Bond is back: Daniel Craig returns in 'SPECTRE' as 007 with star-studded cast, a new baddie, a new car (and the oldest Bond girl ever)
- Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Ben Whishaw and Rory Kinnear all reprising their former roles in the action movie
- Cast newcomers include Monica Belluci, Christoph Waltz, David Bautista and Léa Seydoux
- Belluci, 50, will make history when she becomes the oldest Bond girl to grace screens
- Sleek new Aston Martin DB10 also unveiled as the car of choice for the suave spy
- No actor has yet been cast in the role of evil genius Blofeld
- Spectre will follow Bond going on a trail to uncover a sinister organisation after receiving a cryptic message from his past
- Movie to be shot on location in London, Mexico City, Rome and Tangier and Erfoud in Morocco. Also included are such Austrian towns as Obertilliach, Lake Altaussee and Sölden
- Spectre is scheduled to be released on November 6, 2015
- Craig to reprise role as Bond for a fourth time
The shroud of secrecy surrounding the 24th instalment in the James Bond franchise has finally been lifted.
On Thursday, it was officially announced at Buckinghamshire's Pinewood Studios that 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.
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).
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Bond 24: (L-R) Andrew Scott, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Sam Mendes, Léa Seydoux, Daniel Craig, Monica Bellucci, Christoph Waltz and Ben Whishaw gathered at Buckinghamshire's Pinewood Studios on Thursday to announce the new Bond movie Spectre
He's back! British actor Daniel Craig was officially confirmed for the 24th instalment in the James Bond franchise, entitled Spectre, at a press conference at Buckinghamshire's Pinewood Studios on Thursday
Smooth ride: The sleek new Aston Martin DB10 was also unveiled at the official photocall and will be the car of choice for the super suave spy
There is also an impressive list of newcomers to the James Bond franchise on the list, including Monica Belluci (Lucia Sciarra), Christoph Waltz (Oberhauser), David Bautista (Mr. Hinx) and Léa Seydoux (Madeleine Swann).
Speaking of the film's name, Sam explained at the conference, live-streamed on 007.com: 'Those of you who have some knowledge of the Bond franchise and of the legend of Bond will probably have some idea what that refers to, but I couldn't possibly comment.'
SPECTRE - which stands for Special Executive for Counter-intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge and Extortion - is led by iconic evil genius Ernst Stavro Blofeld.
Returning: Naomie Harris, who played Eve Moneypenny in Skyfall, is set to return for the latest film as the secretary to M, played by Ralph Fiennes after Judi Dench's M died in Skyfall
Breaking boundaries: Naomie was the first black actress to ever portray the intelligence worker on the big screen and was widely praised for her portrayal
Not just a secretary: Naomie was stunning in a monochrome dress as she attended the photocall for 24th Bond film Spectre at Pinewood Studios on Thursday
The infamous cat-loving, scarred super-villain and his organisation played a prominent part in You Only Live Twice, On Her Majesty's Secret Service and Diamonds Are Forever, while making appearances in a number of other films in the series.
So far no actor has been cast as Blofeld in the film but rumours are rife as to who will be announced as Bond's nemesis, who is expected to feature heavily in the film.
Previous actors to bring the character to life on the big screen include Telly Savalas, Max Von Sydow, Charles Gray and Donald Pleasence.
Bond girls: Monica Bellucci, left and Léa Seydoux, right, were announced as newcomers to the cast, with Monica, 50, making history as the oldest ever Bond girl
Stepping out in style: Monica, who showed off her curvaceous figure in a fitted black and red dress, may be the oldest Bond girl ever but she is also one of the most glamorous, while Lea put on her best sartorial displays for the big announcement
Ladies first: Bond's trio of stunning ladies added a glamorous touch to the proceedings as they took to the stage for the official cast announcement
Meanwhile, leading man Daniel thinks the script for Spectre is 'better than we had last time'.
The 46-year-old actor expects the movie to be superior to the 2012 hit Skyfall, which made more than $1.1 billion at the worldwide box office.
He said: 'We've got an amazing cast and, I think, a better script than we had last time.'
The title of the new Sam Mendes-directed film relates to the Special Executive for Counter-intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge and Extortion (SPECTRE), which is led by iconic evil genius Ernst Stavro Blofeld, the scarred super-villain whose organisation played a prominent part in the Dr. No and Thunderball movies.
