60 replies to this topic

[Abdel]

On the CBn main page...

Simon Abkarian, Caterina Murino and Seydina Balde Signed Up

Hi,

A friend of mine got me a scan from an article from Le Parisien (a french newspaper) and it claims that

• Simon Abkarian will play a villain named Demetrius
• Catrina Murino will play the villain's girlfriend (I believe it's the Solonge character from the IGN report)
• Seydina Baldi will be in the movie
• The announcement is for next week

Here is the complete article

Edited by Qwerty, 14 January 2006 - 03:21 PM.

[dinovelvet]

Thanks for the scoop! Yes it looks like Caterinia Murino fits the description of the Solange character. Is Seydina Baldi the 'Solari' character I wonder? Or maybe he only has a small role as a minor henchman, because he only has 3 movie credits on the imdb and appears to be more of stuntman/fighter than an actor. Anyway here's a pic of Caterina Murino (and this was one of the more 'innocent' photos I could find!!)

[Niwram]

Catrina Murino will play the villain's girlfriend (I believe it's the Solonge character from the IGN report)

I thought they were looking for a name actress for that part. They have to have some name actors/ actresses in the movie.

But i can believe this story. Looking foward to the next press conference.

[dinovelvet]

OK so this Baldi/Balde (there appear to be 2 different ways of spelling it, depending on where you look) appears to be the world karate champion! So I guess if he's in the movie, we'll certainly be getting a good hand-to-hand fight or two. Here's his site :

http://www.seydina-balde.com/

[dinovelvet]

Catrina Murino will play the villain's girlfriend (I believe it's the Solonge character from the IGN report)

I thought they were looking for a name actress for that part. They have to have some name actors/ actresses in the movie.

But i can believe this story. Looking foward to the next press conference.

That's the other girl role : "Villain's girlfriend

[SteveKingCool]

It seems Caterina will be the same form of character Famke Jansen and Maria Grazia Cuccinota played.

[Loomis]

[quote name='Niwram' date='14 January 2006 - 10:34']I thought they were looking for a name actress for that part. They have to have some

[stromberg]

Thanks for the info.

Unfortunately, the article scan doesn't load properly, and the "Parisien"'s website is a subscription site...

From what I can see, it seems that Romain Duris turned down the role, and Abkarian was chosen over Michael Youn.

Best choice from those three, I'd say:




Seydina Balde looks a bit to young to play the Solari character. Seems more suitable for a henchman. I understand he has a bit of acting and stuntwork experience.

[Abdel]

I put the article in attachment. I hope it works now

Attached Files

•  article_mechant_bondgirl_cr.jpg   335.75KB   735 downloads

[stromberg]

I put the article in attachment.  I hope it works now 

Worked fine

Ignore my PM about it

[zencat]

Cool news. Thanks, Abdel.

But is casting news really a spoiler?

And I'm a little confused about the villain. Are we claiming Demetrius is the main villain? But didn't Stax say there was a role called "Main villain" that's yet to be cast. I think Demetrius must be a secondary villain of some kind. A General Ourumov of sorts. Surely these parts (and these actors) are not leads?

[ACE]

About names: remember, Le Chiffre claims to have no names ("since I am only a number on a passport"). Perhaps the film give him a name and he is known as Le Chiffre ("The Cypher/Number", in French and "Herr Ziffer" in German) as a variation. I think some of the villain's past will be explored so let's not get caught up by appendages like Demetrius etc.

BTW, I'm glad to see a return to the European actor as villain.

If Le Parisien has got it right, of course.

[Qwerty]

Very cool! Not sure if Abkarian will indeed turn out to be the main villain or not (who knows what Eon & Co. have up their sleeves) but I am happy with these three.

Now onto the announcement.

[Kronsteen]

Great news! Nice to see that the producers are casting non-British/American actors for the roles.

Simon Abkarian looks like he could be an excellent villian, whether he's a major or not. He's got a dark look about him in most pictures.

Catarino Murino looks beautiful. I've never heard of her before, but she has the right look for the kind of role she's supposed to have.

Don't know what to expect from Seydina Baldi. I agree with dinovelvet, it could mean the movie will get a good hand-to-hand combat.

[ACE]

That bird don't look 'alf bad, an' all

[Righty007]

This is great news but I want to know if Diana Rigg Jr. is going to play Vesper or not.

