The 24th James Bond film now has a name:
Spectre, which is set for release in late 2015. Bond fans know Spectre as the global terrorist organization from classic Bond films (the name is an acronym for all things obviously evil: Special Executive for Counter-intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge, and Extortion).
The name was revealed during a livestreamed announcement event, where director Sam Mendes also
revealed the new car (Aston Martin DB10) and full cast. New members include Andrew Scott (who played Moriarty on BBC's
Sherlock and will star as Denbigh here), Christoph Waltz (playing a character named Oberhauser — not, as previously rumored, classic villain Blofeld), Dave Bautista, Monica Bellucci, and Léa Seydoux.
Shooting locations for the new movie, which begins production tomorrow, include Pinewood London, Mexico City, Rome, Tangier & Erfoud, Morocco, Sölden, Obertilliach, and Lake Altaussee, Austria.
Skyfall's director (Sam Mendes) and screenwriters (John Logan, Neal Purvis, and Robert Wade) have all returned for the new film, as has Daniel Craig in the titular role. According to Mendes, in a
Charlie Rose interview from earlier this year,
Bond 24 (as it was then called) won't be a direct sequel to
Skyfall but will live in the same world — meaning we'll be seeing more of Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Rory Kinnear, and Ben Whishaw.
Earlier this year, French actress Léa Seydoux (
Blue is the Warmest Colour) was confirmed as the new Bond girl, while Christoph Waltz had been cast in an unspecified role (then rumored to be longtime Bond nemesis Ernst Stavro Blofeld).
Guardians of the Galaxy's Dave Bautista had been strongly rumored (now confirmed) for the role of Hinx, a henchman that will no doubt laugh every time Bond tries to punch him, before succumbing to Bond's wily antics and use of environmental objects late in the film.