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First SKYFALL videoblog from director Sam Mendes // February 21. 2012
Late tonight in the US, the first videoblog entry from SKYFALL director Sam Mendes debuted on 007.com, the official James Bond website. In the all-too-brief 1:30 entry, Mendes describes his own "personal relationship with Bond" which began as a nine-year-old fan of the films. Watch the new clip in our Video Surveillance sector.
1st official SKYFALL photo released // February 01. 2012
 As promised earlier today, the official James Bond website 007.com has released the first officially released photo from SKYFALL, the 23rd Bond film in the action-packed franchise.
The image depicts star Daniel Craig back as Bond, gun drawn and on the lookout for danger somewhere in Shanghai, China (or a London movie set facsimile thereof).
Consistent with the apparent wintertime setting of the film (as evidenced by the chilly London rooftop shoot glimpsed last year), Bond is bundled up in a stylish jacket and dark gloves in this night shoot.
Fox/MGM announce BOND 50th anniversary Blu-ray box set // January 10. 2012
 As announced at today's Bond director panel at CES, MGM and Fox will offer the ultimate Blu-ray collection of 007 cinema this fall with the BOND 50 box set, arriving in stores just before Bond's 23rd adventure SKYFALL opens in theaters.
Currently there is no confirmed U.S. release date for this 22-film complete set of Bond films from DR. NO to QUANTUM OF SOLACE, though American fans can sign up at Amazon.com for email notification once the box set is available for purchase. But with the U.K.'s early release of SKYFALL on October 26th (two weeks before its U.S. debut), Amazon.co.uk now has the BOND 50 box set available for pre-order with a street date of October 1 with their price point at £89.99.
Watch the new promotional trailer released today then read the full studio press release on the FilmEdge blog.
Production video relaunches Official 007 webstite for SKYFALL // December 28. 2011
The official James Bond 007 website has relauched itself with a new design and content geared directly to promote SKYFALL while also paying homage to the Bond legacy. The grayscale, high-tech design is eyecatching and appropriately gritty for the Daniel Craig era of 007, and the content is fairly robust for the new site jumpstart including sections for News, Skyfall, the Bond in Motion vehicle exhibit, Videos and Games currently touting the GoldenEye 007: Reloaded platform game. A retro flip-card countdown ticks off the 296-or-so days until SKYFALL debuts in theaters. Watch the introductory video by veteran Bond producer Michael G. Wilson in FilmEdge's Video Surveillance sector.
Daniel Craig touts SKYFALL as better than CASINO ROYALE // December 07. 2011
In an exclusive interview with Time Out, Daniel Craig split time between praising David Fincher's and Rooney Mara's work in THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO and reflecting on how his own disappointment in QUANTUM OF SOLACE spurred on his mission to make SKYFALL a better Bond film. For starters, Craig praises the high quality of SKYFALL's script in comparison to his first time on-screen as 007:
"I’m genuinely really excited because we’ve got a script. The deciding factor for doing CASINO ROYALE . . . was that they showed me the script and I thought: Fuck, I’ve got to do this. And I think this one is better. I really do. It’s a totally original story. I read it and it just works as a story."
Commenting on QUANTUM's storytelling letdown, Craig admitted:
"We had the bare bones of a script and then there was a writers' strike and there was nothing we could do. We couldn't employ a writer to finish it. I say to myself, 'Never again,' but who knows? There was me trying to rewrite scenes – and a writer I am not."
It's a welcome relief and an encouraging sign to hear Craig speaking out on his personal dissatisfaction with QUANTUM's muddy story (as FilmEdge reviewed it), and that he holds his own work and SKYFALL up to a much higher Bond standard of quality. While he's been filming his third Bond adventure less than a month, how does Craig evaluate the effort so far?
"The air is rare, and we’ve had the chance to employ some brilliant people. Win or lose, we’ve done the best we can because we’ve put the right people in the job."
