Bond 22 has found its girl. No, seriously — we mean it this time. No takebacks.
Just days after the announcement of Gemma Arterton‘s casting stirred rumors that she was the new “Bond girl,” Columbia Pictures has issued a statement introducing the world to Daniel Craig‘s leading lady for Bond 22: Ukrainian actress Olga Kurylenko, most recently seen in Hitman.
What’s that, you say? You haven’t seen Hitman? Well, we suppose we could be persuaded to post some pictures. If you really need us to.
Arterton’s character, as it turns out, is a co-worker of Bond’s, MI6 Agent Fields. The duo joins a cast that includes Craig, Judi Dench, Jeffrey Wright, and Mathieu Amalric. Producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli were quoted in Columbia’s press release as saying:
“We are fortunate to continue in the Bond tradition of attracting the finest international actors for our starring roles. Mathieu, in the role of Dominic Greene, a leading member of the villainous organization introduced in ‘Casino Royale,’ will be a powerful counterpart to Daniel’s portrayal of Bond. Olga Kurylenko will play the dangerously alluring Camille, who challenges Bond and helps him come to terms with the emotional consequences of Vesper’s betrayal.”
“Helps him,” indeed.
The still-technically-untitled Bond 22 is targeted for a November 7, 2008 release.