However, Daniel has refused to confirm or deny rumours that Christoph Waltz - who is playing a character called Oberhauser - will really be playing Bond's old adversary Blofeld, saying people would have to 'wait and see'.
Daniel told the BBC: 'We started something in Skyfall, it felt like a beginning of something. This feels like a continuation of that. We're going to put all of those elements in, and much more.'
Plot details of the new movie - which sees Ralph Fiennes replace Dame Judi Dench as M, the head of the MI6 intelligence service - read: 'A cryptic message from Bond's past sends him on a trail to uncover a sinister organisation.
'While M battles political forces to keep the secret service alive, Bond peels back the layers of deceit to reveal the terrible truth behind Spectre.
And the suave secret agent's signature car has also been given a stylish makeover, with film-maker Sam unveiling the sleek new Aston Martin, the DB10, created exclusively for the film.
Sam announced: 'The first castmember that I will introduce to you is a non-human cast member. Over to my right here, I am really excited and thrilled to be able to say that we have continued our 50-year relationship with Aston Martin, which began right at the very beginning of this franchise.
'Together, we have worked on designing a new car - and so, I can reveal, the new Aston Martin D10. A thing of beauty and you can see what it can do when you come and see the movie.'
The film will follow Bond going on a trail to uncover a sinister organisation after receiving a cryptic message from his past.
While the production will be based at Pinewood Studios, the film will be shot on location in London, Mexico City, Rome and Tangier and Erfoud in Morocco. Also included are such Austrian towns as Obertilliach, Lake Altaussee and Sölden.
Returning director Sam said of Christoph's casting: 'The most important member [of the visiting cast], I think – an extraordinary actor – I could not be happier than to be having in this cast and joining us on this journey, Mr Christoph Waltz.'
Sherlock star Andrew Scott, who was previously revealed in an unconfirmed report to be playing the Bond villain, was also on hand for the press conference.
It was announced that he will portray a Whitehall-based character called Denbigh, believed to be a baddie.
Monica Bellucci - who will play Lucia Sciarra - said: 'James Bond is our fantasy - the ideal man. The man is a protector, he is dangerous, mysterious and sexy, and a perfect English gentleman.'
Asked what makes a good Bond girl, she said: 'A good director.'
Diversity in action: While Bond has been criticised in the past for sexism, the addition of three women varying in age, ethnicity and looks will be welcomed by fans
Fantasy man: Bellucci - who will play Lucia Sciarra - said: 'James Bond is our fantasy - the ideal man. The man is a protector, he is dangerous, mysterious and sexy, and a perfect English gentleman'
What pressure? Seydoux, who joked around with her new co-star Daniel, insisted she won't let the pressure of being a Bond girl get to her, explaining, 'You have to get rid of the pressure, you just have to invent something new'
Dream team: Leading man Daniel was joined by producer Barbara Broccoli and director Sam Mendes, who after initial doubts signed up to direct the new movie
The pressure is on! Sam admitted he was feeling pressure not to let the audience down but also insisted he will be staying away from the internet for the next year as he doesn't want people's opinions to affect how he makes the movie
Big promises: Sam said the new film would have 'everything you would expect from a Bond movie but, in terms of the last movie, maybe a little more variety, global, maybe a little more mischief, and hopefully we can tell a story that is fit to stand alongside the others'
New look: Sam also took centre-stage in front of the new graphics for the upcoming film, Spectre, as he introduced both the stars and Bond's new car
At the helm: Spectre will be Sam's second turn on a James Bond movie, after helming Skyfall, although there was a time when his involvement was in doubt due to scheduling
And there's more... David Bautista, second right, a former WWE wrestler who was in the recent Guardians Of The Galaxy film, will play henchman Mr Hinx and while Rory Kinnear, far right, said he would miss working with Dame Judi, whose M died in the 2012 film Skyfall
Back again: Spectre will be Daniel's fourth turn as legendary secret agent James Bond, having first taken on the role in 2006's Casino Royale
Pucker up! Monica appeared to be playfully leaning in for a kiss from her new co-star Daniel and no doubt she will get a chance to smooch his alter-ego on the big screen
Man of the moment: Daniel was applauded by his new co-stars as he took to the stage for the official announcement at Pinewood Studios
Seydoux said she was still unsure what sort of character her role as Madeleine Swann would have: 'I've read the script but it only becomes real when you start. For now it's kind of abstract.'
