At a launch event held in Jamaica, Eon Productions has announced the principal cast of the as-yet-unnamed 25th entry in the James Bond film franchise.
Alongside Daniel Craig, for whom this will be his final outing as 007, Rami Malek has joined the cast to play a menacing villain “armed with dangerous new technology.” Further details around Malek’s character weren’t revealed.
As for the plot, there isn’t much that we know beyond the usual Bond storyline: he’ll be called upon to save the world (no surprise) and he’s still left active duty (as has been the plot for a few titles now).
As Bond enjoys his tranquil life in Jamaica, Felix Leiter, an old friend from the CIA shows up and needs help. Jeffrey Wright will be reprising his role as Leiter, all the way back from Craig’s first Bond outing in 2006’s Casino Royale.
“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 film will of course take viewers all over the world, including Jamaica, Norway, Italy, and London, naturally.
One thing that is set to change, however, is Bond’s role as a womanizer.
“The Me Too movement has had a huge impact – rightfully, thankfully – on society, and these films should reflect that, as everything we do should,” Barbara Broccoli, Producer of James Bond 25 said.
Ralph Fiennes and Ben Whishaw will return as M and Q, respectively, while Naomie Harris will reprise her role as Moneypenny. Rory Kinnear is also returning as MI6 chief Bill Tanner, and Lea Seydoux will return as Madeleine Swann.
Other actors announced to be included in the next Bond film are Lashana Lynch (Captain Marvel), Billy Magnussen (Black Mirror), Ana de Armas (Blade Runner 2049), David Dencik (Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy), and newcomer Dali Benssalah.
Phoebe Waller-Bridge has been tapped to write the film alongside Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, as well as Scott Z Burns, who worked on The Bourne Ultimatum.
True Detective‘s Cary Joji Fukunaga will be directing the film, having come on board last year after Danny Boyle left the project citing creative differences.
In perhaps the best news of all for James Bond fans, the next film will release in theatres in under a year, on April 8, 2020.