IGN hat geschrieben:A Royale Exclusive!
Who's who in Casino Royale.
by Stax

January 11, 2006 - Variety claims that four actresses are auditioning this week in London opposite star Daniel Craig for the role of Bond girl Vesper Lynd in Casino Royale, with a decision likely to be made next week for a late January production start. Now IGN FilmForce can exclusively report on the film's cast of characters, all of whom have yet to be officially cast.

According to reliable sources, the character of Vesper will be in her late 20s-30s and must be gorgeous. Sienna Miller's name was again mentioned to us as the type of actress the filmmakers are looking for. The role is being touted as the most dramatic Bond girl yet.

The film's heavy (who was not referred to as "Le Chiffre" by our sources but merely as the villain) will be in his late twenties to mid-thirties. The filmmakers are said to be close to sealing a deal with an unnamed European actor. Could it be either Romain Duris or Michaël Youn, both of whom were recently rumored to have screen tested? Or perhaps a bigger name star?

The villain's girlfriend is a role that the filmmakers are understood to be seeking a name actress or pop star for. She must be sexy and dangerous (would we really accept anything less in a Bond film?).

An American CIA agent, somewhere between 30 and 40 years old, is another role that the production is eyeing name actors for. We have not been able to confirm whether or not this character is indeed Felix Leiter, Bond's American counterpart who appeared in Ian Fleming's original novel but was written out of the film series in License to Kill. It could just as likely be a new character.

The role of Solari is being described as a commander in the Sudanese rebel army between 40 and 50 years old. This is the role that pop singer Seal has been linked with.

Another supporting heavy is Demetrius, a reckless Mediterranean character in his forties. He is a sleazy sort who lives the high life as a gambler and money launderer. Might Demetrius serve the purpose that Le Chiffre did in Fleming's novel as the cardsharp that 007 plays against in the titular casino? And could this be the henchman role that MI6 claims Icelandic actor Bjorn Hlynur Haraldsson screen tested for?

Demetrius' spouse is the thirtysomething Solonge, a European who shares his taste for the high life.

Massus is also of Mediterranean heritage, said to be pushing sixty years old. SPOILER ALERT: Although a world-weary undercover agent for the British government, Massus is not the double agent that 007 initially assumes he is. In Fleming's novel, this character was the French intelligence agent Mathis.

It is interesting to note that, despite rumors of 007 now being pitted against a Middle Eastern terrorist network, the villains have all been described by sources as being of Mediterranean or European heritage.