CASINO ROYALE: BIGGEST BOND BOX OFFICE EVER

(VIDEO) Daniel Craig introduces a new and different secret agent, James Bond in Casino Royale.

When Daniel Craig got the call that he would be the next 007 he was shopping at a Whole Foods supermarket in Baltimore on break from shooting Invasion. Craig made an immediate beeline to the liquor aisle and had his own private Martini party. In Casino Royale Daniel’s Bond is just beginning his spy gig with the British secret service and his first mission is to infiltrate a high stakes poker game that is a front for terrorist funding. Daniel talks about being directed by Martin Campbell in the film’s poker scene.

What’s a Bond film without the villain? In Casino Royale the international money launderer funding terrorist organizations is played by Mads Mikkelsen famous in his native Denmark. Mads says Daniel Craig is shaking and stirring up his own Bond.

“His energy is infectious and you need that energy because of the fight sequences are very energetic. But you also need it in quieter scenes with the stuff we’re doing at the moment which is in the casino because it’s very complicated stuff. We’re filming at lots of different angles. We’re filming a poker game which I didn’t know before which I do now is very complicated and very laborious. We’ve over 17 million dollars in front of us. I know it’s not real but still you can generate some excitement very easily about it.”

This Bond doesn’t love ‘em and leave ‘em either with a strong love story between him and Vesper Lynd played by Eva Green, the treasurer hired to supervise his access to millions of dollars at the poker game. What she doesn’t gamble on is falling for Bond. Eva talks about connecting with Daniel Craig from the first screen test.

“Bond is different. He’s a more whole person. He’s got skeletons in the closet as well and he’s got weaknesses and not only the women this time but personal weaknesses. So I think it’s a must. He has to concentrate on the acting in this film because it’s a very strong thriller and story. Not only a Bond film but it’s also a very strong story.”

Daniel Craig is signed on for at least two more Bond films. Casino Royale opens Friday in theaters.

“He’s just not big headed at all and very human. And as an actor he’s just so strong and intense, those amazing blue eyes. He has like an animal energy and very centered which I think is quite new for Bond. It’s quite scary and dangerous but also very attractive.”