James Bond producers scrap shoot at Machu Picchu
Last Updated: Saturday, March 8, 2008 | 3:58 PM ET
CBC News
Filming near the famous Inca ruins of Machu Picchu in Peru on the upcoming James Bond film Quantum of Solace has been scrapped due to bad weather and not protests, according to the movie's producers.
Margarita Morales, director of Iguana Productions, a Peruvian company hired to assist with filming, confirmed that plans to shoot at Peru's top tourist site have been scuttled.
The 15th-century Inca fortress Machu Picchu has been deemed 'endangered' by a team of United Nations experts.
(Canadian Press)
"They decided not to come because of climatic conditions. They couldn't be sure it wouldn't rain and they have very tight time [to film]," she explained.
"They told me the reasons were strictly because of the weather."
Protesters led a march last month, upset by changes to laws that would make it easier to build near historic sites.
Demonstrators walked through the city of Cuzco — the jumping-off point for many tourists headed to the site — causing traffic jams and forcing railroads and the airport to close.
Machu Picchu, rediscovered by American explorer Hiram Bingham in 1911, dates to the 15th century.
The ancient citadel is believed to be a religious sanctuary and remains the most intact Inca site because the Spaniards never found it.
About 1,000 tourists a day visit the site. Back in 2004, a team of experts from the United Nations warned Machu Picchu was "endangered" due to too many visitors.
Quantum of Solace stars Daniel Craig and Olga Kurylenko and follows the spy in a quest to take revenge on a beautiful woman who betrayed him.
The film is due out in November.
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