One of those key personnel shaping SKYFALL is director Sam Mendes, whom Craig admires for his storytelling skills and in-depth Bond savvy:
"I did, yes, I did. He’s English, he’s Cambridge-educated, he’s smart. He’s lived with Bond all his life, he grew up with Bond the way I did. We grew up at exactly the same time, and I said to him, 'We have to do this together, we have exactly the same reference points, we both like the same Bond movies and we both like the same bits in the same Bond movies we like' . . . That’s how we started talking about it. That’s what we tried to instill in the script. He’s been working his arse off to tie all these things together so they make sense – in a Bond way.”
With two Bond aficionados taking the lead this time, SKYFALL's potential to be a superior entry in the Bond franchise grows with every new comment from within its production. There's certainly no arguing against the talents gathered amid the cast and crew, including D.P. Roger Deakins who impresses Craig to no end (and rightly so).
Jump the linked article above and read the full Time Out interview to see just how personally Daniel Craig is taking his role as both James Bond and a caretaker of the larger Bond legacy.
Craig and Harris filming SKYFALL on a London rooftop // December 05. 2011
The UK's Daily Mail Online offers these unofficial photos from SKYFALL location shooting on a London rooftop today. The weather looks clear and very crisp as stars Daniel Craig and Naomie Harris are bundled up in-character for the undisclosed scene involving the transfer of a small black file/storage box. Open FilmEdge's Photo Dossier to view these new images.
Helen McCrory SKYFALL role revealed as Parliament member // December 05. 2011
Today the official 007 James Bond Facebook page and @007 Twitter account broke the news that Helen McCrory will play a politician in the 23rd Bond film SKYFALL. McCrory, appearing on ITV's British breakfast show called Lorraine, discussed her previous work in the HARRY POTTER films and Martin Scorsese's latest film HUGO, then shed light on her current role opposite 007. She will portray Clair Dowar, a politician and member of the British Parliament. Here in the Colonies, we can't stream ITV video to watch or share the interview, but maybe someone from the UK will offer a clip soon.
Meanwhile, McCrory's role as an MP certainly suggests that whatever attack befalls M (Judi Dench) and MI6 might have significant political fallout in Britain. If indeed Albert Finney is cast as an antagonistic figure to M — perhaps even a threat to replace her in MI6 — his character might well find an ally in McCrory's Clair Dowar if Parliament gets on M's case as well. Of course that is just one possible dramatic scenario, but it seems clear McCrory was not cast in a skimpy supporting role and it's impossible to argue against this stellar cast having great potential for an exciting crisis story in the Bond franchise. McCrory's role has now been updated in our SKYFALL Cast and Crew personnel files.
Bond crew raises a glass to toast day 22 of SKYFALL // November 30. 2011
 Today the official 007 James Bond Facebook page and @007 Twitter account posted the fourth camera slate photo from production on SKYFALL, and apparently the drinks are on the house. Or at least there's plenty of barware and martini glasses on-hand during this undisclosed scene.
 The MI6-HQ website has posted images of Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire, England which SKYFALL has redressed to double as Shanghai International Airport in China, no doubt to ease filming complex character or action scenes in the space without shutting down an actual major airport with all its daily bustle and noise.
This also would seem to tie in neatly with the previous camera slate photo tweeted last week which showed an illuminated sign written in Chinese characters used during some night shooting, as FilmEdge reported on November 25th. Given how deliberately incomplete these slate photos are, we can only speculate on whether the neon shop sign is intended to be a retail space in the Shanghai airport set or if it's part of another recreated Shanghai location for a different scene in the film. Either way, clearly SKYFALL — even while still shooting in the UK — is currently engaged in filming scenes set in China while it has Asian extras and actors hired to populate these shots to match future filming in and around Shanghai on location there.
SKYFALL remains scheduled to travel to Shanghai and other locations in China for filming sometime in early 2012, and no doubt continuations of these faux-Shanghai airport scenes shot in England will be completed in Asia.
