offered it. Craig said he only found out Monday that he definitely had the part.

Speculation about the new Bond had also included Clive Owen, Ioan Gruffudd, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, Gerard Butler, Ewan McGregor, Colin Farrell, Hugh Jackman, Heath Ledger and Eric Bana.

At the packed press conference inside a Royal Navy facility on the Thames, the new Bond fielded questions from newspaper and television reporters, tabloid gossip columnists and a journalist from the Ministry of Defense magazine.

Craig brushed aside questions about supermodel Kate Moss and actress Sienna Miller both tabloid fixtures whom he has reportedly dated.

"I'm not going to get into that," he said.

"I understand that doing this doesn't help" preserve his privacy, Craig added. "We'll take it one day at a time."

Of the other five actors to play 007, only Roger Moore is English-born. Sean Connery is Scottish, George Lazenby is Australian, Timothy Dalton was born in Wales and Brosnan is Irish.

Relatively unknown outside Britain, Craig appeared in the landmark 1990s British TV drama "Our Friends in the North" and in films including "The Mother," "Enduring Love" and "Layer Cake."

His screen credits also include "Road to Perdition," "Sylvia" and this year's thriller "The Jacket" with Adrien Brody. He is now filming another thriller, "The Visiting," with Nicole Kidman.

Ian Fleming's first-ever Bond novel, originally published in 1953, "Casino Royale" is one of the few Bond adventures not to feature the MI6 gadget-maker Q. It was previously filmed as a 1967 spoof starring Peter Sellers.

Campbell who directed Brosnan's first Bond film, "GoldenEye," in 1995 said the movie would be "tougher and grittier" than previous films, with "more character and less gadgets." He said the story would begin with Bond first becoming a "00" agent.

"It is really the arc in which he becomes Bond," Campbell said. "He starts out just having earned his double-0 stripes and comes out at the end the Bond we know and love."

"A lot of the embryonic Bond things will come out in the film how he gets the Aston Martin, how he mixes a Martini."

"Casino Royale" is due to being filming in January in the Czech Republic, the Bahamas, Italy and at Pinewood Studios near London. Campbell said the budget likely will exceed $100 million.

New James Bond Daniel Craig arrives by boat at his press unveiling in London, Friday Oct. 14, 2005. The 37-year-old actor arrived in true 007 style to make the official announcement that he would be the next movie superspy. Craig's selection was revealed as he was whisked down the River Thames aboard a military Rigid Raider boat to a news conference. Craig replaces Pierce Brosnan in the title role of the forthcoming film, "Casino Royale," due in theaters next year. (AP Photo/PA, Stefan Rousseau)

**Darlene** · 10-14-2005, 01:55 PM

Hmm this is going to take some getting used to. Hope he does well.

**Sara Noel** · 10-14-2005, 02:31 PM

I didn't even know who he was until I saw he was in "The Jacket" then sorta remembered.

**UPSyours2** · 10-14-2005, 03:54 PM

I haven't seen any of his movies & don't know who he is...only what I read & see

**Michelle** · 10-14-2005, 04:15 PM

Hmm not sure he fits my image of what James Bond should look like...

**KKCondrey** · 10-14-2005, 05:24 PM

When I heard this Wed. at work while listening to Paul Harvey, I had to go to imdb.com to see what else he had been in.

The only thing I know him from is Tomb Raider.

**Emerald_Mommy** · 10-15-2005, 12:01 AM

Not sure I'm going to like this. After Sean Connery I thought Pierce Brosnan was the best Bond. I suppose it could have been worse - there was speculation about Orlando Bloom & he definitely did not fit my "Bond" bill!

**UPSyours2** · 10-15-2005, 06:06 AM

http://www.bluematia.com/

"We believe that in DANIEL CRAIG

we have found the ideal 21st century Bond."

The next James Bond:

Producer Barbara Broccoli, Bond actor Daniel Craig,

director Martin Campbell and producer Michael G. Wilson.

photoÂ©Geoff Caddick/EPA

Ending more than a year of speculation,

actor Daniel Craig was finally unveiled

as the sixth cinematic James Bond today

on a Royal Marine speedboat on the Thames,

promising to bring a grittier edge to the iconic role.

(London, October 14, 2005)

The 37-year-old actor arrived in true 007 style to make

the official announcement that he would be the next movie superspy.

