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Casino Royale

Casino Royale is a 2006 spy thriller film directed by Martin Campbell and the 21st film in Eon Productions’ James Bond series.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Casino Royale is a 2006 spy thriller film directed by Martin Campbell and the 21st film in Eon Productions’ James Bond series. It is the third screen adaptation of Ian Fleming’s 1953 novel and the first Bond film to star Daniel Craig as James Bond.

Plot

The film depicts James Bond’s first mission as a newly promoted 00 agent. He is sent to stop Le Chiffre, a banker to terrorists, by defeating him at a poker game in Montenegro.

Production

Casino Royale was directed by Martin Campbell and written by Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, and Paul Haggis. It marked the start of Daniel Craig’s run as James Bond in the Eon film series.

Adaptation of Ian Fleming's novel

The film is based on Fleming’s first James Bond novel, Casino Royale, published in 1953. It is the third screen adaptation of that story.

Cast

The principal cast includes Daniel Craig as Bond, Eva Green as Vesper Lynd, Mads Mikkelsen as Le Chiffre, Judi Dench as M, and Jeffrey Wright as Felix Leiter.

Key facts

  • It is the 21st official film in the James Bond series by Eon Productions.
  • The film is the third screen adaptation of Ian Fleming’s 1953 novel of the same name.
  • Daniel Craig makes his debut as James Bond in the film.
  • The plot follows Bond’s mission to bankrupt terrorist financier Le Chiffre in a high-stakes poker game in Montenegro.
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Canadian context

The film was distributed in Canada as part of the global release of the James Bond franchise, and it remains relevant to Canadian audiences as a major English-language international blockbuster.

Frequently asked questions

What is Casino Royale?
Casino Royale is a 2006 James Bond spy thriller film and the first to star Daniel Craig as James Bond.
Who directed Casino Royale?
Martin Campbell directed the 2006 film.
What is the film about?
Bond’s first mission as 007 involves trying to defeat terrorist banker Le Chiffre in a high-stakes poker game in Montenegro.
Is Casino Royale based on a book?
Yes. It is based on Ian Fleming’s 1953 novel Casino Royale.
Who stars in the film?
The film stars Daniel Craig, Eva Green, Mads Mikkelsen, Judi Dench, and Jeffrey Wright.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casino_Royale_(2006_film)
    Supports: Release year, franchise position, adaptation status, director, writers, and cast
  2. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0381061/plotsummary/
    Supports: Plot summary involving Bond, Le Chiffre, Montenegro poker game
  3. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/casino_royale
    Supports: Synopsis, genre, and release information
  4. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0381061/
    Supports: Cast and production details
  5. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/Casino-Royale-film-1967
    Supports: Context on earlier adaptation of Casino Royale
  6. Common Sense Media — https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/casino-royale-2006
    Supports: Director, runtime, MPAA rating, and general film information