[Royal Dalton]

It sounds like it's all coming together nicely.

Maybe they're going to call the main villain Le Chiffre, so they can keep using a Fleming name throughout the next few films? Assuming there's going to be a recurring villain, that is.

[Rolex]

About names: remember, Le Chiffre claims to have no names ("since I am only a number on a passport"). Perhaps the film give him a name and he is known as Le Chiffre ("The Cypher/Number", in French and "Herr Ziffer") as a variation. I think some of the villain's past will be explored so let's not get caught up by appendages like Demetrius etc.

BTW, I'm glad to see a return to the European actor as villain.

If Le Parisien has got it right, of course.

That makes sense, do not know that have not read the book for years

[stamper]

I'm french, and I think the bad guy basically is not bad, just a show off kinda man. We have now an ersatz of 007, and an ersatz of a bad guy. I was really looking forward to this movie, but it's gonna be a disappointement, a movie is as good as the bad guy.

[Leiter]

Anyone else disappointed? I was hoping it would atleast keep the same characters as the novel. And according to IGN we get no Rene Mathis, yet again.

[Andrew]

This is great news! Simon definatly looks the part. I'm happy.

[Bond_Bishop]

cool!

Abkarian looks really cool actually and probably will fit in the Demetrius role. I still hope they get an older A-name actor in the role of the main villain Le Chiffre. But there could be a possibility that Demetrius is Le Chiffre's real name

[Niwram]

Announcement next week? It will probably be on Friday. Can't wait to see all the other actors they have cast.
And it probably means they have decided who's gonna play Vesper.

Edited by Niwram, 14 January 2006 - 04:16 PM.

[Tim007]

Cool news. Thanks, Abdel. But is casting news really a spoiler?

And I'm a little confused about the villain. Are we claiming Demetrius is the main villain? But didn't Stax say there was a role called "Main villain" that's yet to be cast. I think Demetrius must be a secondary villain of some kind. A General Ourumov of sorts. Surely these parts (and these actors) and not leads?

Well, not the Casting thing itself is a spoiler, but the speculation about names and roles, me thinks...

I think this is a theory of Heiko I read yesterday over at the German Bond forums: What, if Demetrius *is* the main villain and LeChiffre is only acting in the background, let's say a relationship like Largo and Blodelf had in Thunderball. What makes me believe that Demetrius is actually the or one of the main villains is, that Stax reported that those other 2 French actors, Romain Duris and Michael Youn, auditioned for the part of the main villain. Now, "LeParisien" claims that Abkarian got the role that was first offered to Duris. Which clearly is the part of the main villain. On the other hand it is clearly stated that Abkarian is going to play the role of Demetrius. So - I think you cannot be too sure that Demetrius is not the main villain...

[trumanlodge89]

seems like some good casting (based on looks). it will be interesting to see what EoN does with le chiffre. another recurring villian would be a welcome development, in my opinion.

[spynovelfan]

Is it just me who keeps reading Murino's name as 'Caroline Munro'?

[K1Bond007]

cool!

Abkarian looks really cool actually and probably will fit in the Demetrius role. I still hope they get an older A-name actor in the role of the main villain Le Chiffre. But there could be a possibility that Demetrius is Le Chiffre's real name

Maybe. Seems to me that Le Chiffre is being elevated to a "Ernst Stavro Blofeld"-type. I'm kind of expecting a small role (think Blofeld in Thunderball) followed by Bond 22 and Bond 23 with him as the main/central villain. Just a guess.

[David Schofield]

Is it just me who keeps reading Murino's name as 'Caroline Munro'?

No.

"This is Neeomi, darling"

[Gri007]

I'm happy with the choice. Catrina Murito is quite a stunner (good choice eon )

I think I would rather have Seal to play the role of Solari. Ashame that Le Chiffre has been changed to Demetruis (sounds like an R and B artist)

[Loomis]

Maybe they're going to call the main villain Le Chiffre, so they can keep using a Fleming name throughout the next few films? Assuming there's going to be a recurring villain, that is.

I can picture Sony and Eon assuming the public at large to be too dumb to cope with the name Le Chiffre. "No one will be able to pronounce it properly, so we'd better come up with a name that's a bit more manageable." The same mentality as "Americans won't understand what 'revoked' means".