Sony currently has James Bond rights and it is cashing in on the franchise to prop up its other products, most specifically its Xperia smartphone. As the new Bond flick is slated to be released in November, a new advertisement introducing the Xperia Z5 smartphone (and also the RX100 IV camera) was unveiled. It was particularly exciting as it seemed like a scene straight out of a James Bond movie.
Miss Moneypenny, played by Bond actress Naomie Harris, stars in the advert set in London's South Bank. In the video, the spectator is treated to a dramatic mini-movie that features a spy surveillance mission and an action-packed chase - all for the sake of picking up James Bond's phone.
"While both the Xperia Z5 and RX100 IV are action-packed and full of features, they are also real, everyday-life gadgets. Whether being used by Moneypenny on undercover surveillance or a creative photographer who wants to take and share outstanding photography captured on social channels, they're easy to use, pocketable and award-winning products," Kazuo Hirai, CEO of Sony stated in a press statement.
James Bond himself is noticeably absent in the commercial and this is not necessarily because he is embroiled in some important spy work. It is alleged that Daniel Craig has issues with using an Xperia phone particularly in its placement within the "Spectre" film itself. Wikileaks has flagged several emails detailing how Craig feels that the Xperia brand may not be up to Bond's standards, reported The Verge.
A Samsung device has been floated as a replacement in an internal correspondence with film executives and it might actually be realized in the next Bond film. Sony's rights to co-finance and distribute the Bond series with Metro Goldwyn-Mayer will expire this year, according to BBC.
