Principal photography took place in the Bahamas, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the Czech Republic, with interior sets built at Pinewood Studios and Barrandov Studios, from January to July 2006. The film features primarily practical stuntwork as opposed to the computer-generated placements seen in other Bond films.
The song's main notes are played throughout the film as a substitute for the James Bond Theme, to represent Bond's youth and inexperience. The classic theme only plays during the end credits to signal the climax of his character arc. Other scenes in the latter half of the film were shot in late May and early June at the Villa del Balbianello on the shores of Lake Como. Further exterior shooting for the movie took place at properties such as the Villa la Gaeta, near the lakeside town of Menaggio. Pierce Brosnan had signed a deal for four films when he was cast in the role of James Bond. At one point, producer Michael G. Wilson claimed over 200 names were being considered for his replacement.