The 2006 Casino Royale Set Fire Controversy Continues

We all remember the spectacle of the Pinewood Studios going up in flames in late July 2006. The jokes about Burnt Bond. Well it seems the case is far from settled.

Although with the conclusion of filming re-shoots for Casino Royale the production of the film was not affected by the infamous fire. However it is apparent that production of the movie was directly responsible for the fire.

Subcontractors of subcontractors hired by EON are said to be behind disaster. So far no one is admitting responsibility. The case continues as Pinewood Studios stays steadfast in their quest to recover over $10 million dollars in damages from Royale productions.

By Jonathan Russell
Published: 9:07PM BST 26 Jun 2010

James Bond – lover, drinker, gambler – and now outsourcer. Yup, our favourite spy, the man who has a licence to kill also has a licence to get other people to do his dirty work.

I've written about this before but a battle royal between Casino Royale Productions and Pinewood Studios is coming to a head nicely.

The case involves a fire at the studios, started as oxyacetylene torches were used to dismantle water tanks used in filming Bond flick Casino Royale – which starred Daniel Craig and Eva Green, pictured right – which Pinewood claims caused £8m worth of damage.

Casino Royale is fighting the claim, but not with fountain pen guns and laser beam watches. Instead it is employing the old-fashioned method of getting in the lawyers. "It is denied," the defence papers state, "that this work was actually carried out by Casino Royale. Casino Royale had engaged First Imperial Services to dismantle the set … First Imperial had subcontracted the dismantling … to J Male & Son, who had in turn subcontracted the work to Downton Structures.

"It was Downton that was actually carrying out the cutting work."

So there – no secret ink required for that message. All parties deny wrongdoing. The case continues.

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