We got a behind the scenes image of Daniel Craig as 007 beside a pool earlier this month, and now 007.com has released the first official image from the film which features Bond wielding a gun and sporting stubble. The shot is taken from a scene set in Shanghai.

As well as Daniel Craig returning as Bond, Skyfall stars Javier Bardem, Dame Judi Dench, Naomie Harris, Berenice Marlohe, Ralph Fiennes, Helen McCrory, Ben Whishaw and Albert Finney. Director Sam Mendes said the storyline will take 007 to London, China, Turkey and Scotland, and it had “”all the elements of a classic Bond movie”.

Skyfall will be released October 26, 2012.

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With filming on Skyfall well under-way it was only a matter of time before we started getting some images, and today Empire got their hands on the first one. It features Daniel Craig as 007 at the side of a pool, with 10% of his arse hanging out.

As well as Daniel Craig returning as Bond, Skyfall stars Javier Bardem, Dame Judi Dench, Naomie Harris, Berenice Marlohe, Ralph Fiennes, Helen McCrory, Ben Whishaw and Albert Finney. Director Sam Mendes said the storyline will take 007 to London, China, Turkey and Scotland, and it had “”all the elements of a classic Bond movie”.

Skyfall will be released October 26, 2012.

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According to Bond fan site Mi6 composer Thomas Newman has been chosen to produce the score for the 23rd Bond movie, Skyfall.

David Arnold, who has scored all the James Bond movies since Tomorrow Never Dies in 1997, will be busy as the London Olympics musical director so Sam Mendes has called upon his long time collaborator to provide the music.

Newman has been nominated for 10 Oscars for his work on movies such as Finding Nemo, WALL·E and The Shawshank Redemption, and he has previously worked with Sam Mendes on American Beauty, Road to Perdition, Jarhead and Revolutionary Road. Newman’s most recent films include The Adjustment Bureau, The Help and The Iron Lady.

As well as Daniel Craig returning as 007, Skyfall stars Javier Bardem, Dame Judi Dench, Naomie Harris, Berenice Marlohe, Ralph Fiennes, Helen McCrory, Ben Whishaw and Albert Finney. Mendes said the storyline will take 007 to London, China, Turkey and Scotland, and it had “”all the elements of a classic Bond movie”.

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In a new interview with The People Bond producer Michael G. Wilson said he will be discussing Daniel Craig’s future as 007 once production on Sam Mendes’ Skyfall has finished, but it doesn’t look like Craig has anything to worry about as Wilson described the actor as a “terrific Bond” and he doesn’t think “there’s a better actor to play the part”.

Wilson also said he would love Craig to make five more Bond movies, but as Wilson himself said discussions have yet to take place we can just take that as fun speculation for now. If Craig did appear as 007 in another five films it would make him the longest serving James Bond actor, passing Roger Moore who made 7 films. Whether Craig manages to pass Moore’s record won’t be known for another 12-15 years, but focusing on the present, more specifically Skyfall, Wilson thinks they’ve got something “special”.

“The director Sam Mendes and Daniel are taking it back to a 60s feel – more Sean. I think that’s what the fans wanted. There’s a magical Goldfinger feel ­surrounding it all. It’s all very exciting. I can’t wait for people to see the movie because I think we’re making a very special Bond.”

Skyfall will be released next October, and will mark 50 years since the release of the first Bond film, Dr. No, in 1962. There will be several events held to mark the milestone, and one may involve getting all the past and present Bond actors (Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and Craig) in the same room.

“We’d really like to get all six together. We’re trying to find a way for fans to celebrate with us ­because they’ve been the reason the Bond films have been the success they have.”

“At the moment these are just ideas so you’ll have to wait and see. Whatever happens it will be a special year for Bond fans.”

Let’s hope so. Getting all the Bond actors together will be quite something (along with great marketing for Skyfall, obviously).

As well as Craig, Skyfall stars Javier Bardem, Dame Judi Dench, Naomie Harris, Berenice Marlohe, Ralph Fiennes, Helen McCrory, Ben Whishaw and Albert Finney. Mendes said the storyline will take 007 to London, China, Turkey and Scotland, and it had “”all the elements of a classic Bond movie”.

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According to the BBC Ben Whishaw’s agent has confirmed that the actor will play Q in the next Bond film, Skyfall. His role had previously been kept under-wraps and at the Skyfall press conference earlier this month he was simply announced as part of the cast, but now it looks like he’ll be helping Daniel Craig out with some gadgets.

Q is the head of Q Branch (or later Q Division), the fictional research and development division of the British Secret Service. Desmond Llewelyn played the role for 36 years, first in 1963′s From Russia With Love and in every subsequent Bond film, except Live And Let Die, until his death in 1999. In Llewelyn’s final Bond film The World Is Not Enough John Cleese played his assistant known as R, but in Die Another Day he was given the Q title.

Q was absent from Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace, most likely because the producers wanted to strip Bond back a bit and cut out some of the cliches we’d come to expect from a Bond film (Shaken or stirred? “Do I look like I give a damn?“).

Ben Whishaw taking on the role will be a clear departure from previous incarnations. Whishaw is 31, so he’ll be younger than Bond (Craig is 43) and he’s unlikely to have become head of Q Division at this stage. I can’t see him being the comic relief like John Cleese was, so they’re probably going the ‘young tech savvy genius’ route. I can’t see the gadgets being too outrageous either (like the invisible car in Die Another Day) as it would go against the new dark/gritty setting they’ve already established.

Filming is currently under-way on Skyfall under the direction of Sam Mendes. As well as Daniel Craig and Ben Whishaw the movie stars Javier Bardem, Dame Judi Dench, Naomie Harris, Berenice Marlohe, Ralph Fiennes and Albert Finney. Mendes said the storyline will take 007 to London, China, Turkey and Scotland, and it had “”all the elements of a classic Bond movie, including – to quell any rumours – lots of action”.

