Daniel Craig Page 10

The BFI have condemned the amount of films released in British cinemas, saying the saturation leads to a short shelf-live for many top movies, stunting their box office proficiency.

Boyhood enjoyed a strong start in the U.K, but was dwarfed by other releases

A total of 698 films were released at the cinema in 2013, which averages out at around 13-a-week. This, according to Britain’s leading advocate for domestic cinema, makes it difficult for films to enjoy a screen long enough to build an audience.

Continue reading: The British Film Institute: 'There Are Too Many Films'

Glen Etive in Lochaber, the stunning location used in the James Bond movie Skyfall, is now a hot spot for the dumping of rubbish. A campaign has started to combat the littering, which has seen mattresses and tents left discarded in recent weeks.

Daniel Craig in Skyfall

Local residents Phillipa and Mark Shone have been publishing images of the littering on their Facebook page - Glen Etive - the Dirty Truth on Facebook.

Continue reading: Stunning Location For 'Skyfall' Now Blighted With Fly-Tipping

Deadline are reporting that Keanu Reeves has replaced Daniel Craig in the courtroom drama The Whole Truth. Craig had been cast as a defence attorney fighting to acquit a teenager standing accused of murdering his rich family. The British actor had unexpectedly departed the project in April just a few days before filming was due to begin, leaving producers high and dry.  Film-makers have spent the past two months searching for a replacement for Craig, eventually settling on Reeves.

Keanu Reeves has replaced Daniel Craig in the courtroom drama The Whole Truth

Reeves will join the cast, which currently includes Renee Zellweger, Belle’s Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Kings of Summer actor Gabriel Basso. TheWrap has reported that The Wolf of Wall Street actor Kenneth Choi has been cast as the state prosecutor.

Continue reading: Keanu Reeves Replaces Daniel Craig In Courtroom Drama 'The Whole Truth'

Poor Pierce Brosnan has got it in his head that he was never good enough when it came to playing legendary secret service agent, James Bond. He was recently quoted as saying, “I felt I was caught in a time warp between Roger [Moore] and Sean [Connery]…it was a very hard one to grasp the meaning of, for me. The violence was never real, the brute force of the man was never palpable. It was quite tame, and the characterisation didn’t have a follow-through of reality, it was surface. But then that might have had to do with my own insecurities in playing him as well.”

Brosnan had the looks and the accent, but does that make him a good Bond?

We think that Pierce is being a little too hard on himself, but we do get where he’s coming from. Playing James Bond is a massive amount of pressure on any actor. It’s a hugely exposed role and some great actors have taken the helm in the past. In our opinion, the problem wasn’t actually Pierce Brosnan. We understand what he was trying to do with the role, he was trying to recapture the Connery times, when being a smooth talking spy was all it took to save the world. Unfortunately, by the 90s the public demanded something a little more from their characters. Bond needed to grow with the times and it wasn't Brosnan’s fault that the scripts and direction didn’t account for this.

Continue reading: Was Pierce Brosnan Really The Worst Bond?

Tom Hardy has been the public’s number one choice to replace Daniel Craig as James Bond since, well, pretty much as soon as Craig ordered his first martini. That’s not to say that Daniel Craig isn’t immensely popular as Bond, people just like a good old speculation. We'll go into mourning when DC hangs up his Bond boots, but it's simply an inevitable part of playing the secret agent.

Tom Hardy is the number one contender for the role of James Bond

The question is, is Tom Hardy the right guy to play 007? Let’s look at some facts. At 36 years old Tom Hardy is finally at the right age to play James Bond. Bond needs to be approaching middle age, that kind of suave and sophistication just isn’t achieved by younger men! Timothy Dalton was originally offered the role of Bond in 1968 when Sean Connery retired. Dalton was just 24 or 25 years old, but he felt he was too young at the time. When he eventually played Bond in 1987 he was a huge success - just goes to show the necessity of Bond being ‘of a certain age’!

Continue reading: Is Tom Hardy The Right Choice To Play The Next Bond?

Pierce Brosnan’s time as Bond is considered by many to be among the worst portrayals of 007. Sounds harsh, but following icons like Roger Moore and Sean Connery was never going to be easy. Now, Brosnan has admitted that he regrets his performances as the British super spy. 

Brosnan doesn't look back on his Bond days fondly

"I felt I was caught in a time warp between Roger [Moore] and Sean [Connery]," explained Brosnan in an interview with The Daily Telegraph. "It was a very hard one to grasp the meaning of, for me. The violence was never real, the brute force of the man was never palpable. It was quite tame, and the characterisation didn't have a follow-through of reality, it was surface. But then that might have had to do with my own insecurities in playing him as well."

Continue reading: Pierce Brosnan On Playing James Bond: "I Wasn’t Good Enough"

James Bond actor Daniel Craig has pulled out of his new movie The Whole Truth just days before production was due to begin in Boston. The film was due to begin shooting on Monday (April 14, 2014) and Craig had been spotted in the city preparing for his leading role.

Daniel Craig Has Left 'The Whole Truth'

However, according to the Boston Globe, Craig was left the project - co-starring Renee Zellweger - leaving the crew to temporarily shut down production to find a suitable replacement.

Continue reading: Daniel Craig Quits 'The Whole Truth' Days Before Production Start Date

Who wouldn't want to be James Bond? Well it turns out there are a few in Hollywood who just weren't that enamoured with putting on a suit and become 007. Liam Neeson has just confessed that he turned down the role in order to marry wife Natasha Richardson, but what other Hollywood stars also gave Bond a no and WHY?

Liam Neeson could have played James Bond

Liam Neeson

Continue reading: Liam Neeson Rejected James Bond. 10 Others Who Could Have Been 007.

Before Bourne, there was Bond. James Bond is a name that has become synonymous with the idea of classic British sophistication and suave. Professionally trained and with a license to kill, 007 has been played by some of the most debonair actors in the business, including Sean Connery and Roger Moore. The role has been much sought after and many an actor has been on the disappointing receiving end of a casting call - and some you wouldn’t even imagine would ever have been in the running to begin with.

The Dark Knight star Michael Caine was once in the running for Bond

East End lad Michael Caine was considered for the role back in 1967. Caine had already starred in three spy movies and was concerned that if he were to play Bond, he’d have been typecast. Caine has since had a long and varied career, although he’s also become one with his Cockney twang. Can you imagine Caine ditching his accent in favour of Bond’s more upper-class drawl?

Continue reading: Mel Gibson? Actors Who 'Could' Have Been James Bond

We were all a bit surprised with the news that Leighton Meester and Adam Brody had tied the knot in a secret wedding ceremony over the weekend, but this isn't the first time a celebrity couple have pulled a fast one on us. Here's 10 other celebrity weddings that we didn't see coming.

Leighton Meester and Adam Brody got married over the weekend

1. Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds

Continue reading: Leighton Meester Marries Adam Brody: 10 Couples Who Kept Their Wedding Secret

Jude Law today learned for the first time that his own relatives sold salacious stories about his personal relationship with actress Sienna Miller to the British tabloid News of the World. In the midst of the phone hacking trial brought against NOTW's former editor Rebekah Brooks and others, the actor told an Old Bailey courtroom that he had no idea an immediate member of his family had allegedly sold information about his private life.

Jude Law Stated In The Trial That He Had No Knowledge Of Any Family Member Selling Stories.

