Alicia Keys, Jack White Collaborate For Bond Theme

Alicia Keys and Jack White have teamed up to record the theme song to “Quantum of Solace,” making it the first duet in Bond soundtrack history.

The song, titled “Another Way To Die,” was written and produced by White, who also plays drums on the track, Columbia Pictures said in a statement Tuesday.

The announcement puts to rest questions surrounding who would record the latest Bond theme, with rumoured contenders having included Amy Winehouse, Leona Lewis and Duffy.

Coincidentally, Keys and White have both appeared in movies — the R&B songstress’s acting credits include “Smokin’ Aces” and “The Nanny Diaries,” and the White Stripes/Raconteurs frontman had a part in “Cold Mountain.”

Their new song will join the list of such past Bond themes as Shirley Bassey’s “Goldfinger,” Duran Duran’s “A View To A Kill,” Paul McCartney’s “Live And Let Die” and Chris Cornell’s “You Know My Name.” Cornell’s tune was featured in the most recently released Bond film, 2006’s “Casino Royale.”

The soundtrack to “Quantum of Solace” will be released Oct. 28, while the film itself — the 22nd James Bond flick — will hit North American theatres Nov. 7.

Daniel Craig reprises his starring role as Agent 007 in the Marc Forster-directed movie.


Alicia Keys To Ink Deal With James Bond?

Alicia Keys may be taking on James Bond–but not as a Bond Girl.

The Grammy award-winning singer is rumoured to be the top contender to sing the title song for the next Bond film, Quantum of Solace.

Other artists–including Amy Winehouse, Beyonce, Leona Lewis, Duran Duran, Jack White, Duffy, and Annie Lennox–have also been linked to the movie, but an inside source told E! Online yesterday:

“I believe Alicia is the winner.”

Keys’ rep declined to comment. A rep for the movie also kept quiet, saying there was “no info” available about a potential title song.

Quantum of Solace, starring Daniel Craig again as Bond, is scheduled to hit theatres in November.


James Bond Producer Pays $38,000 CDN for Kiss

According to CTV.ca, the producer of the James Bond films, Barbara Broccoli is paying 19,000 pounds, the equivalent of $38,000 CDN, for a kiss from Daniel Craig.

Craig is playing the world famous spy in the upcoming Bond blockbuster, “Quantum of Solace” which will hit theatres this November.

The kiss is part of an auction prize at a charity event for the National Film and Television School.

Broccoli will also get kisses from actors Hugh Grant and Robbie Coltrane as part of her prize.

The auction raised 400,000 pounds, the equivalent of $800,000 CDN for the film school.


Winehouse Drops out of ‘James Bond’ Project

Amy Winehouse is no longer recording a potential theme song for the next James Bond movie “Quantum of Solace.”

The “Rehab” singer’s producer, Mark Ronson, says the singer is “not ready to record any music,” and “some miracle of science” must happen in order for Winehouse to complete the work she’d begun on the Bond track.

Just a few days ago, Winehouse made news after being released from a London jail after allegedly head-butting a fellow bar patron.


Daniel Craig On Board for Four More Bonds

Daniel Craig must have done something right in his debut as suave undercover agent James Bond.

The actor has signed on for four more Bond films according to MGM head Harry Sloan.

The sequel to the 2006 film Casino Royale, Bond 22 will be directed by Marc Forster (Monster’s Ball) and filming is set to begin this January in the UK, Italy, Austria, Panama and South Africa.

Casino Royale was one of the most successful Bond films ever and many critics were quick to peg Craig as giving the best portrayal of Bond since Sean Connery. Connery starred in six films in the franchise.

Bond 22 is set for a November 2008 release date.


Movie Review: Casino Royale

We’ll get it out of the way right off the top: Daniel Craig is a very worthy James Bond. All the bemoaners still stuck in the days of Connery (and even Brosnan, for that matter) can just shut up already. Craig is fine.

That being said, the blonde Brit certainly makes the role his own. Say goodbye to the Bond of your parents’ generation, because Craig has just kicked his ass out the window.

In “Casino Royale,” the world’s most famous spy gets a complete character makeover. He’s grittier than ever, with subtle complexities added to the classic Bond portrayal (he’s still suave and deadly, but now carries a big chip on his shoulder).

