Bond comes to Scotland with a licence to film

As new details about Skyfall were released yesterday, Duntrune Castle, in Kilmartin, Argyll & Bute, prepared to roll out the red carpet for more Hollywood A-listers.

The film will be directed by Sam Mendes and see Daniel Craig and Dame Judi Dench reprise their roles as Bond and his boss, M. It will also star Ralph Fiennes and Albert Finney.

Javier Bardem will play the villain, with French actress Berenice Marlohe and Naomie Harris as the leading ladies.

In recent weeks, Brad Pitt, Scarlett Johansson and Halle Berry have all shot different films in Scotland, as the country enjoys a purple patch as one of Hollywood’s destinations of choice.

VisitScotland estimates that one in five overseas visitors to Scotland is inspired by images from television or film, while the productions themselves add up to £25 million to the economy each year.

Shooting for Skyfall is expected to take place for about ten days in February, although production crews will be in the area for up to six weeks beforehand and a few weeks after, preparing and taking down sets. Several hotels have been block-booked, and Robin Malcolm, owner of Duntrune Castle, has encouraged film-makers to use local tradesmen wherever possible.

“You can’t not be excited about the prospect,” he said.

“We heard about two months ago, but it is six months since the first location scout made contact and took photographs. Then we heard nothing more until we were asked if a couple of helicopters could land on the field.

“I think that right from the start Sam Mendes was hoping that Duntrune would come top of the list,” he added.

The area is blessed with stunning views and has previously appeared in the Yorkshire Television production Dreams Lost, Dreams Found, Ardent Productions’ Castle Ghosts of Scotland, and two Children’s BBC shows.

Mr Malcolm is not surprised that film-makers are looking for Scottish backdrops.

He said: “Scotland is a unique country with lots of unique sights. I feel extremely fortunate to live where I do.

“Whenever I travel I compare where I’ve gone to where I’ve come from, and I’m always pleased to come home again.”

The film producers have kept tight-lipped about what parts of the story will be shot in Scotland.

Mendes – who admitted he had been a fan of the Bond films since childhood – said the latest film would also feature London and Turkey.

Craig said: “Being lucky enough to get the chance to do a third one, it is my intention to make the best Bond movie we possibly could – and Bond with a capital B – and I’m just incredibly proud to be part of this group of people.”

VisitScotland predicted that the spate of stars filming in Scotland would be a boost for the country.

A spokesman said: “We have seen a growing trend in set-jetting, where film fans visit the locations of their favourite movies, with one in five overseas visitors to the UK inspired to come here by images they have seen in films and on television.”

He added: “Having the opportunity to have Scottish locations on the big screen provides a superb opportunity for raising the country’s profile on the world stage.”

Andrew Dixon, the chief executive of Creative Scotland, added: “Scotland has had a bumper season of new productions.We recently welcomed World War Z, Cloud Atlas and Under the Skin to locations across the country.

“In addition, there has been a recent wave of production companies moving north of the Border

“So Television will be setting up a Scottish division in Glasgow to film the new Sarah Millican Television Show. This follows in the footsteps of the recent arrival of Shed Productions, with Waterloo Road, and Ecosse Films, which has also set up a base in Scotland.

“Attracting large-scale films such as World War Z, Under the Skin and Cloud Atlas not only shows the credibility of our production crew, it also boosts Scotland’s economy.”

He added: “Each year, production companies spend between £20m and £25m on shooting on location in Scotland.”