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Report from the launch of 007: Road To A Million in London
By: Anders Frejdh
Published:
2023-11-04
2023-11-04
Brian Cox, Barbara Broccoli and Gregg Wilson were joined by David Glover (CEO of 72 Films) and the series director, Julian Jones, alongside the contestants (all British people). The premiere screening of the first epidosde was followed by a Q&A panel moderated by Lauren Laverne.
Brian Cox with the contestants in 007: Road To A Million.
In 007: Road To A Million, nine duets face various challenges inspired by the film adventures of James Bond under the watchful eye of The Controller played by Brian Cox. Competitors are sent on an epic global adventure for the chance to win a prize of one million pound each.
Official trailer for 007: Road to a Million
Among other people attending the launch event were From Sweden with Love supporter and Bond girl Carole Ashby, one of the honorary guests at FSWL's 10th Anniversary event in Stockholm 2014. She commented on Instagram: “I really love the Bone brothers. They are so entertaining and such fun competitors. About Brian Cox, needless to say, he plays the role perfectly!”
Carole Ashby with the Bone Brothers at the 007: Road To A Million launch in London on November 2, 2023.
The Bond fan community was represented by FSWL contributor Ajay Chowdhury, FSWL readers Mark O'Connell (Catching Bullets - Memoirs of a Bond Fan), Matthew Field, and Vipul Patel of MI6-HQ.com.
Ajay Chowdhury said: “The 007 adjacent show is seemingly the first time the Bond brand has been so intriguingly diverted. Bringing the international, high-octane Bondian mystique to this most contemporary species of mass-entertainment - reality TV - might seem incongruous at first but if one has faith in the team behind the concept, 007: Road To A Million might prove a game-changer. The casting of the best Bond villain never used, Brian Cox, is reason enough for hope. Auditions for Series 2 have already been announced. The show iself cleverly, unexpectedly, expands the brand and is irresistable fun. Very British, very cinematic it is amusing and human. It has Daniel Kleinman-esque titles with a new David Arnold arrangement of Monty Norman's James Bond Theme. Mind is like parachute: function best when open.”
Mark O'Connell commented: “As we push into 2024 it makes total creative and tech sense the Bond series aligns with a platform like Amazon Studios. Whilst this show was in the works before that partnership was inked and it comes from a separate production company to EON (who are obviously also very involved and have been key to how it looks, breathes and feels), the best thing about 007: Road To A Million is it is unabashed FUN!! Bond fans will note smaller details. But they will also find the contestants and the production values deceptively involving, tense, and emotional. The Barbara Broccoli steered cast make this show and let new viewers in. Bond needs new audiences and this is a massive step in a new direction - whilst cleverly retaining the theatrical might and sense of event that the next Bond and the next Bond film will bring all over again.”
Matthew Field wrote: “007: Road To A Million is the perfect product to usher in a new era of Bond. It’s incredibly entertaining and will introduce the brand to an entirely new generation, who were not even born when Daniel Craig took up the mantle. This is big budget, high value TV, that takes the reality show format to cinematic heights we’ve never seen in this space before. The Bond brand is used in a unique and original way and demonstrates the possibilities under Amazon are incredibly exciting.”
Matthew Field, Ajay Chowdhury, Vipul Patel and Mark O'Connell at the 007: Road To A Million launch in London on November 2, 2023.
The event also showcased iconic Bond vehicles some of which have appeared in the series: the Jaguar XKR (Die Another Day), Jaguar C-X75 (Spectre), Rolls Royce Wraith Sedana (Spectre), Triumph Scrambler (No Time To Die), Aston Martin DB5 (No Time To Die), alongside the DB5 Goldfinger Continuation Car.
The Bond vehicles at the 007: Road To A Million launch in London on November 2, 2023.
007: Road To A Million premieres 10th November 2023 on Prime Video.
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#barbara_broccoli
#eon_productions
#gregg_wilson
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