Day 17 of SKYFALL signals night shooting in China? // November 25. 2011
 Today the official 007 James Bond Facebook page and @007 Twitter account posted the third camera slate photo from SKYFALL's production: day 17's photo caption and the visible set background indicate the crew begins night shooting on a location simulating Shanghai or somewhere in China. With star Daniel Craig copiously photographed filming in Trafalgar Square only three days ago, it seems unlikely (though not impossible) that Craig, director Sam Mendes and the SKYFALL main unit hopped halfway around the globe and are shooting in China tonight so quickly. Though we put nothing past 007 when he's on a mission, so we await official confirmation on exactly where this night shoot is taking place.
UPDATED: SKYFALL news reports now confirm that the film is using Ascot Racecourse in England to double as the Shanghai International Airport while still in the UK. Sometime early in 2012 the production is expected to actually travel to China for on-location filming.
As for the obscured details in this camera slate photo (click on the thumbnail to open a large image), the presence of neon and illuminated signage seems to indicate the scene takes place in a retail or business locale. FilmEdge is working on the Chinese character translations, but the English letters "QUE..." "INTE..." below offer some hints at possible translation. Since the "QUE" letters are larger, it's reasonable to assume that both words are aligned with each other in justified spacing, implying that "QUE" is the start of a shorter word like QUEST or QUEUE. The bottom word with smaller letters appears to be longer, something like INTERNET or INTEREST, since INTERNATIONAL might be too lengthy to align with a five-letter word above it. We'll update with an accurate and more complete translation when available . . . though we don't expect a storefront sign to give away many plot secrets.
UPDATED: One of our FilmEdge research field agents has done their best to translate the Chinese characters in the sign behind the camera slate. Even though the complete signage is obscured, the main characters above the "QUE... INTE" roughly translate to "Bad Magpie" or "Evil Magpie." Our translator says the top character is pronounced "chew-eh" (Chinese pinyin = que), meaning magpie which is a specific species known for being 'chatty', and the bottom character is "dai" meaning bad or evil. The signage and name of the establishment could imply anything from a social hotspot or bar to perhaps an internet cafe, though it's highly likely this is just one of many storefronts in the scene and may not play any significant role in a scene beyond some glowing background imagery.
Ben Whishaw now confirmed to play youngest Q ever // November 25. 2011
 While we Americans recover from our Thanksgiving feasts, the SKYFALL production team is hard at work with breaking news: The Hollywood Reporter confirmed today that actor Ben Whishaw will indeed play the new Q in this 23rd Bond film
At age 31, Whishaw will be the youngest actor to play the role and only the fourth to take on the part, starting with Peter Burton in DR. NO, then the venerable Desmond Llewelyn in FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE through THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH, and John Cleese's brief stint as his in-story replacement for DIE ANOTHER DAY. In keeping with the Daniel Craig-era of rebooting Bond, this is the first time Q will be younger than 007, which if nothing else is yet another way the filmmakers can freshen up the role -- and the Bond/Q working relationship -- for the 21st century.
Though rumors persisted about Whishaw being cast as the MI6 armorer, this apparently official confirmation via THR means Bond will be getting some tech support on his next mission but how much? Given how much more seriously producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson are taking the franchise since Craig earned his 00 status, FilmEdge doesn't expect SKYFALL to resume the past trend of introducing increasingly silly gadgetry that also too neatly happened to save Bond's life or mission goal in every film. Instead, we're hoping that Whishaw's Q serves more as a technical liaison and partner to Bond in the field, as modern spying involves plenty of real-world technology -- from code decryption to satellite surveillance -- that could benefit 007 without turning Q into a toymaker.
Certainly Ben's youthfulness also facilitates his potential as a member of the post-hacker generation raised in a high-tech world, happily living on the cutting edge of advanced smart phones and wireless tablets with computing power that would put the Space Shuttle to shame. Whishaw's charm and talent as an actor will also go a long way to modernize the role for Craig's contemporary James Bond, not to mention add even more draw for audiences among his fanbase. After his excellent character work in films like 2004's LAYER CAKE, there's no predicting where Whishaw will take Q 2.0 -- and that's a good thing.
