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No Time To Die: World premiere for new James Bond movie

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People arrive to attend the World Premiere of the James Bond 007 film “No Time to Die” at the Royal Albert Hall in west London on September 28, 2021. – Celebrities and royals walk the red carpet in central London on Tuesday for the star-studded but much-delayed world premiere of the latest James Bond film, “No Time To Die”. (Photo by Tolga Akmen / AFP)

Actor Daniel Craig walked the red carpet for the final time as James Bond in rain-swept London on Tuesday, at the star-studded but much-delayed world premiere of the latest superspy blockbuster, “No Time To Die”.

British star Craig’s fifth and final outing in the franchise is hitting big screens after its release was repeatedly postponed during the coronavirus pandemic.

Royal couples Prince Charles and Camilla and Prince William and Kate were also at the premiere at London’s historic Royal Albert Hall.

Charles talked with the stars, shaking hands with Craig having trodden the sodden red carpet.

English actor Daniel Craig poses on the red carpet after arriving to attend the World Premiere of the James Bond 007 film “No Time to Die” at the Royal Albert Hall in west London on September 28, 2021. (Photo by Tolga Akmen / AFP)

The film is part of a backlog of major productions held back by distributors during the pandemic, hitting cinemas hard, and forcing some new films to be streamed.

The release will be in cinemas only, with struggling theatres hoping Bond will lure back crowds.

Britain’s Prince William, Duke of Cambridge (2L) and Britain’s Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (L) stand with Britain’s Prince Charles, Prince of Wales (R) and Britain’s Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall as they arrive for the World Premiere of the James Bond 007 film “No Time to Die” at the Royal Albert Hall in west London on September 28, 2021. . (Photo by Chris Jackson / POOL / AFP)

 

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“I’m greatly relieved, we make Bond movies for the cinema,” Craig, dressed in a dark pink tuxedo jacket, told Sky News on the red carpet.

Reflecting on 15 years of playing 007, Craig said: “I genuinely don’t have any bad memories, but I think it’s going to take about another 15 years to unpick all this.”

From Left, US singer-songwriter Finneas O’Connell, US singer-songwriter Billie Eilish, US actor Rami Malek, screenwriter Phoebe Waller-Bridge, US film director Cary Joji Fukunaga, Cuban actor Ana de Armas, English actor Lashana Lynch and English actor Naomie Harris pose on the red carpet after arriving to attend the World Premiere of the James Bond 007 film “No Time to Die” at the Royal Albert Hall in west London on September 28, 2021. (Photo by Tolga Akmen / AFP)

Vue Entertainment, the UK branch of the cinema operator Vue International, hailed the movie’s release as “the cinematic event of the year”.

It will go on general release in Britain on Thursday and in the United States on October 8 — a year and a half behind schedule.

– Craig bows out –

In the film, reportedly costing $250 million (£182 million, 214 million euros), Bond returns to active service after retirement, vowing: “I have to finish this.”

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He deploys his trademark hi-tech gadgets in spectacular scenery in Italy and Norway while battling the villainous Safin, played by Oscar-winner Rami Malek (“Bohemian Rhapsody”).

“I get shot and then I get blown up. It feels like James Bond to me,” Craig said in an official podcast.

Britain’s Prince Charles, Prince of Wales (2L) talks with English actor Daniel Craig ahead of the World Premiere of the James Bond 007 film “No Time to Die” at the Royal Albert Hall in west London on September 28, 2021. (Photo by Chris Jackson / POOL / AFP)

 

With Craig bowing out, calling the role “a massive part” of his life, speculation has mounted over who will inherit his fabled licence to kill.

UK bookmakers are tipping the likes of Tom Hardy (“The Revenant”, “Dunkirk”) or Rege-Jean Page, the mixed-race star of the Netflix hit “Bridgerton”.

Craig, 53, has held onto the role longer than any of his predecessors since his 2006 debut in “Casino Royale”.

