Director Marc Forster Talks 'Quantum Of Solace'

Acclaimed Swiss filmmaker Marc Forster ('Finding Neverland,' 'Stranger Than Fiction') jumps into blockbuster action with 'Quantum Of Solace' -- and shooting it was quite an adventure. Forster had to deal with a totaled Aston Martin, a seriously injured stuntman and most recently, Daniel Craig's grossly exaggerated finger cut. We caught up with the director just days after he wrapped production for an update on 007's 22nd installment.


What's been the biggest challenge for you, personally, taking on 'Bond'?

You take on 'Bond,' and you work within that framework of 'Bond.' You know, you have the girls, the cars, the history, the millions of fans. 'Casino Royale' has been such a huge success, and audiences always have higher expectations. So there is incredible pressure you are under because you have to create something as a follow-up to 'Casino Royale.' And that sort of pressure excited me. At the same time, I always love[d] the early 'Bond' films, like the 1960s Sean Connery, Ken Adam-designed 'Bond' films, which I felt were so much ahead of their time in feel and look and design. And I felt like when you got to 'Quantum Of Solace' there would be this incredible opportunity I had been given to really create something stylish and interesting and push further than where 'Casino' went.

Did you study 'Casino Royale' in order to make the tone consistent?

No. I mean I watched the movie, but I needed to create my own movie. I had to set my own tone and own visual tone for 'Quantum Of Solace.' So I didn't want to get too married to it because I felt like I still have to put my stamp on it and visualize it the way I feel it should be right to the character. And also, the movie starts where the last one ended. And I feel Bond is in a very different place now because it's the first time he experienced love and he lost someone. And now we take off from this point where he experienced that loss. And what really does it mean for Bond also to lose someone as he himself takes other people's lives? And it makes him psychologically more vulnerable, and out of that vulnerability the main theme, the center of the film, for me was trust. What can you trust? And what does trust really mean if you love someone?

There were conflicting reports about Daniel Craig's finger injury, we heard everything from a paper cut to a tip cut off. Can you tell us what happened?

It's basically ... on top of the finger there's like a cut, and it will heal and it will be fine. But it was just a very deep cut. But the finger isn't missing or anything. He still has all 10 fingers [laughs].

Do you buy into all that lore when people say "Oh, this production is cursed"?

No, I don't. On every action film, small accidents happen. And really the greatest news is obviously that Harris, the stunt guy, is out of the hospital. He's walking, talking. He really will get back to normal. That's just incredible news. And then the little things like with the finger and stuff, that's just gonna happen, you know. So I'm not really buying into it because I feel the movie we did is really special and the main things are I'm feeling very positive about it.

How would you describe the general mood on the set: Was it all business, being such a big production, or was there some horsing around?

No, I think it's always important to keep it humorous. Especially if you're doing a film like 'Bond,' you can't keep it too serious. The jokes are part of the movie, and it's part of the set as well. It's just very hard and intense work. And, you know for me, it's the first time making such a big commercial movie. So it's like you're running a marathon and you just have to pace yourself, because it's just a very long shoot.


Click here to watch the exclusive trailer for 'Quantum Of Solace.'