29 NOVEMBER 2001
Sexy star Halle Berry looks set to seduce heart-throb Pierce Brosnan in the upcoming James Bond film, provided the busy actress can clear her schedule. Although Halle is keen to be the next Ursula Andress, she’s scheduled to start filming the X-Men sequel early next year just as Bond would go into production.

Halle’s management is currently in talks with producers to see if she can work on both films. The 33-year-old beauty has already lost one role this year in the dark comedy Gigli, now starring Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez, due to contractual obligations with X-Men.

Tentatively titled Bond 20, the latest-instalment in the franchise should hit theatres in time for the 2002 holiday season. Dame Judi Dench will reprise her role as M, with John Cleese on board as gadget guy R. (The Monty Python comic takes over for Desmond Llewelyn, aka Q, who was killed in a car accident nearly three years ago.)

Filming on the Bond flick – hunky Pierce’s fourth time in the tuxedo – is set to begin on January 14 at Pinewood Studios in England. There had been concerns that an impending actors' strike might shut down the UK production. However, executives at Eon, the firm behind Bond, signed an agreement with actors' union Equity and the production will go ahead regardless of whether a strike is called.

“We have made a deal which means that members are free to work on that Bond film,” says Equity’s chief executive, Martin Brown. “We are very pleased with the arrangements.”

Halle Berry, last seen baring it all in Swordfish, next appears on screen opposite Billy Bob Thornton in the much discussed Monster’s Ball.