Daniel Craig and Léa Seydoux talk about SPECTRE

Taking in more than $850 million (USD) worldwide, SPECTRE dominated the worldwide box-office making it one of the most successful Bond movies ever, shattering records in nearly every market it was released, led by a historic performance in the UK.  The latest installment from one of the longest-running film franchises in history gives fans never-before shared insight into the complexities that made James Bond the man he is today.

In SPECTRE, a cryptic message from the past sends James Bond (Daniel Craig) on a rogue mission to Mexico City and eventually Rome, where he meets Lucia Sciarra (Monica Bellucci), the beautiful and forbidden widow of an infamous criminal. Bond infiltrates a secret meeting and uncovers the existence of the sinister organisation known as SPECTRE.

Meanwhile back in London, Max Denbigh (Andrew Scott), the new head of the Centre for National Security, questions Bond’s actions and challenges the relevance of MI6, led by M (Ralph Fiennes). Bond covertly enlists Moneypenny (Naomie Harris) and Q (Ben Whishaw) to help him seek out Madeleine Swann (Léa Seydoux), the daughter of his old nemesis Mr. White (Jesper Christensen), who may hold the clue to untangling the web of SPECTRE. As the daughter of an assassin, she understands Bond in a way most others cannot.

As Bond ventures towards the heart of SPECTRE, he learns of a chilling connection between himself and the enemy he seeks, played by Christoph Waltz.

Sam Mendes returns to direct SPECTRE, with Daniel Craig reprising his role as 007 for the fourth time. The film is produced by Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli.  The screenplay is by John Logan and Neal Purvis & Robert Wade and Jez Butterworth, with a story by John Logan and Neal Purvis & Robert Wade.

SPECTRE is available on Digital HD™ on 19th February and Blu-ray™ & DVD on 22nd February, from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.

Daniel Craig and Léa Seydoux recently spoke about the film.

First up was Craig.

Tell us about continuing the 007 story?

I’ve been incredibly fortunate that the way the past four movies have gone is that we’ve sort of had a through line and it seemed right that we should tie things up. We reintroduce a very old character into this movie and that seems a very appropriate thing to do but there’s no end here, there’s never an end to Bond.

Tell us about the appeal of your character, Bond?

The flaws in his character are the most interesting things to play and not being afraid to show weakness or at least be vulnerable at some point during the movie because otherwise it becomes a two dimensional character and I want to hold the audience’s attention all the way through from beginning to end.

Tell us about the cast and what their characters are like?

We’ve got some amazing actors in this film and they do wonderful things and for me the most entertaining thing when watching the film is Bond’s interaction with the characters that the other cast play, the consequences of that then becomes a shared experience. I hope the audience is rooting for everybody on the screen.

Tell us about the production team on this film?

We have stupendous crew members, people like Chris Corbould and Gary Powell who spend their days figuring out how genius and how exciting we can make these scenes. I sort of just turn up and say “where do you want me, how do you want me, how can I make this look good”, that for me is one of the biggest joys I get out of doing these films. I get to be it and do it and hang off buildings, it gets the heart going you know.

Tell us your thoughts on the opening sequence?

I know what went into making that scene, I was obviously involved with quite a lot of it, the first time I saw it I was massively proud, I was proud for everybody involved and I felt that if you’re going to start a Bond movie, that’s it, the rest of the movie I love as well don’t get me wrong but it is a great way to kick off a Bond movie.

This is what Seydoux had to say about the film.

Tell us how you joined the cast of Spectre?

I had to do a casting for this role and I didn’t know the part because it was a very big secret so I had to keep it a secret and the process was quite long so I did a casting in Paris and I met Sam and then I had to wait and it took a long time and then one day Sam called me and said “Okay if you want to be a part of it, you’re welcome” and it was a bit of “Okay I’m a part of it but I’m not able to read the script and okay but of course I’m going to do it!” I mean, how can you resist.

Tell us about your character, Madeleine?

She’s a different Bond girl in the way that she doesn’t seduce with her body, she has a brain and she has job. She’s smart, independent and so I think she’s Bond’s equal in a way and she understands him as well because her father is an assassin.

Tell us about Daniel Craig as James Bond?

With Daniel as a Bond, I think he’s more human, you have access to his feelings and emotions and even a romantic James Bond so it’s a nice contradiction, the fact that he’s a killer and he also has feelings and I think that’s why we love him so much.

What is it like being a part of this franchise?

I’m very proud to be a part of this iconic franchise and working with Daniel was great also, he’s such a great person.

SPECTRE is available on Digital HD™ on 19th February and Blu-ray™ & DVD on 22nd February, from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.