The 41 year-old actor told the court in the trial that the first time he had heard that his "immediate family" members were paid for information around the time in 2005 that it was reported that Miller had had an affair with the actor Daniel Craig. Giving evidence in the phone hacking trial, Law told the court that the media had "an unhealthy amount of information" about his life at this time and that he was followed around by photographers even when he'd arranged plans in secret

Continue reading: Jude Law Relatives Sold Sienna Miller Cheating Stories To NOTW

Daniel Craig will probably end his career being best known for playing James Bond, though his pal Hugh Jackman has urged the actor to go into comedy once he finishes playing the secret agent. 

The pair became close friends when starring together in A Steady Rain on Broadway on 2009 and Oscar-nominee Jackman, 45, says there's more to his British buddy than Bond. 

"Daniel is ridiculously funny in real life.I keep telling him he should do Saturday Night Live because he will make you cry with laughter. He's also very cheeky," Jackman told the Express. 

Continue reading: Forget Bond, Daniel Craig Should Go Into Comedy, Says Hugh Jackman

Urgh. We loved Layer Cake. Everyone loved Layer Cake. It was really, really, good and better than Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch. Now, its memory is in danger of being tarnished by news that Jason Statham and his manager and partner Steve Chasman have acquired the rights to J.J Connolly's novel Viva La Madness - the follow-up to Layer Cake.

According to Deadline.com, Statham will play the Connolly's chief protagonist - who famously remains nameless and was last seen trying to survive a gunshot wound in the thrilling concluding moments of Matthew Vaughn's 2004 movie.

It took Connolly over a decade to continue the tale, with his protagonist winding up on beach looking for an early retirement. Unable to pull himself away from a life of crime, he gets involved with trans-Atlantic drug deals, money laundering and Venezuelan drug cartels. 

Continue reading: Oh, Crumbs: Jason Statham To Replace Daniel Craig In Layer Cake Sequel

Helen Flanagan, the former Coronation Street star turned I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here contestant turned glamour model, is apparently in the running to be the next Bond girl. 

The 23-year-old reportedly made a big impression after meeting with casting directors at MGM in Los Angeles, "turning heads" at the movie company. Of course, we shouldn't read too much into this given it comes from the scallywags at The Sun but the story is so ridiculous that it might actually be true.

Model Kate Upton - one of the world's most famous faces - is also in the frame to star alongside Daniel Craig in the new movie, set to be helmed once again by Sam Mendes.

Continue reading: Helen Flanagan In Running To Be Next Bond Girl. This Is Not A Joke.

How do you make a play about marital infidelity even more gripping, engaging and believable that it already did when it first left the pen of Nobel Prize-winning scribe Harold Pinter? By hiring a real-life husband and wife duo to take on the lead roles. That is what director Mike Nichols did when it came to casting the newly launched Broadway show, and with the help of husband and wife duo Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz, his plan has proved to be a success.

Craig leaves the Ethel Barrymore Theatre after performance earlier this month

The steamy erotic setting would have been enough to get people through the turnstiles in their droves anyway, but with Craig and Weisz on board the play became a runaway success before the first round of reviews had been published. the play, which also stars Rafe Spall, set a box-office record at the Barrymore Theater earlier this month when it grossed $1,100,818 from just seven performances, the New York Times reported at the time, and as tickets continue to sell at an unprecedented speed, those worrying that the hype may have led them to over pay for the performance have had their minds put at ease with continually positive feedback from critics.

Continue reading: Daniel Craig & Rachel Weisz Stun In Broadway Production Of 'Betrayal'

Actor Daniel Day-Lewis is rumoured to succeed Daniel Craig as the new James Bond after the author of the latest Bond books picked him out as having the perfect look. The interesting choice for the brand new 007 has come from author William Boyd who has said that Day-Lewis is the closest living representations of IAN FLEMING's original envisagement of his spy hero.

Daniel Day-Lewis Has Been Given The New Bond Author's Vote Of Cofidence To Play 007.

"I think Daniel Day-Lewis actually resembles the Bond Fleming described," Boyd said. "He described Bond on at least three occasions, I think, as looking like Hoagy Carmichael." The author added the Day-Lewis' specific characteristics "He is a tall, lean, rangy, very dark-haired, good-looking man. Almost swarthy. And there is a sense in which that image was what he saw Bond looking like. So that's why I'd choose him."

Continue reading: Daniel Day-Lewis The Next Bond? 'Lincoln' Actor Is Hot Favourite After Being Hand-Picked By Author

A piece of 007 memorabilia has gone on sale at auction soon; James Bond’s iconic hybrid car – equally comfortable in the water as it is on dry land – was expected to sell for something between £650k-£950k, but only managed to fetch £525k.

Judi Dench and Daniel Craig as 'M' and Bond in wax form

Max Girardo, managing director of RM Auctions Europe, said: "We have a great track record in selling incredible and iconic movie cars, and this particular Lotus is certainly up there amongst the most famous cars of all time.

Continue reading: Iconic James Bond Submarine Car Sells At Auction For £525k

Daniel Craig says he's hoping to restore some of James Bond's traditional sense of irony in his next outing as 007, which reteams the actor with Skyfall director Sam Mendes.

Craig, who's previous outing as the secret agent is now the biggest grossing British film of all time, told Vulture magazine that the next movie might opt for a more tongue-in-cheek approach.

"Hopefully we'll reclaim some of the old irony.and make sure it doesn't become pastiche," he said, adding, "I can't do shtick, I'm not very good at it. Unless it kind of suddenly makes sense. Does that make sense? I sometimes wish I hammed it up more, but I just can't do it very well, so I don't do it."

Continue reading: Would Irony Be A Step Back For Daniel Craig And James Bond?

The phenomenal success of Skyfall – Britain’s highest grossing film of all time - couldn’t stop a slump that saw the U.K’s contribution to the global box office fall 2% to 15%. It seems James Bond can save the world, but he can’t save Blighty’s movie industry. But don't take our word for it, right BBC?

Daniel Craig will be Bond twice more

The British Film Institute said UK film releases took $5.3bn (£3.45bn) in 2012, which amounts to a 15.3% share of the world market. 2011 saw 17.2% of the country’s efforts make up the international box office pie. Looking forward, only the 24th Bond movie – which will see Skyfall director and Bond Sam Mendes and Daniel Craig team up again – is a viable candidate to push that figure up again.

Continue reading: British Films Kick In 15% To International Box Office - Down 2%

It’s been less than a meteoric rise to the top for Idris Elba, rather a slow slog, with plenty of hard work and adapting in between. He’s been a top-level drug lord in HBO’s The Wire, Captain Janek in Prometheus and Stacker Pentecost in Guillermo del Toro’s action epic, Pacific Rim.

Elba ponders things on Luther

British audiences know him for his turn as Luther in the crime drama of the same name, while U.S folks will recognize him as Stringer Bell. Soon, though, the world will know him as Nelson Mandela in Mandela, a film for which he’s already being touted as Oscar material for.

Continue reading: As 'Luther' Comes To An End, Idris Elba Looks To A Bright Future

A Luther movie has been mooted for a while now, with British audiences desperate for their favorite crime drama to be realised on the big screen. But it’s not just the fans who want it done; the show’s star, Idris Elba is keen for it to happen too, as he’s been explaining to IGN.