Flanked by Royal Marines, smartly suited Craig boarded a rigid raider craft

at HMS Belfast, which sped under London's Tower Bridge before mooring

at the jetty of HMS President, where he was introduced to the world's press.

A beaming Craig was asked how he was feeling about his new role

as he walked up the gangplank to HMS President.

Craig replied: "I'm speechless at the moment."

At the press conference, Craig promised to take the role in a new direction.

Speaking about the challenge he faces taking on the job

in the next movie Casino Royale,

he said: "I've just got to step up to the plate and deal with it."

(theguardian.co.uk 10/14/05)

reaction from Daniel's mum:

"We are thrilled to bits," Olivia Craig told reporters yesterday.

It has come at a very good time in his career.

He has worked extremely hard all his life

and this would be his biggest populist role.

He could bring something very interesting to the part.

It will be life-changing."

from usatoday.com:

"Daniel Craig has a lock on Bond role"

Says "Entertainment Tonight" critic Leonard Maltin:

"It may well be time for an adjustment in tone.

Some people feel (Bond has) become a little too cavalier.

Craig will have to balance Bond's light and dark sides.
He's a good actor, and that's the main ingredient.

We haven't seen him do much lighthearted material,

but this is what will put him to the test."

**UPSyours2** · 10-15-2005, 06:06 AM

http://www.bluematia.com/

"We believe that in DANIEL CRAIG

we have found the ideal 21st century Bond."

The next James Bond:

Producer Barbara Broccoli, Bond actor Daniel Craig,

director Martin Campbell and producer Michael G. Wilson.

photoÂ©Geoff Caddick/EPA

Ending more than a year of speculation,

actor Daniel Craig was finally unveiled

as the sixth cinematic James Bond today

on a Royal Marine speedboat on the Thames,

promising to bring a grittier edge to the iconic role.

(London, October 14, 2005)

The 37-year-old actor arrived in true 007 style to make

the official announcement that he would be the next movie superspy.

Flanked by Royal Marines, smartly suited Craig boarded a rigid raider craft

at HMS Belfast, which sped under London's Tower Bridge before mooring

at the jetty of HMS President, where he was introduced to the world's press.

A beaming Craig was asked how he was feeling about his new role

as he walked up the gangplank to HMS President.

Craig replied: "I'm speechless at the moment."

At the press conference, Craig promised to take the role in a new direction.

Speaking about the challenge he faces taking on the job

in the next movie Casino Royale,

he said: "I've just got to step up to the plate and deal with it."

(theguardian.co.uk 10/14/05)

reaction from Daniel's mum:

"We are thrilled to bits," Olivia Craig told reporters yesterday.

It has come at a very good time in his career.

He has worked extremely hard all his life

and this would be his biggest populist role.

He could bring something very interesting to the part.

It will be life-changing."

from usatoday.com:

"Daniel Craig has a lock on Bond role"

Says "Entertainment Tonight" critic Leonard Maltin:

"It may well be time for an adjustment in tone.

Some people feel (Bond has) become a little too cavalier.

Craig will have to balance Bond's light and dark sides.
He's a good actor, and that's the main ingredient.

We haven't seen him do much lighthearted material,

but this is what will put him to the test."

(10/12/05)

from msnbc.com:

"I think that he's a different enough actor and a good enough actor

to put his own stamp on the role," says Graham Rye,

the editor and publisher of 007 Magazine."

(10/12/05)

from slate.com:

"The new Bond, eh? Well done. Craig is dark, handsome, brooding,

English, and, as you'll see from my scribblings over the last four years,

easily the most fascinating actor to assume the mantel since Connery.

He certainly did make an impression, at least on me."

(David Edelstein 10/11/05)

"We're trying to reinvent Bond. He's 28.

It's very difficult to think of new ways of blowing things up.

It's the journey that's the thing--

finding a new journey for the character."

(Paul Haggis, "Casino Royale" writer-director)

*******

Craig's earlier comments on the role:

"...I've never really wanted to be James Bond..."

(countingdown.com 5/13/05)

"I'm a big believer that if they want youâ€¦

You don't want to fight, you want to all be on

the same page from the very beginning.

I think I would have probably been a bit too radical for it."

(filmforce.ign.com 5/03/05)

"I wonder if I did Bond, whether or not directors

would employ me because I did Bond,

and that would be a big shame.

And thatâ€™s as far as I thought about it, really."

(comingsoon.net 4/21/05)

*******

"If I'm a talented star on the rise such as Craig or Owen,

I'd sprint away from the Bond franchise as fast as possible."

