Sir Roger Moore denies role in `The Sangraal` film production

Former James Bond actor Sir Roger Moore has said he is not involved in The Sangraal film project in which it was announced he was going to star.

The big screen legend's personal assistant told Gulf News that Sir Roger never took part in negotiations to take part in the film, which movie producers said would be filmed in the UAE and Eastern Europe.

The company behind The Sangraal, which is also involved in developing a film and media free zone in Ras Al Khaimah, told Gulf News however that it was still hopeful the movie would get made.

In a statement e-mailed to Gulf News, Sir Roger's personal assistant said: "As regards The Sangraal, Sir Roger has never had any contact with Mirage Holdings or Nicleson [sic] Entertainment group.

"The script was one that his son, Geoffrey, and his business partner Bill McDonald [sic] spent some time developing, but Sir Roger was never invited to join the project nor were any negotiations entered in to. "The use of this name, therefore, in connection with the project was totally unauthorised."

A statement on website www.roger-moore.com also denies that Sir Roger is involved in the film.

Nickelson Entertainment Group, now merged into a company called Mirage Holdings, revealed in July 2005 that it was planning to make The Sangraal with Sir Roger and Hollywood star Robert Downey Jr.

Bill Macdonald, who developed the script for The Sangraal with Geoffrey Moore, was announced as a partner in the film and there was a Pop Idol-style talent search in the UAE to find the female lead.

The script for the film was said to centre on a character called Stone, reportedly to be played by Downey Jr, an archaeologist who "unwittingly ends up solving one of the world's greatest mysteries".

Sir Roger was said to be playing Murdoch Mac-arthur, the head of an ancient organisation.

David Burns, Mirage Holdings' Vice-President for Development and Special Projects, said he could not comment in detail about the involvement of either Sir Roger or Downey Jr.

However, he said the company was still looking to turn the script for The Sangraal into a film.

"As far as Mirage Studios [a subsidiary of Mirage Holdings] is concerned, The Sangraal is still an ongoing project," he said.

Michelle Nickelson said in an e-mailed statement: "The fundamentals in the film business are funding and timing. Sometimes these change."

Nickelson used to work with her father Carl Nickelson at California-based Manex Entertainment, which won two Oscars for visual effects in films What Dreams May Come and The Matrix.

Mirage Holdings has been licensed to operate a film and media city free zone in Ras Al Khaimah, which is planned to become one of the largest film production centres in the Middle East.

"As regards The Sangraal, Sir Roger has never had any contact with Mirage Holdings or Nicleson Entertainment group."

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