Elba wants a Luther movie, which isn't surprising

“There’s a massive possibility ‘cos I’ve been talking to Neil [Cross] about it for the last year,” he explained. “I think we’re finally got into the place, ‘right we’re going more forward with it’” Luther is currently enjoying its third season, which is made up of longer episodes, suggesting that the show would slide into film form without much work.

Continue reading: Luther Movie Gets Biggest Hint Yet As Idris Elba Talks Plot

The Sun's Bizarre has reported that the new James Bond movie, and follow-on from this year's enormously successful Skyfall, will be titled Devil May Care after Sebastian Faulk's 2008 novel which was written to celebrate a century since Bond creator IAN FLEMING's 1908 birth. Sam Mendes, after originally saying he wouldn't return to direct the 24th Bond film, has been confirmed as the director to the Skyfall sequel.

Like Sam Mendes, Daniel Craig Will Also Return For The 24th Bond Movie.

Although no title has been confirmed yet, Daniel Craig is expected to return as the titular Bond for the fourth time, despite the next film rumoured to be the 45 year-old actor's last after Skyfall showed the spy aging in an increasingly technological world. Bond fans shouldn't hold their breath for the next instalment of 007 adventures - due to Mendes' theatre commitments the as-yet untitled 24th Bond film will be released in late 2015. There's no wonder that producer's were happy to accommodate Mendes' other plans into the timeframe for the next film: 2012's Skyfall was the most successful Bond to date, making £720 million ($1.1 billion) worldwide, winning two Oscars and being named 'Outstanding British Film' by BAFTA.

Continue reading: Title Of New James Bond Movie: 'Devil May Care'?

James Bond fans received the news they’d be waiting for on Thursday – Sam Mendes would be returning for the twenty-fourth 007 movie, following the huge success of Skyfall.

Given his theatre commitments, it was assumed that the Oscar-winning director would be unable to helm the follow-up to the biggest grossing British movie in history – though he appears to have found a gap in his schedule to direct the next Bond for an October 23, 2015 release date.

Daniel Craig – often considered the finest Bond actor in history – had delayed his decision to return for his fourth movie, though the return of Mendes will see him don the tuxedo once again.

Continue reading: Sam Mendes Signs For ‘Bond 24,’ Though John Logan’s Return Is Key

Director Sam Mendes will be directing the next James Bond movie. The film is due to be released in 2015. The Skyfall director will work with Daniel Craig, who will be reprising his role as the secret agent. The writer of the previous film, John Logan, will also return to write the next script.

Sam Mendes at the Charlie And The Chocolate Factory Press Night, Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. 

The dates for release have already been confirmed. UK cinema goers will be able to see the film two weeks earlier than their American counterparts. The UK release date is set for 23rd October 2015 and the US for 6th November.

Continue reading: Sam Mendes Will Direct Daniel Craig In 24th James Bond Film

Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe claims he is aware of his slight stature and said, as reported in The Sun, that he was "never going to be cast to play a Bruce Willis character in Die Hard".

Since completing the Harry Potter films Radcliffe has gone on to appear, most notably, in The Woman in Black and Sky's A Young Doctor's Notebook. He frequently does theatre work; his latest role in Michael Grandage's The Cripple of Inishmann has received favourable reviews. 

At only 5'5 the actor says he is "not nearly strapping enough to play Bond" but would be a "much better villain". Should Radcliffe be considered for a Bond villain he would be following in the footsteps of such actors as Antony Dawson (Dr.No); Peter Lorre (as Le Chiffre in the original Casino Royale) and Gert Frobe (Goldfinger). 

Continue reading: Harry Potter VS. James Bond? Daniel Radcliffe Wants To Be Bond Villain

Sam Mendes has made a U-turn on his decision to bow out of the James Bond franchise after helming the $1.1 billion Skyfall movie, considered one of the best 007 films in the series. Mendes had initially distanced himself from the idea of directing the follow-up to Skyfall, owing to his work on the West End launch of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and his directing of King Lear. Producers Michael Wilson and Barbara Broccoli appeared resigned to Mendes' departure and began the hunt for his successor, with Sherlock director Guy Ritchie installed as the early favorite to re-team with Daniel Craig.

Some speculation has suggested Craig would follow Mendes out of the door, with Idris Elba coming in as a replacement, though it now appears the high profile duo are back for a new movie. According to Deadline.com, Mendes and the producers got back in touch recently and agreed that the director could work through his theatre commitments before starting production on the new Bond film next year. 

It will be great news for fans of Daniel Craig as Bond. Since his first outing in Casino Royale, the British star has played a more vulnerable version of the ruthless agent, even appearing physically incapable of the job in some segments of Skyfall. The change of direction for the character has led to the often tongue-in-cheek overly sexualised franchise developing into an intelligent spy story with action, humor and crisp cinematography.

Continue reading: Sam Mendes Returning To Direct New 'James Bond' Movie In 2014

Rafe Spall will join Rachel Weisz and Daniel Craig on Broadway later this year in one of Harold Pinter’s seminal works, Betrayal. The production will mark the reunion of Scott Rudin and Mike Nichols, the producer/director team, which was responsible for one of the most successful productions last season, the revival of Death of a Salesman.

Pinter’s semi-autobiographical Betrayal centers around the elicit affair between the wife of a successful London publisher and his best friend. The play uses reverse chronology to uncover the cracks in a disintegrating marriage and the relationships that come into play in adultery. This will be the first time real-life husband and wife Craig and Weisz will share the stage and, rather appropriately, they will be playing the married couple. It’ll be interesting to see whether the pair can portray the right kind of chemistry and exactly how Spall’s performance will fit into the mix.

While this will not be Craig’s first turn on Broadway (he last worked with Hugh Jackman on Steady Rain in 2009), both Weisz and Spall have performed exclusively on a London stage up until this point. Both actors have been nominated for an Olivier award, with Weisz winning for her portrayal of Blanche Dubois in A Streetcar Named Desire.

Continue reading: Daniel Craig And Rachel Weisz To Star In Pinter's Betrayal On Broadway

Harold Pinter’s semi-autobiographical tale of a complicated love triangle will, for the first time, unite Daniel Craig, Rachel Weisz and Rafe Spall on a Broadway stage.

Betrayal will be directed by none other than Mike Nichols, who also helmed the production of the huge Broadway hit Death of a Salesman, starring Philip Seymour Hoffman and Andrew Garfield. That production won Tony Awards for best revival of a play and best direction. Expectations are definitely high for this one, but avid theatre-goers will have to wait a while before they can actually catch it on stage. Betrayal will play a limited 14-week engagement at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre. It begins performances Oct. 1, with opening night set for Nov. 3. Closing date is Jan. 5, 2014.

The play is considered to be among Pinter’s best. Based to some extent on the author’s real experience, it chronicles the seven year relationship between the wife of a London publisher and his best friend. The play uses reverse chronology to explore the complex interactions of the extramarital affair. A bit of trivia – Craig and Weisz, who will play the married couple, are also married in real life. Perhaps the casting was done with this in mind. In any case, it will be interesting to see whether the actors can portray the right chemistry on stage.

Continue reading: Daniel Craig To Join Rachel Weisz On Broadway In Pinter's Betrayal

James Bond fans, stand to attention; a new movie has been all but confirmed, and will be ready in the next three years, MGM Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Gary Barber explained.

