Great news folks…and not a moment too soon!
Daniel Craig is set to return as James Bond, while Léa Seydoux will reprise her role of 007’s love interest Madeleine Swann from 2015’s “Spectre,” it was revealed Thursday.
“Bond 25” will we be back with some familiar faces returning include Ralph Fiennes as M, Naomie Harris as Moneypenny, and Ben Whishsaw will play Q, as well as Jeffrey Wright and Rory Kinnear. Exciting stuff!
The announcement also revealed “Bohemian Rhapsody” star Rami Malek has been confirmed as the villain in the Cary Joji Fukunaga-directed action film.
OO7-er!
Oscar winner Malek said in a video message, “I’m very much looking forward to joining the cast and crew very soon, I will be making sure that Bond does not have an easy ride of it in his 25th outing.”
Newbies making their debut in the much-anticipated film include Billy Magnussen, David Dencik, Lashana Lynch, Dali Benssalah and Ana de Armas.
Asked what she could reveal during the launch, producer Barbara Broccoli said of the as-yet-untitled flick, “Bond is not on active service when we start – he’s enjoying himself in Jamaica. We consider it Bond’s spiritual home. He starts his journey here. We’ve built an extraordinary house for him. We’ve got quite a ride in store for Mr. Bond.”
Barbara added: “It feels incredible to be here. This is where James Bond was created.
“It’s very inspiring, this is where Fleming created Bond. Down there is where Ursula Andress came out of the sea.”
The official plot summary reads: “Bond has left active service and is enjoying a tranquil life in Jamaica. His peace is short-lived when his old friend Felix Leiter from the CIA turns up asking for help.
“The mission to rescue a kidnapped scientist turns out to be far more treacherous than expected, leading Bond onto the trail of a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology.”
The screenplay is by Neal Purvis & Robert Wade and Scott Z. Burns.
Pre-production has been far from smooth. Bond 25 was originally scheduled for release this autumn, but is not now due in cinemas until next April. Several key personnel changes have rocked pre-production, chief among them the abrupt departure of director Danny Boyle, who left after “creative differences” in August 2018, 14 weeks before shooting was scheduled to start.
Craig’s involvement in the project wasn’t always a given. Promoting Spectre, he told one interviewer he’d “rather slash [his] wrists” than reprise the role, adding that if he did it would only be for financial gain.
“I don’t know what the next step is. I’ve no idea,” he said. “Not because I’m trying to be cagey. Who the fuck knows? At the moment, we’ve done it. I’m not in discussion with anybody about anything. If I did another Bond movie, it would only be for the money.”
Five time Bond Daniel, said: ‘The movies have been an event for myself and it feels right that we are coming home here.’
He also revealed his favourite Bond gadget is the classic Aston Martin DB5, seen in 1964’s Goldfinger.
HBO’s True Detective director Director Cary Joji Fukunaga said: “Daniel is my favourite Bond. I want to make sure that we make a great next chapter in the next film. I want to make sure whoever’s next has a hard job…It’s definitely an honor, I am now chomping at the bit to get started.”
Fukunaga is the first American to take on a James Bond film since Irvin Kershner, who helmed 1983’s “Never Say Never Again” with Sean Connery.
Craig has played James Bond four times – in Casino Royale (2006), Quantum of Solace (2008), Skyfall (2012) and Spectre in 2015. This will be Daniel’s last Bond Bond installment before passing the torch to someone else.
As for who that someone is, fans will have to wait – although rumors have been spreading like wildfire about the identity of the next international spy, with names like Idris Elba, Tom Hardy and Richard Madden flying around.
So brace yourselves Bond fans…the next Bond film is scheduled to arrive in theaters on Valentine’s Day, 2020.