Keeping with the franchise’s tradition of tenuous links between films, “Casino” tells the story of Bond’s first mission as a double-0. He’s out to bankrupt Le Chiffre (played by Danish star Mads Mikkelsen), a terrorist banker with a bit of an eye problem. Along the way, of course, he runs into some rather unsavoury characters, the standard crop of beautiful women (Eva Green of “The Dreamers” makes a fantastic Bond girl), and, in keeping with modern cultural trends, even a high-stakes poker game (though there are no under-table cameras here).

However, some of the classic Bond elements are indeed missing. Most disappointing is the fact that there is little attention paid to gadgets. However, this is also to the filmmakers’ credit; John Cleese did a respectable job as gadget-master Q in 2002’s “Die Another Day,” but no one could match Desmond Llewelyn (who’d been part of the Bond franchise since 1963, but died tragically in a car accident in 1999). With a new Bond, it feels like the right time to move on.

Even without gadgets, “Casino” doesn’t fail to thrill and entertain with incredible action and special effects. The fast-paced post-credits opening sequence features a truly awesome parkour-style chase, while a later scene has a Venitian building imploding into the water. The $150,000,000 budget was, obviously, very well spent.

This is clearly a Bond film for a new generation — one more interested in eye-popping action than martinis and womanizing. Craig has already been confirmed to play Bond in the next installment, and I hope his contract is extended; he was doubted and rejected by many in the beginning, but “Casino” proves that he’s single-handedly reinvigorated the Bond franchise.

Rating: 8


The New Blond Bond

The world’s most venerable spy is sporting a new look and purportedly doesn’t “give a damn,” when asked if his martini is shaken or stirred.

The fair haired Daniel Craig, 38, is starring in the new James Bond flick, “Casino Royale” slated to open November 17.

With a reported $100 million budget viewers can expect to see cutting-edge gadgets, gorgeous gals, and plenty of high-speed chases.

The film’s backers are confident that this first-time Bond will be a sensation at the box office as release for the next Bond film is scheduled for 2008.

“Casino Royale” will premiere in London Tuesday evening, with Queen Elizabeth in attendance.


Next Bond Flick Loses Likely Director

The next James Bond movie is without a director after talks with prime candidate Roger Michell ended abruptly.

Variety reports that the “Notting Hill” director was in negotiations with Bond franchise heads Michael Wilson and Barbara Broccoli. However, any possible deal has fallen through after the parties ran in to “creative differences.”

It would’ve been the third time that Michell has worked with actor Daniel Craig, the current and returning James Bond. The two previously collaborated on both “Enduring Love” and “The Mother.”

The new bond film (which follows Craig’s debut in this fall’s “Casino Royale”) is slated for release on May 2, 2008. It will be the 22nd film in the franchise.


Fire Ravages James Bond Studio

A fire destroyed the James Bond film set on Sunday when the blaze broke out at Britain’s Pinewood Studios.

Reuters reports that no one was hurt in the incident, but that the studio said the fire was serious. They also said it was unknown how the fire started.

“We do not know the extent of the damage to the ‘007′ stage, although it is believed to be significant,” read a statement from Pinewood.

Fortunately, filming on the new Bond film, “Casino Royale,” had finished. Crews had been dismantling the set, and three workers were known to have been in the building at the time of the fire.

According to a fire brigade spokesman, 50 firefighters and eight trucks were required to put out the flames. The building was sprayed with water and foam from fighters on the ground and in cranes.

The walls of the set stage had been blackened by the flames, and the roof had caved in.

Although the studio has housed sets for many Bond films throughout the years, filming has increasingly occurred on location to reduce costs in recent years.

The Bond stage was previously destroyed by fire in 1984. It was swiftly rebuilt and used in subsequent films in the spy franchise.


Chris Cornell to Sing Bond Theme Song

Ex-Soundgarden front-man and current Audioslave vocalist Chris Cornell has been recruited to perform the theme song for the upcoming James Bond movie, “Casino Royale.”

Titled “You Know My Name,” the track was co-written by Cornell and Bond composer David Arnold, according to a press release.

“I’ve always loved Chris’ work, both as a writer and as an artist, and had hoped someday to find the right film to inspire him,” said Lia Vollack, president of Worldwide Music for Columbia Pictures. “His music is both soulful and tough. It was the perfect complement to Daniel Craig and ‘Casino Royale.’”

Previous performers of Bond themes include Tina Turner, Paul McCartney & Wings, Tom Jones and Garbage. The theme song for the most recent Bond installment, 2002’s “Die Another Day,” was performed by Madonna.

Fans will get a chance to hear Cornell’s performance when “Casino Royale” hits theatres on November 17.


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