Daniel Craig would be reprising his role as super-spy 007 in Spectre, the latest film in the saga, to be directed by Sam Mendes, producers announced at Buckinghamshire’s Pinewood Studios on Thursday
On the set of the movie – scheduled to begin shooting over seven months from Monday – he will be joined by a star-studded returning cast that includes Ralph Fiennes (M), Naomie Harris (Miss Moneypenny), Ben Whishaw (Q) and Rory Kinnear (Bill Tanner).
Oscar-winning Austrian actor Christoph Waltz will play a villain in the film while Andrew Scott, best known for his role as Moriarty in BBC1’s Sherlock will join the cast as one of 007’s Whitehall bosses. Lea Seydoux and Monica Bellucci will become Bond girls
Bond will once again be driving an Aston Martin, but this time a DB10, after movie fans saw a previous Aston, his vintage DB5, blown to pieces in Skyfall.
Spectre, the 24th instalment in the James Bond franchise, is named after the shadowy terrorist organisation created by Bond author Ian Fleming which first appeared in his novel 1961 Thunderball.
It is 46-year-old Craig’s fourth after Casino Royale (2006), Quantum of Solace (2008) and Skyfall 2012.
The introduction of Spectre, an acronym for Special Executive for Counter-intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge and Extortion, marks a definitive return to old school 007 territory on behalf of Bond production company Eon and studio Sony, though it remains to be seen how the new incarnation will be realised.