“We are very excited about the franchise, we look forward to announcing a director soon,” Barber said. “We are currently developing the screenplay and working with our partners. We look forward to developing the script soon and signing a director. We are hoping within the next three years it will be released,” he added. Of course, Skyfall director Sam Mendes won’t be behind the camera for this one, having recently dropped out of the franchise. Barber said Mendes “did an amazing job on ‘Skyfall’. We are very thankful for the work that he did.” One person who will be returning is the blonde Bond, Daniel Craig, having signed up for two more 007 outings. This will be his fourth effort as the enigmatic spy, but he’ll do well to achieve a fifth with increasing calls for Idris Elba to take over mantle. Skyfall was an unprecedented success, bringing in $1.108 billion - $304.4m from domestic theaters and $804 million from overseas.

Daniel Craig looking incredibly 'Bondy'

Continue reading: Bond 24: Follow Up To Skyfall Expected Within Three Years

It may have missed out on an Oscar nomination for best film, but the latest James Bond film has added to its extensive list of accolades by picking up Best Film at the South Bank Sky Arts Awards; the ceremony was hosted by Lord Bragg in London at lunchtime today (March, 12).

Skyfall - the most successful British Film since box office records began - beat psychological thriller Berberian Sound Studio and documentary The Imposter to the award. Skyfall producer Barbara Broccoli said winning the award was ‘an honour’. Elsewhere, Tom Stoppard's BBC2 adaptation of Ford Maddox Ford's Parade's End won the drama award, beating out fellow Shakespeare adaptations The Hollow Crown and police thriller Line of Duty. The Visual Arts award went to Thomas Heatherwick's London 2012 cauldron, while Twenty Twelve picked up the comedy prize, making it a solid afternoon for the BBC. Jessie Ware, who performed at the ceremony and was awarded with the Pop Music award, provided entertainment while Julie Walters received the Outstanding Achievement Award.

Continue reading: Skyfall Is The South Bank Sky Arts Awards’ Best Film

Halle Berry introduced a celebration of fifty years of James Bond on-screen at the Oscars 2013 on Sunday night (February 24, 2013). The former Bond girl - wearing a stunning Versace dress - spoke briefly about the best-loved franchise before a promo of 007's finest moments played before the star-studded audience at the Dolby Theatre.

Dame Shirley Bassey promptly arrived on-stage to sing her classic Bond hit Goldfinger, herself dressed from head-to-toe in sparkly gold. The stage legend gave a typically effortlessly performance and was quite rightly given a huge round of applause by the celebrity audience, with actress Reese Witherspoon in particular appearing blown away from the rendition. 

It's been a huge year for the Bond franchise, despite its future looking bleak just a couple of years ago. The casting of Daniel Craig strengthened the brand and his first movie Casino Royale pumped new life into the story of 007. However, it was last year's Skyfall - directed by Oscar winner Sam Mendes - that won Bond a whole new generation of fans. It quickly became the biggest Bond movie of all time while storming to the top of the all-time top UK grossing movies list. Craig signed on for additional films, while Sam Mendes is thought to be in discussions to helm the next movie too.

Continue reading: Oscars 2013: Dame Shirley Bassey Stuns Academy Awards With 'Goldfinger'

Imagine for a minute an alternate Academy Awards. An Oscars ceremony that decided against rewarding biopics, inaccurate thrillers and lightweight sort-of-indie flicks mainly directed by David O'Russell. This Sunday (February 24, 2013), a rather predictable bunch of nominees will take their seats at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles.

Daniel Day-Lewis will take home Best Actor, Spielberg will probably add to his collection of Best Director gongs, hell, maybe grumps himself Tommy Lee Jones will snatch a prize. It begs the question: is this really a collection of the very best performances and movies of the year? We present to you our alternate Academy Awards - who missed out on a nomination, though wouldn't have looked out of place with the golden statuette in their hand?

The Skyfall Cast At The Premiere In 2012

Continue reading: Alternate Oscars: Paul Thomas Anderson Wins! Leonardo Di Caprio Wins! Daniel Craig Wins!

Skyfall star Ben Whishaw, who plays a youthful incarnation of gadget expert Q in the latest Bond film, has hinted that the follow-up to the massively successful 007 movie may be ready to begin filming as early as this year.

Speaking to The Radio Times, the actor revealed that the next instalment of the Bond franchise could begin filming in as little as 'about ten months’ from now, should everything continue to go to plan. Whishaw was quick to cover his tracks though, should things fall behind schedule with the film, adding, ‘Well, hopefully. Let’s hope so!’

Whishaw and 007 himself, Daniel Craig, have confirmed their place in the follow-up Bond film, with Craig signed on to appear in at least three more Bond films. One person who is yet to commit to the follow-up, but has voiced interest, is Skyfall director Sam Mendes, who admitted at last weeks BAFTAs that he would 'certainly consider' stepping behind the camera again, but wont commit until he has seen a script.

Continue reading: Skyfall Star Ben Whishaw Insists: 'New Bond To Film This Year'

Ben Whishaw, who plays MI6 technical expert Q in Skyfall, has managed to relight the 007 fire just a week before The Oscars are set to celebrate the franchise’s 50 year anniversary, by hinting at a filming date for the 24th Bond film.

Speaking to The Radio Times, who were keen to find out if he had been in touch with Daniel Craig, Wishaw said, "we know that we'll probably be back together again in about ten months." Then, realising he’d possibly let the cat out of the bag, he quickly said, "Well, hopefully. Let's hope so!" Too late Ben, too late. Whishaw also talked about the reality of Craig doing more Bond films: "I know that he’s doing the next three so I’m not thinking beyond that. We’ve got to just get through those first," he said before opening up his character as the infamous Q. "Well obviously I would like just for him to be in it more!" he joked.

Lots of talk has surrounded Craig’s return as Bond, with some reports suggesting he wouldn’t be happy with a quick turnaround to make another film. Idris Elba was then mooted to take over as 007, becoming the first black James Bond in the process. As for the director, it looks as if Mendes has done enough to stay in the driver’s seat. He recently indicated he would be open to a second Bond film, saying: "we would want to make a better movie next time around".

A special James Bond themed train will arrive in Edinburgh tomorrow; the vessel will then be free for fans of the franchise to travel on, as the train begins service between Waverly and London King’s Cross, Scotsman reports.

Jon Melville predicts that fans would be receptive to the idea. He said: “Skyfall, of course, has such a great Scottish connection with the filming that took place in the Highlands, so anything that we can do to get people travelling to Scotland is a great thing. If we’re talking Scotland, we have such a strong connection to Bond because of Sean Connery and because Bond is half-Scottish. People will be able to soak up the atmosphere of Sean Connery’s city and then maybe head further north and see where they filmed Skyfall.” Passengers will be free to make the four-hour journey on board the train from tomorrow, mirroring Bond and M’s voyage north for the film’s final act.

Skyfall - starring Daniel Craig as Bond - has now earned £708 million worldwide, and will also enjoy special recognition next Sunday (24th) when The Oscars take place. The Academy is set to pay tribute to the Bond franchise on its 50th anniversary. This will include speakers and a performance of Skyfall from British songstress Adele, who’ll also be hoping to win Best Original song for the Bond tune.

It's less than two weeks until the most prestigious movie awards ceremony - the Academy Awards -takes place on February 24th 2013 and rumours are flying around everywhere about alleged appearances. One of the biggest is, in the wake of the 50th anniversary of the first James Bond movie 'Dr No', all six actors who have portrayed the British spy (from Sean Connery to Daniel Craig) will show up for one huge reunion on the Oscars stage. But just how likely is it happen?

