Dominic Cooper As Ian Fleming In New Series

By: FSWL team

Published:
2013-07-04

Dominic Cooper portrays the man behind 007, Ian Fleming (1908-1964), in the new four-part drama series Fleming: The Man Who Would Be Bond which premieres 29th January 2014 on BBC America. (In the UK, the series premieres 12th February 2014 on Sky Atlantic HD, and in Sweden on HBO Nordic from 13th February 2014.)

Dominic Cooper (who appeared in Mamma Mia opposite Pierce Brosnan) is starring in Fleming, a brand new four-part drama about the life of celebrated James Bond creator, Ian Fleming, coming soon to Sky Atlantic HD.

Other talent now confirmed to star in the drama include Lara Pulver, Annabelle Wallis, Lesley Manville, Anna Chancellor, Samuel West and Rupert Evans.

Set against the permissive society of war-torn London, where the martinis were always flowing and beds always being swapped, the series explores the early life of the charming, enigmatic 007 author.

The outbreak of World War II saw the young Fleming working as an unsuccessful stockbroker, with a failed army career behind him and living off his rich family while indulging in the very Bond-esque passions of womanising, alcohol and erotic literature.

It wasn’t until Fleming was forced to join the Naval Intelligence that he found his true calling. Using his mischievous sense of humour, sharp charm and vivid imagination, Fleming was responsible for some of the most outrageously dangerous counter intelligence mission against the Nazis – honing his inspiration for Bond in the process.

About landing the role, Dominic Cooper said: "Stepping into the shoes of the spy who not only created the enigmatic character of 007, but who fantasised about being him, has to be every actor's dream. I am honoured."

Laura Pulver (Sherlock, Da Vinci's Demons, Spooks) will star as Ann O'Neill, the elegant Baroness whose wartime meeting with Ian Fleming was to alter the course of the rest of both of their lives. Ann is not the only woman in Fleming's life, however, and we meet Muriel (Annabelle Wallis, Pan Am, The Tudors), who in contrast to Ann is an innocent tomboy who proves irresistible to the young Fleming.

Official synopsis for the first episode:
"Goldeneye, Jamaica 1952 - Ian Fleming has just put the finishing touches to a manuscript called Casino Royale. His new wife Ann notices many of the protagonist's attributes seem all too familiar - is this James Bond actually Ian? His ego? His shadow?

Back in London, 1938, Ian is a dissolute playboy, eclipsed by his dead war hero father and brother Peter, a successful author. With war looming and London in a hedonistic state, Ian is propping up the bar at a jazz club when he meets Ann O'Neill, a wealthy and connected socialite who - unlike many of his conquests - is more than a match for him. But she already has a husband, Lord O'Neill, and a lover, Esmond Rothermere. Instead, he finds solace in the arms of a sweet and sexy dispatch rider named Muriel Wright.

After a frosty morning-after encounter with Muriel, Ian's domineering mother Evelyn secures him a job assisting Naval Intelligence's Rear Admiral John Godfrey. Ian is put to work at The Admiralty, whipping the team into shape with his charm and confidence. He even manages to impress Godfrey's no-nonsense secretary, Second Officer Monday. But Fleming quickly incurs Godfrey's wrath when he cooks up an unorthodox scheme to get information from two captured German submariners. However his valuable findings make it apparent that an imaginative approach could be just what the war effort requires."

Reviews of the series in American press:
>Los Angeles Times (January 29, 2014)
>New York Times (January 28, 2014)
>USA Today (January 28, 2014)
>Variety (January 24, 2014)

Editor's note:
Fleming is the first drama about Ian Fleming since Bondmaker was produced in 2005.

Some of all James Bond documentaries are featured at From Sweden with Love, click here.

Extended trailer for Fleming published December 23, 2013: (thanks to BBC America)

New trailer for Fleming published December 20, 2013: (thanks to Sky Atlantic)

HD trailer for Fleming published December 10, 2013: (thanks to HBO Nordic)

Watch the teaser trailer for Fleming published July 1, 2013:

Photo above:
Dominic Cooper as Ian Fleming, with Lara Pulver as Ann O’Neill, in a PR photo for the new Fleming series. © 2013 Ecosse Films. All rights reserved.

Visit the official website for the latest news on Fleming:

www.bbcamerica.com/fleming/

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#ian_fleming

#news

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