Martin Campbell, who helped revive the James Bond franchise with the 1995 hit "GoldenEye," will direct "Casino Royale," the 21st installment in MGM's spy series, which is now scheduled to hit theaters in November 2006.
Campbell is currently directing Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta-Jones in "Legend of Zorro," the sequel to 1998's "The Mask of Zorro." "Legend of Zorro" is scheduled to hit theaters on Nov. 4. Campbell introduced Brosnan to audiences as Bond in "GoldenEye," and now will find himself introducing yet another actor in the role.
No word yet on who that will be. Pierce Brosnan, who has played Agent 007 in the last four Bond films, is not returning.
The front-runner to replace him is Clive Owen, who won a Golden Globe and is up for an Oscar for his performance in "Closer." Hugh Jackman and Ewan McGregor are running second and third, with the British bookmakers if not the producers of the franchise, Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli.
Bond fans will recognize "Casino Royale" as Ian Fleming's first James Bond novel, published in 1953. It was adapted for a 1954 television show and is best-known from Columbia Pictures' 1967 spy spoof of the same name that starred Peter Sellers, Woody Allen and David Niven.
The producers said Campbell will join the production after completing the "Zorro" sequel, and will work on the script with Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, who have penned the last two Bond films. -- From wire reports
Source: www.oregonlive.com