Sean Connery has, according to the Daily Record, been invited to attend the so-called reunion, as sources reveal that they've 'not had a no from him'. 'Normally he is quick to turn things down', they said. 'Sean's relationship with the Oscars is good and we're hoping he'll appear.' The paper also went on to claim that Sean's 'issues' with the producers of James Bond may deter him from attending the event, although we've always thought of him as seeming rather proud of being the original 007 star so it would seem odd for him to refuse on that account. On the other hand, according to the Edinburgh Evening News, the Scottish actor didn't even know about the rumours, with his press agent claiming that no-one has yet asked him to get involved.

One who would be likely to attend is Sir Roger Moore; a man who was loved by so many that he played the role of Bond for 12 years, completing 7 movies between 1973 and 1985. He celebrated the 50th anniversary of the franchise last year by releasing his book 'Bond on Bond: The Ultimate Book On 50 Years Of Bond Movies' so it certainly seems like it's a part of his life he holds dear. He mentioned in an interview on the 'Today' show that it was like 'working with a family every 18 months' but regrets that he finished his book before he saw the latest 007 movie 'Skyfall'. 'I would write another chapter', he said. 'I think it is just the best Bond ever made.' However, as happy as he seems to be constantly associated with the fictional secret agent, he wasn't spotted at the 2013 BAFTAS on February 10th 2013 where 'Skyfall' won 'Best British Film'.

Continue reading: Will The Six Spies 'Bond' At The Oscars?

This year’s Oscars ceremony will see the return of Barbra Streisand for the first time since 1977. Streisand will be making a special appearance, performing live onstage. The last time she graced the Academy stage, she was performing ‘Evergreen’ from A Star Is Born – for which she won herself a Best Original Song Oscar.

The awards show’s producers, Craig Zadan and Neil Meron revealed “In an evening that celebrates the artistry of movies and music, how could the telecast be complete without Barbra Streisand? We are honored that she has agreed to do a very special performance on this year's Oscars, her first time singing on the show in 36 years.” Streisand also won the Best Actress Oscar in 1969, for her role in Funny Girl.

Next month’s 85th Academy Awards ceremony is also scheduled to include a tribute to movie musicals, with Oscar-nominated Les Miserables featuring in the tribute as well as songs from Dreamgirls and Chicago. The ceremony is also due to feature a tribute to the 50th anniversary of the James Bond franchise, including a live performance from Adele, who is nominated for her song ‘Skyfall,’ the eponymous track from the latest Bond movie, starring Daniel Craig as James Bond. 

Continue reading: That Funny Girl's Back: Barbra Streisand Returns To Oscars Stage After 36 Years

In a world of endless "thankyous" and classy jokes, the acceptance speech can be hard to master, considering you're expected to give it just after what can only be good news, unless you're Jaoquin Phoenix.

So when British powerhouse singer Adele popped up on stage to collect her award for best original song for the James Bond track, Skyfall, the Hollywood audience were privy to something a little different. "Oh my god! I've come for a night out with my friend Ida," she asserted. "We're new mums. We're literally here for a night out!" she added, and was met with a titter. "I was not expecting this... thank you so much for letting me be a part of your world for a night. I've been p***ing myself laughing," she said, which garnered more of a laugh, before she said, "This is for my boyfriend, Simon, who convinced me to do it, and for my lovely son," and left the stage.

She also thanked Paul Hepworth, who she co-wrote the song with, and Daniel Craig for being "such a wonderful Bond". And off she went, flustered and excited as they come, and thoroughly charming to boot. Elsewhere at The Globes, Les Miserables picked up three awards, and Ben Affleck stuck it to The Academy - who ignored him in the best director category while handing him a chance in the best film section - by winning best director for Argo. 

Continue reading: Adele Shows Hollywood How A British Acceptance Speech Is Done At The Golden Globes

Skyfall has missed out on an Oscar nomination for Best Picture as the likes of Lincoln, Argo and Les Miserables all as expected were included in the shortlist. The news will come as a bitter blow to Samuel Mendes, Daniel Craig and the rest of the James Bond team, who were hoping that a critical and commercial smash Stateside, a first ever nomination at the Producer's Guild Of America awards and a special tribute actually being held at the Oscars themselves to pay tribute to its 50th anniversary, would be enough for it to make the cut. 

Evidently though the tribute appears to be all but a sop thrown to the James Bond franchise, with neither the film, director Samuel Mendes nor star Daniel Craig to be seen in any of the categories. The Dark Knight Rises was another to miss the cut - and indeed any other category - though there were plenty of names included who were strongly tipped up in the build-up this year. 

Of those, the strongest choics look like being Steven Spielberg's Lincoln and the Tom Hooper-directed Les Miserables; it's a line-up glistening with quality though: Bradley Cooper was a surprise nomination in the Best Leading Actor category, which is perhaps a sign that Silver Linings PIaybook is favored strongly among the panel. Benh Zeitlin meanwhile continued his fairytale story as he saw Beasts Of The Southern Wild make the cut in addition to his own name being put up for Best Director, and the controversial Django Unchained also made the list, despite criticism over its handling of slavery issues. Elsewhere, Michael Hanneke's Amour found itself up for inclusion, despite its name being relatively unheralded when it came to predicting the final reckoning in the build-up; Argo was another to be included in the list, though you might argue that its chances look weak given that Ben Affleck didn't make it into the shortlist for Best Director, despite being the bookies favourite beforehand. 

Continue reading: Skyfall Oscars Snub In Best Picture Nominations

Two of last year's main men inDaniel Craig [Left] and Ben Affleck [Right],both of whom could be on for big things this awards season

The National Board Of Review Awards took place last night (January 8, 2013), with many evidently viewing the bash as a warm-up before the Oscar nominations get announced tomorrow (January 10, 2013). As such, some of the names who may well be featuring in less than 24 hours time were on the red carpet, including Skyfall's Daniel Craig, Argo director and actor Ben Affleck, stars from Les Miserables including Anne Hathaway and Amanda Seyfried, and many more.

Continue reading: Daniel Craig, Ben Affleck And The Les Miserables Cast Warm Up For The Oscars At The National Board Of Review Awards (Pictures)

With the iconic James Bond franchise set to receive a significant amount of attention at the upcoming Academy Awards ceremony given that 'Skyfall' marked the spy series' 50th anniversary as well as becoming the biggest blockbuster of the year in terms of both commercial and critical success, it's only natural that we've started to wonder about Bond number seven. After all, Daniel Craig has completed a total of three 007 flicks over the past six years and after getting wed in 2011, now might be the time to step down and enjoy some family time before he reaches 50. We've thought up a possible candidate and reckon we have some pretty good justification as to why Tom Hardy should become the next James Bond. 

He's British.

Continue reading: From Bane To Bond: Why Tom Hardy Would Make A Brilliant 007

You would have thought a glamorous, black tie event, with expensive drinks and beautiful, sometimes evil people in attendance would see 007 shine. But for whatever reason - the Academy's reluctance to reward film series is often cited - Bond has only 2 Oscars from 24 nominations in its illustrious 50 year history. 

