Royale Flush

James Bond has found his new villain and femme fatale.

Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen will join new 007 Daniel Craig as Le Chiffre, an evil genius known as the Cipher. Mikkelsen, best know to North American audiences for his role as Tristan in King Arthur, is a star in his home country.

Oddly enough, I’ve seen a couple of his Danish films. At last year’s Toronto film festival he played a delusional priest who would turn the other cheek, no matter what in the comedy Adam’s Apples. I also saw him two years (and pre-blog) earlier in The Green Butchers. Both were very funny roles and not villainous in the least. It will be interesting to see how this works out as he’s definitely talented.

With today’s announcement of Eva Green as the new Bond girl, the Casino Royale cast is complete. Beating out names like Charlize Theron and Thandie Newton, the little-known French actress, last seen in the crusades drama Kingdom of Heaven, will play Vesper Lynn. It’s a fine name, but let's face it, no Pussy Galore or Honey Ryder.

Casino Royale is meant to hark back to a younger, harder Bond of the Ian Flemming novels so I’m pleased to see relative unknowns being brought in. The franchise will have a much better chance of success without stunt casting. I’m looking at you Halle Berry.

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