He has won praise for adding depth and emotional complexity to the all-action role, but only reluctantly agreed to one final appearance as Bond.

Olympic athlete Mo Farah (C), Tania Nell, and Rhianna Farrah pose on the red carpet after arriving to attend the World Premiere of the James Bond 007 film “No Time to Die” at the Royal Albert Hall in west London on September 28, 2021. (Photo by Tolga Akmen / AFP)

After “Spectre” in 2015, Craig told Time Out magazine he would rather “slash his wrists” than reprise the role but recently apologised for appearing flippant.

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Emmy-winning US filmmaker Cary Joji Fukunaga directed the new film, becoming the first American to helm the franchise.

His previous films include a 2011 adaptation of Charlotte Bronte’s “Jane Eyre”.

The filmmaker stepped in after the original director Danny Boyle, known for “Slumdog Millionaire” and “Trainspotting”, left over “creative differences” in 2018.

‘World Has Changed’

Fukunaga said in a promotional video that his Bond is “like a wounded animal”, struggling because “the world has changed, the rules of engagement aren’t what they used to be: the rules of espionage (are) darker in this era of asymmetric warfare”.

US actor Jason Momoa poses on the red carpet after arriving to attend the World Premiere of the James Bond 007 film “No Time to Die” at the Royal Albert Hall in west London on September 28, 2021. (Photo by Tolga Akmen / AFP)

The Bond films are based on a character created by upper-class British writer Ian Fleming in novels published in the 1950s and 1960s.

As the MeToo movement has heightened awareness of misogyny in popular culture, some have argued that time has run out for the franchise.

The new film’s director has also criticised Bond’s sexual exploits.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Fukunaga said that in one 1960s-era film, “basically Sean Connery’s character rapes a woman”.

“That wouldn’t fly today,” he stressed.

Among those working on the screenplay was Phoebe Waller-Bridge, the British creator and star of the TV series “Fleabag” and writer of the first series of “Killing Eve”.

US-British film producer Barbara Broccoli (C) and US-British film producer Michael G. Wilson (R) pose on the red carpet after arriving to attend the World Premiere of the James Bond 007 film “No Time to Die” at the Royal Albert Hall in west London on September 28, 2021. (Photo by Tolga Akmen / AFP)

 

In the film, Bond spars with a black female MI6 agent, played by Briton Lashana Lynch, and has to take a back seat to her as she flies a plane.

“It’s an incredible moment to have a female black lead in a movie who is holding her own,” she told Sky News on the red carpet.

“It feels really empowering for me to even play her. It felt like the stars aligned for this one,” she said.

 

 

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Renowned Nollywood Comedian ‘Mr Ibu’ Is Dead

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In a tragic turn of events, the iconic Nigerian comic actor, John Okafor, popularly known as Mr Ibu, has reportedly passed away.

 

A close source within the family confirmed the development, indicating that the beloved entertainer breathed his last on Saturday afternoon at Evercare Hospital, Lekki, where he had been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

 

Mr Ibu, celebrated for his exceptional comedic talent, had faced health challenges in the past year. In a noteworthy struggle, he underwent surgery to amputate one of his legs, a procedure necessitated by undisclosed health issues.

 

Throughout this period, the actor had openly sought support and prayers from his numerous fans and well-wishers.

 

The Nigerian entertainment industry mourns the loss of a true megastar, and fans worldwide express their condolences for the passing of a beloved figure who brought laughter and joy to countless lives through his memorable performances. The legacy of Mr Ibu, marked by his unique style and infectious humor, will undoubtedly endure in the hearts of fans and the annals of Nollywood history.

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Mohbad father’s lawyers request coroner summons for Primeboy, key witnesses

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In a recent development surrounding the controversial death of the late singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba, widely known as Mohbad, lawyers representing Mr. Joshua Aloba, the bereaved father, have taken a significant step. The legal team, led by Emmanuel Oroko, sent a letter dated Jan. 15th, 2024, to the Coroner overseeing the inquiry into the artist’s demise.