"It is absolutely time for Bond to get proper attention at the Oscars," Timothy Dalton - twice Bond in The Living Daylights and Licence to Kill - said. "On almost every level this Bond movie [Skyfall] is right at the forefront of what cinema is capable of. [Skyfall] is an absolutely modern James Bond, a movie truly of its time. Daniel Craig is fantastic and it feels very real. It has also got a great story about M with a nice streak of cynicism. I thought the film was fabulous," he continued. Bond will be recognised without a doubt come February 24th, but in the form of a tribute rather an award. Theme song singer Adele has also been rumoured to perform at the ceremony.

Popular critic Mark Kermode, like Dalton, believes Skyfall should finally break Bond's Oscar blues. "The really interesting question is going to be Skyfall," he told Digital Spy. "How is Skyfall going to do at the awards because traditionally Bond movies are not awards movies? They're crowd-pleasers and they tend to be slightly neglected by the awards ceremonies. I think that what Sam Mendes has done with Skyfall is to reinvent the Bond franchise in a way that deserves to be an awards contender. I'd love to see Skyfall get significant nominations. I hope it does."

Continue reading: Time For "Bond To Get Proper Attention At The Oscars" Says Former 007, Timothy Dalton

The 50th Bond film to come out – Skyfall, has been receiving praise left and right since it came out last year, and it looks like it might even nab a few Oscar nods this year.

While the Bond franchise isn’t really known for Oscar success – over the years the films have received their fair share of nominations and even scored some wins, but mostly in minor technical categories – Skyfall, starring Daniel Craig as Bond, has the strongest chance of any Bond film to date to receive an actual Best Picture award. In any case, even without a nomination, 007 will be honoured at the ceremony, in more ways than one. The producers of the show have let slip that they are planning a special tribute during the show in honor of the franchise’s 50th anniversary – a look back at all of Bond’s incarnations throughout the years. “We are very happy to include a special sequence on our show saluting the Bond films on their 50th birthday,” producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron said in a joint statement. “Starting with Dr. No back in 1962, the 007 movies have become the longest-running motion picture franchise in history and a beloved global phenomenon.”

Meron and Zadan haven’t revealed much else about the tribute however, and it still remains to be seen whether Skyfall will receive the predicted Best Picture nod – something that’s looking increasingly likely after its Producer’s Guild nomination earlier this week.

The signs are all pointing to it - surely Skyfall is going to become the first James Bond film to be nominated for the best picture award at the Oscars? Yesterday it was reported that the Daniel Craig-starring, Sam Mendes-directed 007 flick has been nominated among ten films for a Producers Guild of America award. That usually means that a film’s in with a good shout of being nominated at the Academy Awards, given that the winner of the PGA has gone on to win the ultimate prize in 16 of the last 23 years.

Now further hope has been given to the Bond team with the news, reported by The Hollywood Reporter, that the Academy is to have a special tribute section to the Bond franchise as it celebrates 50 years. "We are very happy to include a special sequence on our show saluting the Bond films on their 50th birthday," said producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron. "Starting with Dr. No back in 1962, the 007 movies have become the longest-running motion picture franchise in history and a beloved global phenomenon."

Despite its enduring commercial success – Skyfall recently topped the $1 billion mark globally at the box office – the Bond franchise has never been taken seriously by the Academy. The 23 films have managed to muster just two wins and seven nominations between them, all coming in relatively minor categories; there’s been no nomination in any category since 1982. You have to believe that this year is going to be different.

Continue reading: Oscars Set To Mark 50th Anniversary Of James Bond; Skyfall Nomination Beckons?

Skyfall’s Producers Guild of America award nomination for the top prize at the ceremony could be a great indicator for the James Bond film’s chances at the Oscars, with the 007 flick already breaking new ground by being the first in the series to have been put up for a PGA.

BBC News reports that the Sam Mendes-directed Daniel Craig-starring Bond film – which has just topped $1 billion globally at the box office – is up against nine other films, including heavy hitters Les Miserables and Lincoln, for the much coveted award. At the Oscars themselves, the Best Picture category could end up being contested between anywhere between five and ten candidates, so you’ve got to believe that many will come from these ten – especially when you consider that the winner of the PGA has gone on to win the best picture statuette in 16 of the last 23 years.

The full list is below, but among the notable absentees from a list, that included many of the names being touted around the film industry for Academy recognition, were Peter Jackson’s new J R R Tolkien adaptation epic The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, the Joaquin Phoenix-starring The Master and Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises.

Continue reading: Skyfall Producers Guild Of America Awards Nomination Heralds Possible Oscars Fortune

Skyfall, Sam Mendes' critically acclaimed James Bond movie, has taken more than $1 billion at the worldwide box office. The latest film is now the most successful film in British box-office history, though it remains at No.2 on a list of movie gaffes spotted by eagle eyed cinemagoers. They had to go and spoil it.

According to the online list at moviemistakes.com, Skyfall contains 35 gaffes, second only to Men In Black III with 63. Among the most glaring errors include during the opening 'train scene' when Bond's footwear changes from black lace up shoes to black slip on ankle boots. During the thrilling Istanbul chase scene, Eve knocks out of the windshield of her car, though for the rest of the chase, half the glass is back in the frame. In the chase through the tube station, both Bond and his enemy Silva (Javier Bardem) slide down between the escalators, though the London Underground has hard vertical signs to stop people falling. In one of the movie's concluding scenes, Bond reaches the chapel and plunges into the icy water, though he appears to be perfectly dry just seconds later.

The 23rd official Bond film became the first movie ever to take £100 million at the British box office this past weekend, ($1 billion worldwide). Daniel Craig's third Bond movie is STILL on general release more than two months after its release, such is the continuing demand.

Almost everyone loved Skyfall. Critics and audiences alike were enthralled by the plot and characters, and the collaboration between Sam Mendes and Daniel Craig has been lauded. In many ways, therefore, it's no surprise that it has become the most successful Bond film of all time. Though this may be blasphemous to say, but Craig's Bond is just as dazzling as Sean Connery's. Proving its worth with enormous fiscal success, Skyfall has taken over £100m in British cinemas- the first film ever to do so, and has taken over $1b world wide. 

The highest grossing film in the UK before Skyfall was Avatar, which had taken £94m in a year. But as the Guardian reports, it took just 40 days for Bond to surpass that number. As for the billion dollar mark, which sounds all the more impressive- it is in fact far more easily attained it seems. This year saw both The Avengers and The Dark Knight Rises smash through $1b of sales. 

Sales numbers can be misleading, however, and levelling out numbers with inflation would certainly see many of the older Bond movies seem more successful. Numbers of tickets sold have in fact flagged largely from the hey-dey of the postwar era which saw an enormous boom in cinema, as it had become the medium by which to entertain troops and to keep up moral during the depression. No films have ever out sold Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarves (1938), The Sound of Music (1965), or Gone With the Wind (1940), which sold 38 million, 30 million and 35 million tickets respectively. At the time, those numbers included almost two thirds of the population. 

Skyfall - the 23rd James Bond flick starring Daniel Craig as 007 - has been one of the biggest hits of the year, critically and commercially. This success really comes to a head deep into award season, with the Grammy nominations in full flow, it's time to measure by numbers.

Producer Paul Epworth, who has worked with Adele before, created the Skyfall theme, and when it comes to film songs, none are more iconic, and manifestly daunting, and Bond songs. He picked up a Grammy nomination for Best Original Song yesterday. "Every single nomination in anything is really thrilling," Epworth told MTV, "but to have one in the film world as opposed to the music world, it's a really wonderful and very surprising step forward, you know?" he laughed. "I used to do work on film scores as a tape op, so I've done quite a bit of this, but this was definitely the first time that I've done it in this capacity. And to be doing it in front of ['Skyfall' director] Sam Mendes and ['Bond' producer] Barb Broccoli, it was definitely one of the most daunting sessions of my life."

