Bond’s first American director says he ‘benefitted from being an outsider’
It has taken 25 Bond films for an American director to sit in the chair and call the shots.
The honour of directing the latest film was bestowed on California-native Cary Fukunaga, who alongside the likes of Phoebe Waller-Bridge, also wrote No Time To Die.
He told Sky News that being an American in charge of an iconic piece of British culture gave him a new perspective on the job that British filmmakers may not have had.
Fukunaga says Daniel Craig will go down as one of the best Bonds. Pic: Nicola Dove/MGM
Fukunaga said: “I was told once, for example, that if you go to a city, an outsider will see details in a city more than someone who lives there, and when I did Jane Eyre, I think I probably benefitted from being outside of the experience of seeing so many of the other adaptations of Jane Eyre that never quite made it to America.
“In terms of Bond… as much as Americans think Bond is as much theirs as Brits do, I don’t know if there’s a big difference.
“I think feel like Bond belongs to the world – but let’s just say if the film turns out well, it benefitted because I was American.”
James Bond is the longest-running film franchise in the world, with the latest marking Daniel Craig’s final outing as the spy.
Fukunaga says that the recognisable nature of the role across the globe, is just one of the reasons for its enduring appeal.
“I don’t know what other franchises have endured as long, especially with such a singular character and its interpretation of the character,” he told Sky News.
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Bond release ‘a joyous thing’
“Obviously, Bond has changed and developed over the years, but at its heart, it’s still a very recognisable role with recognisable tropes.
“I think part of what makes it so enduring is people’s first love for him, but also the way he goes about his business and how it’s changed over time.
“But he’s still a cool cat, and when he’s put in a dangerous situation, he handles it with such ease, and I think that aspirational side of it is something, especially I would say, in times of a pandemic.
“If there was someone out there that can handle things as coolly as Bond could, the world might be a more secure place.”
Lashana Lynch and Daniel Craig in No Time To Die. Pic: Nicola Dove/MGM
Talking about Daniel Craig’s legacy, Fukunaga said: “I would like to think that he’s going to be remembered as either the best or one of the best.
“And I think part of that is the benefit of having films that connect, because sometimes in previous iterations, these films felt very different – one to the other didn’t necessarily connect to previous versions.
“Daniel is from film to film to film to film – there is a sort of a logic to where he’s going on this journey, so I think it feels like a much more epic rendition of the character because those stages connect.”
No Time To Die hits cinemas on 30 September.
Entertainment
Tomorrowland: ‘Devastating’ blaze destroys main stage at major festival – two days before it was due to begin
A huge fire has destroyed the main stage of a major festival in Belgium – two days before it was due to begin.
Tomorrowland is a dance music event as big as Glastonbury – and David Guetta was due to perform.
Footage showed flames and thick plumes of black smoke engulfing the stage and spreading to nearby woodland on Wednesday.
The fire gutted the main stage
Fire crews attempt to bring the blaze under control
The annual festival in the town of Boom, north of Brussels, is one of the biggest in Europe and attracts about 400,000 people over two consecutive weekends.
It is famous for its immersive and elaborate designs and attracts big names within dance music – including Guetta, best known for tracks When Love Takes Over and Titanium.
Dutch DJs Martin Garrix and Charlotte de Witte were also due to perform, along with the likes of Swedish House Mafia, Eric Prydz and Alok.
Black smoke could be seen rising into the sky
The festival’s website described the creative elements which went into the elaborate main stage.
The theme, described as Orbyz, was “set in a magical universe made entirely out of ice” and “full of mythical creatures”.
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Organisers said no one was injured in the blaze but confirmed “our beloved main stage has been severely damaged”, adding they were “devastated”.
Spokesperson Debby Wilmsen added: “We received some truly terrible news today. A fire broke out on the Tomorrowland site … and our main stage was essentially destroyed there, which is truly awful.
“That’s a stage that took years to build, with so much love and passion. So I think a lot of people are devastated.”
Spokesperson Debby Wilmsen told reporters ‘a lot of people are devastated’
Despite the fire, Tomorrowland organisers said they were still expecting 38,000 festivalgoers at DreamVille, the event’s campsite.
Entertainment
Robin Kaye: American Idol TV executive and her husband shot dead inside their Los Angeles home
An American Idol TV executive and her husband have been found dead in their LA home.
Robin Kaye was a music supervisor on the long-running reality TV series.
The bodies of the 70-year-old and her husband Thomas were discovered after officers conducted a welfare check at their home.
Both had died from gunshot wounds.
Robin Kaye and her husband Thomas. Pic: Facebook
Detectives say Raymond Boodarian has been arrested in connection with their deaths.
It is alleged the 22-year-old had burgled their property while they were away on 10 July – killing the couple upon their return.
According to Los Angeles Police, there were “no signs of forced entry or trouble” at the property.
Ms Kaye was an industry veteran – and had previously worked on shows including Lip Sync Battle and The Singing Bee, as well as several Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants.
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Pic: ABC7 Los Angeles
In a statement, an American Idol spokesperson said: “Robin has been a cornerstone of the Idol family since 2009 and was truly loved and respected by all who came in contact with her.
“Robin will remain in our hearts forever and we share our deepest sympathy with her family and friends during this difficult time.”
Entertainment
Action taken to stop ticketless Oasis fans from watching this week’s shows in Manchester
Huge steel fences have been erected to prevent ticketless fans from watching the Oasis reunion tour in Manchester.
Liam and Noel Gallagher will resume their sold-out run of shows – their first since 2009 – with a performance at Heaton Park tonight, and two more on Saturday and Sunday.
While tens of thousands bought tickets for Oasis’s first two shows last weekend, crowds gathered to glimpse the large screens above the stage in the distance – in an area dubbed “Gallagher Hill” by some on social media.
People walk past a temporary security fence erected ahead of concerts by Oasis in Heaton Park on 1 July. Reuters file pic
Manchester City Council has now said more steel fences have been erected around parts of the park to prevent ticketless fans from watching the gigs, and to protect nature in the park.
“After taking stock of how the first two nights went, additional measures have now been deemed necessary and will be in place for the next three concerts,” it said.
“The erection of the fencing has a dual purpose – both to protect the environment from further damage and to dissuade people from gathering there.
“The necessary measure means the concert will no longer be visible from this area.”
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Friday: Excited fans at Oasis homecoming gig
The fences will cover a large area of the hill within the park’s cattle field, which is being developed as a new woodland area with around 300 young trees planted.
The council added that there would be no facilities for people without a ticket, and said the event area is “double-walled with solid high security fencing all the way round”.
More than 2,000 event security staff and police officers will also be on duty around the site “to ensure both the safety and wellbeing of ticket-holders and that only those who have tickets access the concert”, it said.
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Fans queue all day for Manchester homecoming gig
John Hacking, the council’s executive member for employment, skills and leisure, also said in a statement that “unfortunately our hand has been forced in having to put these additional measures in place”.
He added: “Our advice to music fans who don’t have tickets for the concerts is to head into the city centre instead.
“The whole city is going all out to celebrate and help everyone have a good time.
“We’ve got some fantastic things going on with a real party atmosphere for everyone to enjoy, whether they’ve got tickets for the Oasis gigs or not.”
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