Bond 25: Everything We Know About the New James Bond Movie
James Bond is back.
On Thursday morning, the creative team behind the still-untitled 25th Bond movie revealed some crucial details about the much-anticipated flick, which is rumored to be Daniel Craig’s fifth and final installment. In an announcement video live from Jamaica, where the film is currently shooting, Craig and company finally let a few things slip.
Here’s what we know so far.
What's the Name?
We thought we might have found out the title at today’s reveal event, but alas, producers opted to keep us waiting a little longer.
There were rumors that it might be called Shatterhand, an alias that classic Bond villain Ernst Stavro Blofeld once used in the novel You Only Live Twice, but producers shot that down. Honestly, Bond 25 sounds pretty cool as is.
But the real title will probably be something dark, ominous, slightly confusing, and very British.
Who Is Playing James Bond?
James Bond is sick of being James Bond-or at least the guy who plays him is. Despite Craig’s 14-year reign as the consensus Best 007 Ever, the actor has been publicly threatening to hang up his three-piece suit since the last Bond flick, 2015’s Spectre, going so far as to say that he’d rather “slash his wrists” than ever play the secret agent on the big screen again.
In the intervening years, it’s been fun to speculate about which star could step into Craig’s shoes: Idris Elba? Maybe Richard Madden? Perhaps one of the Toms, from Hiddleston to Hardy. But money talks, and Craig is indeed back on board for at least Bond 25, and potentially beyond.
Those other guys will have to wait a few more years for a chance to become Britain’s finest.
Who Is the Bad Guy?
That would be Rami Malek, fresh off winning an Oscar for his portrayal of Queen frontman Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody. No word yet on what kind of scoundrel Malek will be playing in Bond 25, but in a video message at the launch event, Malek said 007 “will not have an easy ride of it.”
The actor is a good choice, if only because Malek’s intense, creepy stare makes him look like a natural Bond villain anyway.
What Is It About?
What, you thought they were going to spill all the details? The producers are practically secret agents when it comes to staying tight-lipped.
While plot pickings are slim, we did get a few crumbs from the event, including that at the start of Bond 25, 007 isn’t actively involved in MI6 duties. In fact, he’s “enjoying himself in Jamaica” in a swank house fit for a king, per the producers.
Jamaica plays an important part in Bond lore. It’s where novelist Ian Fleming first created the character, as well as the setting for part of 1962’s Dr. No. In addition to the island, Bond 25 will also be shot in London, Norway, and Italy.
Cool as it would be to watch 007 light up on the beach and listen to reggae for a few hours, Bond’s Jamaica jaunt is predictably short lived. According to the official logline, Bond’s CIA pal Felix Leiter-played by Jeffrey Wright in 2008’s Quantum of Solace-shows up, asks for help to rescue a kidnapped scientist, and leads Bond “onto the trail of a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology.”
So...What About the New Tech?
Beats us. But there’s a 100 percent chance that whatever toys and tools Bond employs this time around to take down Malek and his henchmen, they’re bound to be badass.
Who Is Directing?
Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire, 127 Hours, Trainspotting) signed on to helm Bond 25 back in March 2018, taking the reins from Skyfall and Spectre director Sam Mendes, but left the project a few months later, citing creative differences.
Shortly after Boyle’s departure, Cary Joji Fukunaga-the visionary behind the original True Detective and Maniac-was named his replacement. He’s the first American director in the history of the Bond series.
Who Else Is Involved?
Barbara Broccoli and of Michael G. Wilson, of course. Broccoli is the daughter of original Bond producer Cubby Broccoli, and Wilson is her half-brother. They’ve been involved in some capacity on every Bond movie since 1977’s The Spy Who Loved Me. They run the show.
As far as the rest of the creative team on Bond 25 goes, veteran writers Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, who have shaped every story since 1999’s The World Is Not Enough, are back in the fold. As is Scott Z. Burns, who penned The Bourne Ultimatum and Contagion. And last month, we learned that Craig personally asked Phoebe Waller Bridge (Fleabag, Killing Eve) to hop in the screenplay and make Bond 25 funnier.
Who Else Is in Bond 25?
All your old pals from MI6 are back: Ralph Fiennes returns as Bond’s boss Gareth Mallory (M), as does Wright as Leiter, Naomie Harris as Moneypenny, Rory Kinnear as Bill Tanner, Ben Whishaw as Q, and Léa Seydoux as Madeleine Swann.
In addition to Malek, Billy Magnussen, Dali Benssalah, David Dencik, and Lashana Lynch also enter the picture. Meanwhile, Cuban actress Ana de Armas, who joined the cast at the Jamaica event and appears later this year with Craig in director Rian Johnson’s mysterious Knives Out, is the probable Bond Girl.
When Does Bond 25 Come Out?
Bond 25 is scheduled for release on April 8, 2020.
Okay, last question. What Is He Driving?
According to a report in The Sun, James Bond is going green.
Fukunaga, a “total tree-hugger,” is reportedly pushing for Craig to drive an Aston Martin Rapide E-the luxury automaker’s first all-electric vehicle. Granted, the ride will still top out at 155 mph and go 0-60 mph in less than 4 seconds, per Aston Martin, but it’ll still be pretty jarring to see Bond behind the wheel of an EV.
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