(Richard Roeper, Chicago Sun-Times)

The Washington Post film critic Stephen Hunter

**UPSyours2** · 10-15-2005, 06:30 AM

http://www.bluematia.com/

Ending more than a year of speculation,

actor Daniel Craig was finally unveiled

as the sixth cinematic James Bond today

on a Royal Marine speedboat on the Thames,

promising to bring a grittier edge to the iconic role.

(London, October 14, 2005)

The 37-year-old actor arrived in true 007 style to make

the official announcement that he would be the next movie superspy.

Flanked by Royal Marines, smartly suited Craig boarded a rigid raider craft

at HMS Belfast, which sped under London's Tower Bridge before mooring

at the jetty of HMS President, where he was introduced to the world's press.

A beaming Craig was asked how he was feeling about his new role

as he walked up the gangplank to HMS President.

Craig replied: "I'm speechless at the moment."

At the press conference, Craig promised to take the role in a new direction.

Speaking about the challenge he faces taking on the job

in the next movie Casino Royale,

he said: "I've just got to step up to the plate and deal with it."

(theguardian.co.uk 10/14/05)

reaction from Daniel's mum:

"We are thrilled to bits," Olivia Craig told reporters yesterday.

It has come at a very good time in his career.

He has worked extremely hard all his life

and this would be his biggest populist role.

He could bring something very interesting to the part.

It will be life-changing."

from usatoday.com:

"Daniel Craig has a lock on Bond role"

Says "Entertainment Tonight" critic Leonard Maltin:

"It may well be time for an adjustment in tone.

Some people feel (Bond has) become a little too cavalier.

Craig will have to balance Bond's light and dark sides.
He's a good actor, and that's the main ingredient.

We haven't seen him do much lighthearted material,

but this is what will put him to the test."

(10/12/05)

from msnbc.com:

"I think that he's a different enough actor and a good enough actor

to put his own stamp on the role," says Graham Rye,

the editor and publisher of 007 Magazine."

(10/12/05)

from slate.com:

"The new Bond, eh? Well done. Craig is dark, handsome, brooding,

English, and, as you'll see from my scribblings over the last four years,

easily the most fascinating actor to assume the mantel since Connery.

He certainly did make an impression, at least on me."

(David Edelstein 10/11/05)

"We're trying to reinvent Bond. He's 28.

It's very difficult to think of new ways of blowing things up.

It's the journey that's the thing--

finding a new journey for the character."

(Paul Haggis, "Casino Royale" writer-director)

*******

Craig's earlier comments on the role:

"...I've never really wanted to be James Bond..."

(countingdown.com 5/13/05)

"I'm a big believer that if they want youâ€¦

You don't want to fight, you want to all be on

the same page from the very beginning.

I think I would have probably been a bit too radical for it."

(filmforce.ign.com 5/03/05)

"I wonder if I did Bond, whether or not directors

would employ me because I did Bond,

and that would be a big shame.

And thatâ€™s as far as I thought about it, really."

(comingsoon.net 4/21/05)

*******

"If I'm a talented star on the rise such as Craig or Owen,

I'd sprint away from the Bond franchise as fast as possible."

(Richard Roeper, Chicago Sun-Times)

The Washington Post film critic Stephen Hunter

described Craig as "the next Steve McQueen."
"He has McQueen's way of dominating without bullying.

He's also handsome in a rugged way, thin and strong."

What Do You Think of Daniel as the New 007?

SKY NEWS WANTS TO KNOW!

http://www.sky.com/showbiz/article/0...198940,00.html

The next James Bond:

Producer Barbara Broccoli, Bond actor Daniel Craig,

director Martin Campbell and producer Michael G. Wilson.

photoÂ©Geoff Caddick/EPA

**Michelle** · 10-15-2005, 07:11 AM

I can't believe he's only 37

**KKCondrey** · 10-15-2005, 09:23 AM

Originally posted by Michelle
I can't believe he's only 37

me to, if had to of guessed I would have said early to mid 40's

**mtjsmom** · 10-15-2005, 09:47 AM

Umm....he is NOT James Bond worthy..lol..IMO he's kinda homely..

**Scattymum** · 10-17-2005, 09:10 AM

doesnt really fir my Kind of James bond! I really only liked Sean Connery and Pierce Brosnan. Wasnt Daniel Craig in Tombraider - one of the evil guys?