Cat-007 [Big Boss Cuts] Take-5 <~>

Cat-007 [Big Boss Cuts] Take-5 <~> Actor Daniel Craig has been confirmed as the new James Bond, at a news conference in London...The English actor, who arrived by speedboat, said he wanted take the film series "somewhere it's never gone before"... The English star of gangster film Layer Cake, who arrived at a press conference in London by speedboat, will play a tougher, grittier and darker 007... "It's a huge challenge. Life is about challenges and this is one of the big ones as an actor," said Craig, 37, who will be the sixth James Bond...

He joked he "had a couple of Martinis" when he got the role. Casino Royale is due to start filming in January..."We've got an incredible script and that's my first line of attack," he said. "Once I'd read that, I realised that I didn't have a choice. I had to go for it."

Daniel Craig arrived at the James Bond press conference by boat He admitted taking the role was a big responsibility but added: "I've just got to step up to the plate and deal with it." Bond was "a huge iconic figure in movie history and these things don't come along very often", he said...Producer Michael G Wilson said the film-makers considered more than 200 actors from around the world over two years before settling on Craig... Neither Q nor Moneypenny will appear, Mr Wilson added, but M will return. However, it was not confirmed whether Dame Judi Dench will play the spy chief... Producers are now setting their sights on finding a female star to fill what Mr Campbell said would be the "best Bond girl part" ever.
Casino Royale will be an adaptation of author Ian Fleming's first James Bond novel, in which the spy was introduced as a more youthful and cold character than he has been portrayed on film.