James Bond was famously known to ask for a vodka martini, "shaken, not stirred," in all the 007 films, but for the upcoming 23rd installment of the franchise called "Skyfall," the movie made a commercial deal with Dutch brewers Heineken, and former Bond actor George Lazenby recently spoke up against it.
Heineken will be paying the makers of "Skyfall" a reported $45 million for product-placement of their drinks throughout the movie, as well as an advertisement for the beer brand, to be directed by "Skyfall"'s Sam Mendes and starring current James Bond actor, Daniel Craig, according to United Kingdom publication The Guardian.
Lazenby spoke to entertainment website TMZ about the news for a story reported on Wednesday, voicing his distaste against the change of drinks for the feature.
Lazenby told TMZ, cutting the martini in favor of a Heiney broke a sacred tradition -- and to add insult to injury, "It's not the best beer out there, either." Lazenby also added, it's sad filmmakers will always "go where the money is."
Craig spoke for the sponsorship of the beer for "Skyfall" stating matter-of-factly that due to the high filming budgets, an advertising deal had to be made for production for the latest Bond installment, out this fall, to be completed.
"We have relationships with a number of companies so that we can make this movie," Craig told Moviefone. "The simple fact is that, without them, we couldn't do it. It's unfortunate but that's how it is. This movie costs a lot of money to make, it costs as nearly as much again if not more to promote, so we go where we can."
Craig argued that although it took away from the traditional vodka drink, it did not deter far from Bond's overall character.
"The great thing is that Bond is a drinker," Craig told Moviefone. "He always has been. It's part of who he is, and -- rightly or wrongly -- you can make your own judgement about it. Having a beer is no bad thing, in the movie it just happens to be Heineken."