It's nice to see people other than actors and directors in line for recognition for their work behind the scenes. Adele, who's powerful voice delivers Skyfall with gusto, might be due an Oscar for her troubles come February 2013. 

We all know Skyfall’s successful, at this point we all know just how successful it is as well, with constant reports letting know us know every time it passes a landmark box office figure, delivered with the same enthusiasm that Red Bull marketing executives must have felt every time they saw Felix Baumgartner plummeting another few thousand feet to earth without dying the other month.

Well here’s another one: The Guardian reports that the James Bond film has managed to muscle its way back to the top of the UK box office on its sixth week of release, beating out The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2, which had spent the previous two in first place. Coming out of the weekend, Skyfall had posted takings of £2.28 million for a 38-day total of £93.77 million. Monday (December 3) and Tuesday’s (December 4) takings have since been added to that total and the film now sits pretty with £94.28 million over 40 days.

That means it’s hit another landmark: ousting Avatar as the UK’s biggest grossing film ever after 40 days, with the James Cameron-directed film having taken £94.03 million upon its release. Skyfall has benefitted from a slight inflation on cinema ticket prices, though it is worth pointing out that it’s achieved its figure without additional 3D screenings. There’s good news for Breaking Dawn – Part 2 too; it’s become the sixth film in the UK to break the £30 million barrier in 2012. With The Hobbit still to come, it’s looking like a bumper year for the British cinema industry.

Continue reading: Skyfall Becomes Biggest UK Box Office Film Ever

As Hollywood rolls into awards' season, the head honchos at Universal Pictures and Focus Features are probably busy plotting for 2013 having landed the rights to the Fifty Shades of Grey movie. Warner Bros, Sony Pictures, Paramount and Mark Wahlberg's company all placed bids for the rights in one of fiercest movie bidding wars of recent times. Despite the general critical mauling of E.L. James book (though massive sales figures), the movie boasts a pretty impressive team. The Social Network producers Michael De Luca and Dana Brunetti have signed on while Terra Nova's Kelly Marcel will pen the script.

But that's all the boring stuff. We want to know who's playing Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele right? Murmurings around Hollywood suggest Ryan Gosling is pretty much everyone's first choice to play the wealthy protagonist. Universal want Gosling, the producers want Gosling, the fans want Gosling, hell, Gosling probably wants the role himself. Irish bookmaker Paddy Power have the Drive actor as 2/1 favourite, though one man threw a pretty giant spanner into the works this week. He's the third favourite with the bookmaker, he plays Superman in the forthcoming movie Man of Steel. He is Henry Cavill. 

The 29-year-old British actor - who screen-tested for the role of James Bond before Daniel Craig got the part - discussed Fifty Shades of Grey during a recent interview with Details magazine. When quizzed as to whether he would take the role, Cavill gave a curious answer. Whereas Gosling, Ian Somerhalder and Michael Fassbender have coyly laughed off suggestions of becoming Mr Grey, Cavill said, "Whether that happens, that decision will be made at the time it has to be made. It would be a very different kind of thing than Man of Steel." The interviewer observed that Cavill spoke in "the measured tones of someone who knows his way around a Hollywood gag order."

Continue reading: Wait, Has Henry Cavill Signed On For Fifty Shades Of Grey?

Think of yourself as the next Daniel Craig? Inspired by James Bond's crime-fighting efforts in Sam Mendes' Skyfall? Well then it's probably time to ditch the day job and apply for the role of "target elimination specialist," recently advertised on the Direct.gov.uk website.

Ok, so it appears to have been the work of pranksters, rather than, say, the Secret Intelligence Service, but it probably fooled thousands. The advert stated that the country's top spy bosses were seeking someone prepared to "remove people whose continued existence poses a risk to the effective conduct of public order." Suppose that's better than pressing buttons, huh? According to The Register, the advert - which has seen been removed - told prospective applications they needed to be "resourceful in finding ways to accomplish their missions and, in some cases, to leave foreign countries by non-conventional means." The successful applicant would be paid a salary of £50,000 to £60,000 though would have the benefits of special watches, a company submarine and a Walther PPK - Bond's famous firearm. There was no mention of a pension plan or a lunchtime break, which is slightly disappointing. 

Unfortunately for any would-be James Bonds, the listing was confirmed as being purely fictitious, with a spokeswoman for SIS/MI6 saying it was a fake. 

Continue reading: James Bond Wanted: Skyfall Style Job Appears On Official Government Website

The final instalment of the 'Twilight Saga', 'Breaking Dawn Part 2', starring Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson has topped the US box office for the second weekend in a row during the Thanksgiving holiday.

The teen vampire flick brought in a massive $64 million from November 21st to 25th adding to the $163 million already grossed by the popular movie in the States. It certainly helped the box office break their Thanksgiving takings record with an estimated $290 million beating their previous record from 2009 of $273 million over the course of the American holiday. 

Coming in second place at the box office was the most successful James Bond movie so far, 'Skyfall', which brought in $51 million over the weekend totalling $221.7 million altogether for the US. The immense success of the film has made 007 star Daniel Craig the highest earning British actor after signing a £31 million contract to appear in two further Bond films.

Continue reading: 'Breaking Dawn Part 2' Tops US Box Office For A Second Week

It's no surprise films keep breaking box office records; the tickets cost more. But they've still got to attract those fans into movie theatres, and that's what Twilight and Skyfall seem to be doing, as they're predicted to break Thanksgiving weekend box office records. 

The tradition is to open films on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, which gives the kids - who are off school on that day - the chance to go and see their favourite characters on the big screen. It seems to have worked well for Twilight and Skyfall, as the films combined to collect $44.3 million in total U.S. and Canadian ticket sales for the day; an impressive feat for one day's work. The previous weekend, Twilight had already managed the huge sum of  $141.3 million. The 2009 holiday weekend record of $273 million saw The Twilight Saga: New Moon and the football flick, The Blind Side, bring in the cash, but if current figures are anything to go by - and they're already 20% higher than 2009's effort - this weekend will herald a record breaking total.

It looks like financial posterity in the light of a global financial crisis doesn't deter film goers, in fact, a dose of romantic escapism is probably just what a struggling public need to distract them from their financial woes. The poor get poorer, the rich get richer, and the movie-stars get even richer. 

Apparently, a license to kill is not transferable to a New York motorist’s license. Daniel Craig – otherwise known as James Bond right now, as he’s busy taking charge of your local cinema screens in Skyfall – has just taken an obligatory course on “responsible safe driving” in order to obtain a New York driving license, New York Post has reported.

Being James Bond doesn’t get you any special treatment in New York, it would appear. “No one is exempt, regardless of who you are,” said Richard Fernandez, an office manager at the Professional Driving School of the Americas, on East 23rd Street, Manhattan. The rules state that foreigners have to pass a written test, as well as completing a five hour “prelicensing” driving safety course and pass a road test, in order to qualify for a driver’s license. The classroom course includes video and lectures on parallel parking, three-point turns, driving in extreme weather conditions and the dangers of drink driving.

Craig did get a little bit of special treatment though. His assistant had requested that he be able to take the test alone. “No other students were there,” said Fernandez, who added “he was such a nice dude, so friendly.” We’re guessing he didn’t spend his time bragging about how he flipped an Aston Martin DBS in Casino Royale then?

