'Royale' pain: New Bond girl, villain missing

Daniel Craig

LOS ANGELES - The new James Bond movie "Casino Royale" kicked off its long-anticipated production in Prague on Friday, even though a leading lady and a villain have yet to be cast.

Although it isn't unprecedented for a studio to begin principal photography on a film with two major cast elements unsettled, it is unusual for a project of this budget and scope. However, a source familiar with the Martin Campbell-directed production said scenes involving Agent 007's love interest don't begin for more than a month, and Sony has some breathing room before compromising the film's schedule.

"They're talking to three to four girls right now," said "Casino Royale" scribe Paul Haggis. "Every week I read there's a new Bond girl, and I call them and they say, No, you idiot."

Daniel Craig was cast as Bond in October, leaving the remainder of the cast a mystery. In recent days, Rachel McAdams and Thandie Newton have emerged as possible Bond girls. An insider said casting of the villain is much further along than that of the female star.

One agent familiar with the film's casting said Sony is in an unenviable position because anyone the studio chooses will have leverage during negotiations because of the ticking clock.

"To be that exposed is unheard of," the agent said. "(The actor or actress) can have them over a barrel. Not to have your two principal leads (by now) is awfully strange."

- REUTERS/Hollywood Reporter