'Casino Royale' gets James Bond touch-up

Posted Thursday, February 3, 2005 at 2:29 PM Central

by John Couture

Producers of the James Bond films announced today that Martin Campbell will direct the 21st installment of the James Bond franchise, entitled Casino Royale. Campbell previously directed Goldeneye, which introduced Pierce Brosnan as James Bond, and he might have to introduce another new Bond as rumors indicate that Brosnan has hung up his tuxedo and martini for good.

Although MGM has not officially disclosed the storyline, it is believed that Casino Royale will closely follow the Ian Fleming book of the same name. Casino Royale was the first book to feature the character of James Bond and it was the only Fleming book that Eon Productions did not option. Columbia Pictures bought the rights and made a James Bond spoof in 1967 featuring Peter Sellers, Woody Allen and David Niven as James Bond.

In 1999, MGM bought the rights to Casino Royale and the original book for $10 million in a settlement with Sony Pictures.