James Bond does China

(Editors Note: This news sort of makes you stop and think - I get all warm and fuzzy inside like when the Berlin Wall came down.)

British Actor Daniel Craig (L), and French actress Eva Green pose for photographers at a hotel in Beijing prior to the premiere of the latest James Bond film 'Casino Royale', Monday 29 January 2007. Stars Daniel Craig, the new 'James Bond' and Eva Green, the new 'Bond girl' attended the premiere of 'Casino Royale,' the first Chinese premiere ever of a 007 film. The new James Bond film will open Wednesday in more than 1,000 theaters around the country, making 'Casino Royale' the biggest foreign film to ever open in China. EPA/DIEGO AZUBEL ‘Casino Royale’ had a Hollywood style opening in Beijing China on Monday January 29. This was the first time in the 45 year old history of the 21 film Bond franchise that the British secret agent was seen on the big screen.No matter that poor quality pirated VCD/DVD versions of “Royale" have been available on China's streets for weeks, the movie is expected to be the biggest box-office grosser in China potentially taking in over $15 million. The movie opens with original English soundtrack and Chinese subtitles, at 1,000 loctions across China on January 30.The movie has already grossed over $571 million worldwide.Excitement over the preem could be seen in the hundreds of people that lined the streets yelling “Ling, ling gi” (007 in Chinese) at Daniel Craig and co-star Eva Green as they entered the theater.Craig was unusually chipper shaking hands with fans and chatting with press.‘It would be wonderful to come here to do a film…this is a stunning place and there would be unlimited places to film,” Craig is reported to have said.Adding that he was a big fan of Chinese movies Craig said, "I'd love to work with them ... I'm a huge Gong Li fan, I could happily watch Jet Li until I'm blue in the face." Director Martin Campbell agreed saying “It would depend on the subject matter but obviously it would be a wonderful place to come and shoot.”But Campbell let on that he probably will not direct the next Bond film despite the movies enormous success.