June 19, 2007 - Casino Royale star Daniel Craig will be reprising his role as Bond, James Bond in the 22nd film of the spy franchise but he'll be doing it without his Casino Royale director Martin Campbell. Instead, Marc Forster will be assuming director duties on the next installment of the series.
Forster's directing credits include Monster's Ball, Finding Neverland, and Stranger Than Fiction. According to Sony Pictures Entertainment, MGM and the producers of the James Bond movies - Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli - Forster will be working closely with Paul Haggis (Crash) on a draft of Neil Purvis and Robert Wade's screenplay.
In a press release announcing the Forster as director, the filmmaker was quoted as saying, "I have always been drawn to different kinds of stories and I have also always been a Bond fan, so it is very exciting to take on this challenge. The new direction that the Bond character has taken offers a director a host of new possibilities and I look forward to working with Daniel Craig, Barbara Broccoli, and Michael Wilson, as well as the team at Sony and MGM on this new film."
Amy Pascal, Co-Chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment, stated, "We had a great experience working with Marc on Stranger than Fiction and we are excited to be working with him again. He's an actor's director; he approaches material with intelligence and taste. What makes him the perfect choice for Bond 22 is that he will bring to this film all the elements Bond audiences expect - action, humor, suspense, and thrills."
Source: Columbia Pictures
