A landmark in the history of film, Dr No is fifty years old this October. It forged the way for a new cinematic genre with its suave yet ruthless hero, unforgettable criminals, fabulous international locations and clever gadgets. The original book, published in 1958, is equally thrilling, and now a new audio reading by Star Wars and Holby City actor Hugh Quarshie brings a unique sensibility and depth to this still topical story of potential nuclear mayhem.
Hugh Quarshie read the book after seeing the film and was immediately struck by two things: “He’s clearly very English and not Scottish. He also appears to drink heroic amounts of gin.” He thought that the Bond of the book didn’t appear as mean as Bond in the movie although he added: “He is tough, tenacious and obviously tremendous in bed. This is not a man who needs to spray himself with Lynx to attract women.” Given the setting in Jamaica and the heritage of British colonialism, Quarshie was amused at the thought of reading the novel: “I think that Bond being played by a black man is a pleasing post-colonial irony.” He found portraying the character of Dr No himself the biggest challenge – half Chinese, half German and educated in the States. As for depicting the iconic character of Honeychile Rider: “I am the one who has voiced Margaret Thatcher in an audiobook; and if I can do her, I was pretty sure I could find a voice for a young, naked and nubile sea creature with a broken nose!”
Dr No is just one of an outstanding 12-volume 007 Reloaded audiobook collection published by AudioGO, which has seen distinguished director Enyd Williams and Lucy Fleming of Ian Fleming Publications, working with an exceptional cast of British actors to deliver a completely modern approach to Ian Fleming’s original books. A number of the readers, including Rory Kinnear, Toby Stephens and Rosamund Pike, have previously starred in Bond films.
While the recordings can be obtained individually, 25th October will also see the release of a fantastic box set of the first seven titles in smart packaging – the perfect Christmas gift for any Bond aficionados. There are also plans to release the final Fleming titles Octopussy/The Living Daylights and For Your Eyes Only. As to which stars will be reading them … that’s top secret information.
The actors for the first 12 titles are:
• Dan Stevens star of Downton Abbey and The Line of Beauty, who reads Casino Royale
• Rory Kinnear star of Quantum of Solace and Women in Love, who reads Live and Let Die
• Bill Nighy star of Love, Actually, Pirates of the Caribbean and State of Play, who reads Moonraker
• Damian Lewis star of the hit TV series Homeland and Band of Brothers and movies such as Your Highness, who reads Diamonds are Forever
• Toby Stephens star of Die Another Day and Jane Eyre, who reads From Russia with Love
• Hugh Quarshie star of Star Wars – Episode 1, Holby City and Doctor Who, who reads Dr No
• Hugh Bonneville star of Downton Abbey, Notting Hill and Tomorrow Never Dies, who reads Goldfinger
• Jason Isaacs star of Harry Potter films, Awake and Case Histories, who reads Thunderball
• Rosamund Pike star of Pride and Prejudice, Die Another Day and The Libertine who reads The Spy Who Loved Me
• David Tennant star of Doctor Who, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and Hamlet, who reads On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
• Martin Jarvis star of Titanic, and voice of the Just William radio series reads You Only Live Twice
• Sir Kenneth Branagh actor and director in Henry V and Hamlet, star of My Week with Marilyn and the TV series Wallander, who reads The Man with the Golden Gun
007 RELOADED is exclusive to AudioGO, the UK’s leading audiobook publisher and distributor.