The letter urged the Coroner to summon Ayobami Fisayo (known as Spending), Boluwatife Adeyemo (Darosha), and Ibrahim Owodunni (Prime Boy) to provide testimonies and eyewitness accounts regarding the events leading to Mohbad’s death on Sept. 12, 2023.

The lawyers asserted that the insights from these three individuals would contribute essential factual evidence, shedding more light on the perceived unnatural and suspicious circumstances surrounding the tragic incident.

“Our research for instance has shown that there were incidents on the 3rd Mainland Bridge at about 2.30 am (Sunday, September 10, 2023, that the appropriate witnesses did not mention and which no one has related at the Coroner Inquest and in our opinion would have given away the circumstantial event that led to the death of Ilerioluwa Aloba.

“In furtherance to the above, we believe that there were also events on 12 September 2023 at the deceased residential premises, which were not mentioned by the appropriate witnesses, and such information would have given a better insight into the real cause of the death of the deceased, as recent events have shown that some probable witnesses have been suborned.

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“These key witnesses include the driver of the car that drove the deceased, his wife, his brother and the witnesses proposed to this honourable coroner Inquest court.

“Furthermore, we believe that the situation of the CCTV at the deceased residential premises not functional at the time the deceased and others came home may not be true”, the letter partly read.

The Afrobeats singer, based in Ikorodu, departed on Sept 12, 2023, at 27.

In a letter dated Sept 18th, 2023, addressed to Justice Mojisola Dada, Chief Coroner of the High Court of Lagos State, the legal firm Falana & Falana Chambers formally requested a coroner’s inquest into the artist’s passing.

Subsequent to the letter, preliminary inquiries into Mohbad’s demise commenced on Friday, Sept 29, 2023, at the Magistrate court in Ikorodu, Lagos.

Thus far, two police officers—ASP Oderinde-Gafar Ajibola and Muhammad Yusuf, both affiliated with the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba—have testified before the coroner, presenting the police’s findings on the matter.

Magistrate Adedayo Shotobi, the Coroner, has also heard the testimony of Mohbad’s Disc Jockey (DJ), Ajisegiri Ayobami, who asserted his presence with the artist on the day of his passing.

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Lagos: DJ Power Set to Ignite Good Beach for African Tour Premiere

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Renowned international disc jockey, DJ Power, is poised to set the stage ablaze at Good Beach, Victoria Island, Lagos, on the 29th of December 2023, signaling the commencement of his highly anticipated African tour.

DJ Power disclosed this during a press briefing held at Amber Residence, Ikeja, Lagos last Friday.

Baroque Works Studio, a leading entertainment powerhouse, also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with DJ Power, taking on the role of chief promoter for the tour.

The Good Beach event is anticipated to be a standout moment, attracting music enthusiasts and fans from far and wide.

Showcasing his extraordinary talent, DJ Power’s African tour promises to be a musical journey traversing the continent. The event will pulsate with special energy and vibes, featuring DJ Power’s signature Afrobeat and Amapiano sounds, guaranteeing an unforgettable experience for attendees.

In an exclusive collaboration, CEOAFRICA has been named the official media partner for the event, ensuring comprehensive coverage across all its media channels. Fans can anticipate exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes glimpses, and live updates as the excitement builds.

The Good Beach event is expected to draw a diverse and lively crowd, bringing together music lovers of all ages to revel in the vibrant energy and creativity that DJ Power embodies.

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Attendees can brace themselves for an electrifying live performance promising an experience that transcends musical boundaries.

As the countdown to the event begins, organisers are urging fans to secure their tickets early to avoid missing out on this unforgettable spectacle.

With the pledge of exceptional music, incredible performances, and an atmosphere to remember, DJ Power’s Good Beach performance is set to be a highlight of the year’s entertainment calendar.

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