New fashion photos of Daniel Craig in Trafalgar Square // November 22. 2011
 While they don't amount to much actual production news for SKYFALL and it being a slow holiday week in the States, a handful of long-distance photos showing Daniel Craig in a smart, sedate Bond costume have run amok on the internet.
Just Jared nabbed a set of five new pics showing Craig in Bond's rather businesslike dark blue blazer and gray slacks, seen decending steps of the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square, London. Extras populate the scene around him as Craig shoots an undisclosed scene for the film. The Daily Mail also offered additional paparazzi shots of 007 in the same location.
SKYFALL continues production on locations in and around London and will shoot at the historic Pinewood Studios. Director Sam Mendes, cast and crew will also venture afar to film undetermined locations around Shanghai, China, Istanbul in Turkey, and Scotland for what are rumored to be cold weather scenes in the story.
Co-writer John Logan fits SKYFALL into larger Bond legacy // November 21. 2011
On the press junket for HUGO, Collider sat down with screenwriter John Logan to talk a bit of Bond and Logan's perspective on how SKYFALL follows Daniel Craig's first two missions as well as placing it in context of classic 007 cinema and Ian Fleming's own novels. Here's a brief and intriguing excerpt:
“It has nothing to do with being a standalone film, as far as I’m concerned, because I don’t think these films are standalone, I think they’re part of a legacy. When I was working on it I was deeply aware as much of Quantum of Solace and Casino Royale as I was of Thunderball, as I was of Ian Fleming in the 50’s writing it, you know you’re a float in a parade.”
Logan was brought in by director Sam Mendes for some rewriting on Neal Purvis and Robert Wade's script. His previous screenwriting credits include RANGO, THE AVIATOR and GLADIATOR, plus his original screenplay is the basis for Steven Spielberg's biopic LINCOLN due in theaters next December. Jump the link above to read Collider's full interview.
Rory Kinnear return as Tanner a clue to M-centric SKYFALL? // November 20. 2011
This week CultBox in the UK interviewed Rory Kinnear, who reprises his role as Bili Tanner in SKYFALL, now filming in and around London. The actor's comments appear to confirm that Tanner's boss M, played by Judi Dench, will indeed occupy a central role in the new Bond film's plot as well as raising the on-screen profile of her Chief of Staff. Read quotes from Kinnear's interview as FilmEdge adds its interpretations of what his comments might mean in SKYFALL's top secret story.
Day 10 of SKYFALL filming reveals new glimpse of set // November 18. 2011
 Today the official 007 James Bond Facebook page posted a new photo from SKYFALL's production: another camera slate on an interior set which looks like a rather spartan-looking office location or perhaps secret headquarters in the field somewhere. It's definitely not M's office at MI6, that's for sure. Some details and speculation to be divined from this photo:
This slate marks take 1 of scene 53G (whatever that entails), and the scene occurs at night amid this interior set.
The set appears to be part of some underground (literally or figuratively) office or organizational space, dressed more for function than comfort. Note the monochromatic color scheme of this set, dominated by black desks with the few accessories visible in white, gray or metallic values. The desk chairs look minimally functional and comfortable.
This office space, for lack of a better term, also appears to be bought off-the-rack: the two chairs look identical, as do the metal flex lamps, and like the dimly lit desk in the background matches these closely. The pattern in the floor indicates it might be cement rather than some bland, industrial carpeting. It's impossible to tell if the rubber mat cable cover on the floor is there for cast/crew safety or is also part of the set dressing (saving the characters from tripping on cabling), but it also implies power/comm cables have been hastily run across the floor, perhaps signaling this is an improvised office space. The exposed brick walls (which could also be load-bearing columns in a basement foundation space) would afford no way to wire such an office inside the walls. The brick walls/columns also implies this is an older building, perhaps either an abandoned structure which has been taken over or maybe just an existing building that has been repurposed for some office use.
There appears to be a closed laptop computer and a phone on the closest side of the desk, but not much paperwork is visible on any of the desks. This might also imply that either total neat freaks work in this space, or people haven't occupied it for long (since no storage cabinets are shown to store any documents or secure anything top secret).
