Producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Inc, and Sony Pictures Entertainment made the announcement which was a long time coming. Filming started on the 21st James Bond movie back in January without many of the key roles cast. In addition to signing Eva Green ("The Dreamers," "Kingdom of Heaven"), Wilson and Broccoli confirmed Danish-born actor Mads Mikkelsen ("King Arthur") will play Bond's nemesis, Le Chiffre. Jeffrey Wright has also joined the production in the role of Felix Leiter.
Giancarlo Giannini as Mathis, Caterina Murino as Solonge, Simon Abkarian as Dimitrios, Tobias Menzies as Villiers, Ivana Milicevic as Valenka, Clemens Schik as Kratt, Ludger Pistor as Mendel, and Claudio Santamaria as Carlos are also part of the cast of "Casino Royale."
In a statement issued by Columbia Pictures, producers Wilson and Broccoli were quoted as saying, "We are thrilled that Eva and Mads have joined the cast of 'Casino Royale' completing a first rate international cast. They bring exceptional talent to the characters Ian Fleming described so vividly in his first James Bond novel.
After an extensive search we have found the perfect actress. Eva is one of France's most accomplished young actresses, now receiving international acclaim. She brings to the complex role of Vesper an exciting combination of enigmatic and seductive beauty.
Likewise Mads has such a compelling onscreen presence and his riveting performances in 'Open Hearts' and 'Adam's Apples' convinced both us and director Martin Campbell that he was ideal for the role of Le Chiffre."
Amy Pascal, Chairman of the Columbia Pictures Motion Picture Group, added, "Vesper is a pivotal role in 'Casino Royale' and it takes much more than beauty to make this role work. When you think about the great James Bond adventures, of course you think about action and espionage, but you need to have palpable sexual tension in the movie and in casting Vesper, we really needed to up the ante, because this character is very much an equal to Bond and central to our story. We believe Eva as Vesper, Mads as Le Chiffre and Jeffrey Wright as Felix Leiter are perfect additions to our cast and we couldn't be more excited about the way this project has come together."
"Casino Royale" was adapted from the Ian Fleming novel by Neal Purvis and Robert Wade. "Crash" and "Million Dollar Baby" screenwriter Paul Haggis also contributed to the script. "Casino Royale" will be filmed in the Czech Republic, the Bahamas, Italy and the UK and is set to hit theaters worldwide on November 17, 2006.
Source: Columbia Pictures