Speaking about the weight of expectation for a Bond girl, she said: 'You have to get rid of the pressure, you just have to invent something new.'
Scott was giving little away about the character he will play.
'He's a human being. I play a human man, he's got black hair and brown eyes,' he teased.
Whishaw is returning to the role of technology whizz-kid Q for a second time, and said it was 'slightly less nerve-wracking' this time round.
Dave Bautista, a former WWE wrestler who was in the recent Guardians Of The Galaxy film, will play henchman Mr Hinx. He said at the launch: 'When I first met Sam I didn't have access to the script at the time and I said, 'Is Mr Hinx a bad-ass?', and he said 'absolutely'.'
Talent: Christoph has won acclaim for his roles in such movies as Inglorious Basterds and Django Unchained and while his character in Bond has not been named, it has been speculated that he will play Blofeld: one of the biggest Bond villains
Welcome on board: Daniel gave Oscar winner Christoph a warm embrace at the photocall but it is doubtful they will be so pally onscreen if predictions that Christoph is playing a super-baddie are true
Illustrious line-up: Daniel follows in the footsteps of such Bond stars as Sean Connery, Roger Moore and his predecessor Pierce Brosnan
Always the villain: Irish actor Andrew Scott, right, who plays Moriarty in Sherlock, was reportedly handpicked to play the villain in the new movie
Dream team: Sam and Daniel's previous effort received widespread acclaim and they will be hoping to continue it with the new movie
Baddie! Before the press conference, it had been speculated that Andrew would take on the role of a villain and on Tuesday it was revealed that he would play a Whitehall based character called Denbigh
Give us a kiss, miss! Monica, cast as Lucia Sciarra, stood tall in a stunning pair of black heels at the event as she cosied up to her new director Sam Mendes
Returning cast: Daniel is joined by a star-studded returning cast that includes Ben Whishaw (Q), Naomie Harris (Miss Moneypenny) and Ralph Fiennes (M)
Youthful: Brunette Italian beauty Monica celebrated her 50th birthday in September and is making history as the oldest Bond girl ever
She's got the credentials: Sultry Monica will have no trouble playing a Bond girl in the upcoming movie, which will begin filming on Monday
He said he auditioned with a scene from Casino Royale.
'Growing up, Sean Connery was my ideal Bond and I think that's what I like about Daniel so much, he brought back a lot of toughness to Bond,' Bautista added.
Kinnear said he would miss working with Dame Judi, whose M died in the 2012 film Skyfall.
'It will be very sad particularly off set because we spent an awful lot of time playing games together, so I think I'm going to have to teach Ralph to play Scrabble,' he joked.
'We never got the full board out but we did have a letters game which we used to play together and we were evenly matched at that, but then she would always wheel out her Shakespeare game where she would start a line and I would have to finish it, which is obviously impossible unless you're Dame Judi Dench.'
Cover-up: The new James Bond vehicle was initially kept under wraps at the photcall as fans waited with baited breath to see what awaited them
Announcement: Sam did the honours and said: 'The first castmember that I will introduce to you is a non-human cast member. Over to my right here, I am really excited and thrilled to be able to say that we have continued our 50-year relationship with Aston Martin'
Hauling: The big reveal took some time, thanks to Sam's careful handling of the protective sheet covering the magnificent DB10
Mendes said he was going to keep his head down and not read the speculation around the film as it gets under way.
He said: 'The pressure is to not let down the audience. The mark of success of a movie is if the audience loves it they'll go and see it and tell their friends.
'My only real job from now on is to not read the internet for a year and just get on with making the movie, because otherwise you get caught up in the white noise.'
He said the new film would have 'everything you would expect from a Bond movie but, in terms of the last movie, maybe a little more variety, global, maybe a little more mischief, and hopefully we can tell a story that is fit to stand alongside the others'.
Sam, who was in charge of the previous film Skyfall, was announced last year as director of the next instalment after producers agreed to fit around his other commitments.
The team will have their work cut out to match the success of Skyfall, which was the highest grossing film of all time in the UK.
The newly announced Spectre is scheduled to be released on November 6, 2015.
It will be unveiled during a busy few weeks at the box office, with the final Hunger Games film and the eagerly awaited Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens due out in subsequent weeks.
Are we there yet? Bit by bit, the new Aston Martin was uncovered by the acclaimed film-maker as the audience waited with baited breath
The man with the golden... car: Another of the cars was also shown at the press conference before cast announcements got underway
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