Chris Hemsworth pegs Charlize Theron as the new agent 007

Fans of the popular TV series “Doctor Who” have been abuzz with the announcement of a female actress to take over the iconic role. So what would happen if James Bond became Jane Bond?

Apparently, “Thor” actor Chris Hemsworth believes that “Snow White and the Huntsman” co-star Charlize Theron fits the bill as the next agent 007, according to an interview with W Magazine.

As to why Theron should be the next Bond, Hemsworth said, “Because she scares the hell out of me.” He adds, “And I think she could beat the sh** out of me and most villains out there.”

“She embodies every ounce of strength and nobility and dignity and integrity that that character should have. She’s smart as hell. She’s physically able,” continued Hemsworth.

The “Thor” star was impressed with Theron during their work together in “Snow White and the Huntsman.” Hemsworth noted her ability to perform the fight scenes while wearing heels and an 8-foot long gown.

And if James Bond had “Bond girls,” Jane Bond should also have a “Bond boy,” to which Hemsworth cheerily volunteered himself: “I could be the Bond man, cool.”

So what does Charlize Theron think of all this?

“Thanks, dude!” was her reply when asked in an interview with ET during the premiere of her movie “Atomic Blonde” in Berlin, Germany.

While flattered, Theron mentions that it was all “a little overwhelming.” That and the thought of taking the role from present James Bond actor Daniel Craig would be, in her very words, “cray cray.” Alfred Bayle/JB

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Oscars to feature special James Bond tribute

LOS ANGELES - The Oscars are jumping on the James Bond anniversary bandwagon, featuring a special salute to the 50-year-old franchise at the annual awards ceremony in February, producers said on Friday.

"We are very happy to include a special sequence on our show saluting the Bond films on their 50th birthday," Oscar show producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron said in a statement.

While no details of the segment were revealed, the producers added that "starting with 'Dr. No' back in 1962, the 007 movies have become the longest-running motion picture franchise in history and a beloved global phenomenon."

Friday's announcement was likely to fuel hopes for a best picture Oscar nomination next week for the current Bond film, "Skyfall," which has broken the $1 billion mark at the box office and become the biggest hit in the series' 23-film franchise. It was released by Sony Corp's movie studio.

The critically-acclaimed blockbuster got a big boost earlier this week when producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson were among nominees for the Producers Guild Award, alongside producers for such prestige films as "Lincoln" and "Zero Dark Thirty."

Bond films have historically received only a handful of Oscar nominations, most for technical categories or music, and the Producers Guild nod marked the first ever nomination from the influential Hollywood guild for a Bond film.

Nominations for the Oscars will be announced on Jan. 10 in Los Angeles.

The Oscars, the most coveted awards in the movie industry, will be handed out in a ceremony hosted by "Family Guy" creator Seth MacFarlane and broadcast around the world from Hollywood on Feb. 24.  — Reuters

source: gmanetwork.com

James Bond soars to box office record with 'Skyfall'

James Bond can don the tuxedo and break out the Dom Perignon after the super spy returned to theaters in record fashion at the weekend, blowing away box office rivals with $87.8 million in ticket sales for the U.S. and Canadian debut of new movie "Skyfall" for the biggest opening in the franchise's history.

The best North American opening for the 50-year-old Bond franchise adds to a strong tally of $428.6 million for "Skyfall" overseas. Globally, the movie starring Daniel Craig as 007 has now earned $518.6 million since first hitting international theaters on Oct. 26, distributor Sony Pictures said.

"Skyfall" handily beat Walt Disney Co animated movie "Wreck-It Ralph," the story of a video game character who destroys everything in his path. The family film that topped last week's charts grabbed $33.1 million from Friday through Sunday and slipped to second place.

Denzel Washington drama "Flight," about an airline captain who saves a plane from crashing, pulled in $15.1 million to finish third.

Bond's allure proved unbeatable in "Skyfall," the third movie starring Craig and the first in four years. The last Bond film, "Quantum of Solace" in 2008, opened with a then-record $68 million at North American (U.S. and Canadian) theaters.

"We've always been very bullish about the film, but I don't think anyone expected the kind of stunning numbers that we've seen," said Rory Bruer, president of worldwide distribution for Sony Corp's Sony Pictures studio.

"How many pictures in just over two weeks have earned more than half a billion already?" he told Reuters.

"We've seen huge openings in every country that it's opened in. It's going to be one for the history books," Bruer added.

In the new movie, Judi Dench returns as Bond's supervisor, "M." Bond travels between Istanbul, Shanghai and London as his loyalty to M is tested, while MI6 comes under attack from an unknown threat. Javier Bardem plays the villain Bond must stop.

Bond's return has been hailed by the critics as a triumph for the 23-film franchise after a tepid response to "Quantum of Solace." Ninety-two percent of "Skyfall" reviews on the Rotten Tomatoes website were positive, and audiences polled by CinemaScore awarded the film an "A" grade. The film has already exceeded the "Quantum" lifetime box office total.

The $200 million movie was produced by MGM, Sony and Eon Productions. Its release comes 50 years after the franchise premiered with "Dr. No" in 1962, and the producers highlighted the anniversary in the film's marketing. The 22 previous Bond films have grossed $5 billion at box offices over five decades.

"Skyfall" was the only major new nationwide release this weekend. Steven Spielberg's historical drama "Lincoln" opened in 11 theaters with sales of $900,000, or $81,818 per theater on average. The movie which stars Daniel Day-Lewis as the 16th president expands to 1,500 locations next Friday.

Rounding out the top five, Ben Affleck drama "Argo," about the rescue of U.S. diplomats from Iran in 1979, finished in fourth place with $6.7 million. In fifth place, Liam Neeson hostage thriller "Taken 2" grabbed $4.0 million.

Sony Corp's movie studio released "Skyfall." "Flight" was distributed by Paramount Pictures, a unit of Viacom Inc. "Lincoln" was produced by Dreamworks and released by Disney. Time Warner Inc's Warner Bros. studio released "Argo." "Taken 2" was distributed by 20th Century Fox, a unit of News Corp. — Reuters

source: gmanetwork.com