Lastly, the slate indicates that cinematographer Roger Deakins is shooting SKYFALL on 35mm film and not a digital camera, which should help preserve the gritty, textured look employed in the previous two Bond films starring Daniel Craig.
This new photo offers a few tantalizing clues but no doubt it conceals more facts than it reveals, but it's a good landmark for the 10th day of production on SKYFALL. Check in regularly here at FilmEdge's SKYFALL BASE for more Bond updates as they happen.
FilmEdge speculates on Moneypenny rumors for Naomie Harris // November 14. 2011
Since actress Naomie Harris was first associated in casting reports for SKYFALL this summer, rumors have persisted that she was being considered for the role of Moneypenny, who disappeared from the 007 film series when Daniel Craig took over as James Bond. Current news articles about the upcoming 23rd Bond movie continue to tout Moneypenny as the character Harris is destined to portray despite some potentially contradictory evidence. Read our speculative article examining the evidence which seems to contradict the return of Miss Moneypenny, and what those facts mean about the future of the character looking ahead in the franchise.
FilmEdge speculates on the meaning and action of SKYFALL // November 9. 2011
With this week's official SKYFALL press conference and casting announcements, FilmEdge engages in some early speculation on exactly how the film's enigmatic title might shape the action and drama of this 23rd James Bond film. Our new article probes questions about how something from M's past might impact her relationship with 007, endanger her position in MI6, and who in the cast will represent this ghost from her past. Read our speculative article then contribute your own comments and theories on our blog.
Helen McCrory and Ola Rapace casting confirmed in SKYFALL // November 7. 2011
The @007 official James Bond Twitter account confirmed that actress Helen McCrory (long-rumored under consideration) and actor Ola Rapace (former spouse of Noomi Rapace) have joined the cast of SKYFALL, the 23rd Bond film now filming in London. Currently no specific character roles have been associated with either actor yet. View the confirmed and updated cast and crew list on FilmEdge's Skyfall Personnel page.
Filming begins on SKYFALL in Whitehall, London // November 7. 2011
 The new @007 official James Bond Twitter account announced the official start of first unit filming for SKYFALL today in London, and tweeted a photo of the first camera slate on-set.
The tweet message read:
8.45am, 07/11/11: 'Action!' was called for the first time on the 23rd James Bond movie, Skyfall. We are officially go!
First SKYFALL location photos of Craig and Dench // November 5. 2011
ComingSoon.net posted five first-look snapshots of SKYFALL stars Daniel Craig and Judi Dench on location in Whitehall, London, England as production began on the 23rd James Bond feature film. Click the thumbnails below to jump to their site.
Adele not confirmed (yet) as singer of SKYFALL Theme Song // November 3. 2011
Although next-gen soul singer Adele hinted in a September interview that she might be recording the theme song for the 23rd Bond feature film, at today's SKYFALL press conference in London the film's producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson refused to confirm her or any other recording artist as an official choice. When asked who would be singing the new Bond song opening for SKYFALL, Broccoli replied, "We've been considering various people but we haven't got anyone to announce at this stage."
Of course Broccoli's reply neither confirms nor denies Adele's previous statement, and indeed if the producers were not prepared to announce who will sing the film's theme for some strategic publicity or marketing reason, then Broccoli's non-answer is entirely logical for such concerns. Adele could well have spilled the secret prematurely but might still be the first choice voice, and the pop-soul stylings evident in her hit Rolling in the Deep might make a worthy 21st century callback to Bond theme legend Shirley Bassey whose theme songs for Goldfinger, Diamonds Are Forever and Moonraker made an indelible imprint on the film franchise.
London hosts official SKYFALL press conference for Bond 23 // November 3. 2011
Confirmed in the SKYFALL press conference, star Daniel Craig announced that production on the film began November 3rd in Whitehall, London. Production will continue at the historic Pinewood Studio and on location in China, Turkey and Scotland. Watch a highlight video reel and the complete press conference in FilmEdge's Video Surveillance section.
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