Crash writer 'takes on Bond film'

Haggis wrote the screenplay to Million Dollar Baby

The writer and director of the movie Crash has been brought in to work on the next James Bond film, according to industry paper Hollywood Reporter.

Paul Haggis has been hired by Bond producers to do a rewrite of the script of Casino Royale.

A first draft has been delivered by Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, who have worked on previous Bond films.

As yet no-one has been cast in the lead role of Bond to replace Pierce Brosnan, who played the role in four films.

The next film, which will be the 21st in the franchise, will be directed by Martin Campbell, who was in charge of Goldeneye.

'Most violent'

Casino Royale was turned into a spoof spy movie in 1967, with David Niven in the lead role.

But Ian Fleming's original book was actually one of the most violent in the series, with the heroic secret agent taking a beating from his rival Le Chiffre.

Speculation has been rife about who will play the iconic character with names including Clive Owen and Dougray Scott among actors mentioned as contenders.

It was reported that Australian actor Hugh Jackman turned down the offer of playing 007.

Haggis has been receiving critical acclaim for his movie Crash, which is set against the backdrop of Los Angeles and deals with racism.

The Canadian-born film-maker also wrote the screenplay to the Oscar-winning Million Dollar Baby.