Daniel Craig, 44, is officially the highest earning Bond actor of all time and has now risen to become one of the top paid actors in the world. Though there had been murmurings that Craig would leave his post as 007, the Lancashire born actor has now signed a £31 million contract to pay the international spy twice more.

The pay-rise was inevitable following the phenomenal success of Skyfall, Sam Mendes' new Bond movie that took £57 million in 12 days in the UK. Craig is expected to appear in the next movie as early as 2014, though it's unclear whether his pal Mendes will be back behind the camera. For his first appearance as Bond in Casino Royale, Craig was paid £1.9 million before getting £4.4 million for the follow-up Quantum of Solace. His salary more than doubled to £10.7 million for Skyfall, which was £3 million more than Pierce Brosnan got for The World Is Not Enough in 1999. In today's money, Roger Moore was paid an average of £6.3 million per movie, while Timothy Dalton got £5.4 million. Craig has been lauded by critics as the best Bond since Sean Connery - who was paid just £10,000 for Dr No - and possibly the best Bond ever. His salary for the next two movies puts him firmly amongst Hollywood's elite earners, such as Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt and Johnny Depp. It is thought the latter commands around $20 million per instalment of the hugely successful Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. Yesterday, Craig paid a visit to Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, where he introduced a special screening of Skyfall to 800 British servicemen and women.

The new deal could scupper Idris Elba's chances of landing the Bond role. Though he's met with producers regarding becoming 007, he would be 46-years-old in 2018, the likely year of the first post-Daniel Craig Bond. 

Well you can’t say he hasn’t earned it. Daniel Craig will become the top earning James Bond of all time after signing a new deal that will see the British actor take in a cool $49 million to appear in the next two installments of the long running special agent franchise.

Bond certainly wasn’t on its last legs by the middle of the last decade, Pierce Brosnan had done a sterling job of steadying the ship after a series of Bonds struggled to replace the incomparable Sean Connery in the 80's; yet there was the sense that its time might be coming to an end, with outdated attitudes and a Bond that remained stiff and relatively one dimensional as a character. Craig’s debut in 2006 for Casino Royale breathed new life into the films however, as he picked up plaudits for both that and 2008’s Quanton of Solace, giving Bond a more emotional, weaker side.

As well as plaudits Craig’s also picked up a lot of money; he made $3 million for Casino Royale, a figure which rose to more than $7 million for QoS and then a whopping $17 million for latest film Skyfall. The huge critical and commercial success of Skyfall – the best-selling Bond ever, and the first seriously be considered in the running for an Oscar – has led to a new bumper deal, which puts him right at the top of Hollywood’s highest earners. To put these figures into perspective, Sean Connery was paid an average of $5.1 million per film, taking inflation into account, whilst Brosnan’s last 007 appearance The World Is Not Enough saw him take a similar amount.

It will be of little surprise to many that Skyfall topped the US box office this week but the staggering box office returns will still raise a few eyebrows. The latest movie in the legendary spy movie franchise – directed by Sam Mendes – took a whopping $87.8 million in the United States of America and Canada. It’s the biggest ever opening weekend for a Bond movie, which has now taken a staggering $518.6 million since October 26.

Skyfall is the third movie to star Daniel Craig, following Quantum of Solace four years ago. QoS was widely regarded to be something of a disappointment for many Bond fans, yet Skyfall has been a serious return to form for the franchise. Rory Bruer, the president of worldwide distribution for Sony Pictures told Reuters “We've always been very bullish about the film, but I don't think anyone expected the kind of stunning numbers that we've seen… How many pictures in just over two weeks have earned more than half a billion already?”

To put the achievements of Skyfall into context, the movie that topped the US charts last week was Wreck It Ralph, which slipped into second place this week with $33.1 million. According to Reuters, Denzel Washington’s thriller Flight came in with just $15.1 million. Obviously, the lion’s share of this week’s ticket sales were always going to Daniel Craig and the newest Bond venture but regardless, this is may well be a disappointing turnout for the makers of Flight who will have been hoping that the Oscars buzz surrounding the film – and the hugely positive critical response to Washington’s performance – will have been enough to entice a few more moviegoers away from Skyfall. 

Continue reading: Skyfall Continues To Impress: Best Ever Bond Opening In US & Canada

James Bond star Daniel Craig has been warned that his hair loss is starting to become a major concern for network executives, who have warned the actor that he needs to curb his hair loss in order to keep his job as Her Majesty's finest agent.

Reports have emerged online that the actor is been told to get a hair transplant in order to maintain Bond's sex appeal and believability as his hair continues to recede back. It appears that Skyfall's massive success and appraisals may mean nothing to the films producers, as they are more concerned in having a Bond with a full head of hair as apposed to a Bond that is already been touted as the best there's been.

In other Bond news, it has emerged that Skyfall director Sam Mendes wanted the original 007, Sean Connery, to make a cameo appearance in the hit film, that is still performing strongly at the box office. Although he regularly likes to reiterate the fact that he is retired and has no plans to return in front of the camera anytime soon, Mendes was apparently desperate to sign up to veteran actor (who has long rocked the hairless look) when the film was in production, but the Scot would not budge.

Daniel Craig and wife Rachel Weisz shared a rare moment of public intimacy at the 2012 Britannia Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Wednesday evening (November 8, 2012). The British couple were attending the BBC America sponsored event, at which Craig picked up the award for British Artist of the Year.

After being announced the winner, Craig leaned in and kissed his wife before making his way onto the stage as she applauded. The Skyfall actor mimicked his 007 persona by opting for a simple black tuxedo, while Weisz opted for a black ensemble. After picking up his gong, Craig was congratulated by director Stephen Spielberg and Oscar winner Daniel Day-Lewis, who also took home an award for his turn in Lincoln. The evening turned out to be a very Bond affair, with actresses Berenice Marlohe and Naomie Harris both in attendance, as well as director Sam Mendes. Goldeneye actor Alan Cumming hosted the event in a striking looking red suit.

Though amongst the world's most famous movie stars, Craig and Weisz have managed to keep their relationship largely private. She broke off her engagement to director Darren Aronofsky in 2010 before marrying Craig in June 2011. 

Continue reading: Spy Who Loved Me: Daniel Craig Kisses Rachel Weisz At BAFTA Britannia Awards

Daniel Craig appears to be less than happy about his James Bond contract and insists that he wishes he never took up the role as the British MI6 agent.

In an interview with Rolling Stone, the BAFTA nominated actor revealed that despite being signed to star in a further two more Bond films, he's desperate to end his stint as the spy having already appeared in three movies. 'I've been trying to get out of this from the very moment I got into it', he insisted in the interview. 'But they won't let me go, and I've agreed to do a couple more, but let's see how this one does, because business is business and if the s*** goes down, I've got a contract that somebody will happily wipe their a** with.' 

It appears to be a statement he made before the huge and immediate success of the latest Bond film 'Skyfall' that is nearing record-breaking triumphs in the UK box office having already made $289,052,543 worldwide. He is yet to comment on the article or change his mind, however BBC America reported that he had nothing but positive things to say about the franchise. 'I feel really comfortable to where we've got to and the way that we're now making these movies thrills me', he says. 'As an actor I just get such a kick out of it.' Very contradicting statements. Sure you've not have a few too many Martinis, Daniel?