In SKYFALL, Bond’s loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.

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We got the main details from the Skyfall press conference earlier today, and now Digital Spy have uploaded the full press conference for all to see.

The panel includes director Sam Mendes, Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, Dame Judi Dench, Naomie Harris and Berenice Marlohe, along with producers Michael G. Wilson, Barbara Broccoli.

In Skyfall, Bond’s loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.

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A press conference for Bond 23 was held this morning in London, and it was confirmed that the movie will be called Skyfall, a title which producer Barbara Broccoli said “has an emotional context which will be revealed in the film”.

Director Sam Mendes and Daniel Craig were in attendance, as were Javier Bardem, Dame Judi Dench, Naomie Harris and Berenice Marlohe, confirming their involvement in the film. Ralph Fiennes, Albert Finney and Ben Whishaw were also announced as cast members.

Here’s the full press release:

Producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli today presented the cast of the 23rd James Bond adventure, entitled SKYFALL. The film, from Albert R. Broccoli’s Eon Productions, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, and Sony Pictures Entertainment, is directed by Academy Award® winner Sam Mendes and stars Daniel Craig, who returns for his third film as James Bond 007. The screenplay is written by Neal Purvis & Robert Wade and John Logan. SKYFALL, which goes into production on Monday, November 7th, will begin its worldwide roll-out in the UK and Ireland on October 26th 2012 and in North America on November 9th 2012.

Joining Michael G. Wilson, Barbara Broccoli and Director Sam Mendes were members of the cast of SKYFALL, including: Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, Dame Judi Dench, Naomie Harris and Berenice Marlohe. The filmmakers also announced Ralph Fiennes, Albert Finney and Ben Whishaw.

In SKYFALL, Bond’s loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.

“We’re so delighted to have Sam Mendes direct SKYFALL and be working once again with Daniel Craig. We’ve a great script, an extraordinary cast and an incredibly talented creative team for this latest James Bond adventure,” said Wilson and Broccoli.

The Director of Photography is Roger Deakins, a nine-time Oscar® nominee who previously shot the films Jarhead and Revolutionary Road for Mendes. The Production Designer is Oscar® winner Dennis Gassner, who previously designed Quantum of Solace and collaborated with Mendes on the films Road to Perdition and Jarhead. The Editor is Stuart Baird, A.C.E., whose many credits include Casino Royale. Jany Temime, whose many credits include the Harry Potter series, In Bruges, and Children of Men, is the Costume Designer. Action specialist Alexander Witt is the 2nd Unit Director. Gary Powell is Stunt Co-ordinator, Chris Corbould is SFX Supervisor and Steve Begg is Visual Effects Supervisor, all of whom have worked on previous Bond films.

It’s good to finally have a brief synopsis for the film. During the press conference Mendes and the cast kept plot details to themselves, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Mendes said the storyline will take 007 to London, China, Turkey and Scotland, and it had “”all the elements of a classic Bond movie, including – to quell any rumours – lots of action”.

What do you think of the title and cast?

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Javier Bardem’s casting in Bond 23 seems to have been confirmed by a few outlets over recent weeks, and in a new interview the actor confirmed he’ll star opposite Daniel Craig (likely as the villain).

From Nightline on ABC

I am very excited, my parents took me to watch the movies, and I saw all of them, and to play that is going to be fun. They chose me to play this man, but I cannot give you many details.

It seems details on his role won’t be revealed for some time (why would anyone want to be spoiled now?), but a Bardem Bond villain is something to get excited about either way.

Filming on Bond 23 (thought to be titled Skyfall) will shortly begin under the direction on Sam Mendes. Daniel Craig and Judi Dench are returning and will be joined by Naomie Harris (28 Days Later) as Moneypenny, Ralph Fiennes in ‘a darkly complex’ role and French actress Berenice Marlohe as Bond girl. Helen McCrory (Narcissa Malfoy in Harry Potter) and Ben Whishaw (Perfume: The Story of a Murderer) are also said to have joined the cast in yet unspecified roles

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Sam Mendes is assembling quite an impressive cast for Bond 23. Daniel Craig and Judi Dench were confirmed from the start, and they’ve since been joined by Naomie Harris (28 Days Later) as Moneypenny, Javier Bardem as the villain and Ralph Fiennes in ‘a darkly complex’ role.

Now The Daily Mail has word that French actress Berenice Marlohe “has screen tested for Mendes at Pinewood Studios and met with approval”, which makes her the new Bond Girl (or one of them). Helen McCrory (Narcissa Malfoy in Harry Potter) and Ben Whishaw (Perfume: The Story of a Murderer) are also said to have joined the cast in yet unspecified roles.

There has also been speculation over recent days regarding the title of the next Bond film. WhatCulture noticed that Sony Pictures had registered domain names such as jamesbond-skyfall.com, skyfallmovie.net and skyfall-themovie.com which suggests Skyfall could be the Bond 23 title. Some have said this could be for an upcoming James Bond video game, but either way Sony will likely confirm the official title shortly.

Filming is set to begin any day now, with a November 2012 release date set.

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It’s common for actors to speak highly of their upcoming films, but when it’s a Bond film directed by Sam Mendes (Road to Perdition, Jarhead) you can generally believe the hype.

While being interviewed by Cowboys and Aliens director Jon Favreau Daniel Craig gave his thoughts on reading the Bond 23 script, working with Mendes, and explained why we haven’t seen as many gadgets in his films.

Watch the discussion below:

Earlier this month we heard that Naomie Harris, Ralph Fiennes and Javier Bardem had all signed on, and with filming set to begin later this year we will be getting more casting confirmations soon.

Bond 23 will be released October 2012.

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