Bond 24 to be called Spectre

The director of the twenty fourth Bond film, Sam Mendes, has announced that the title will be Spectre.

He refused to confirm speculation that the criminal organisation of that name, seen in Bond films in the 1960s and 70s, would feature in the film – or that one of the stars of this new film, Christoph Waltz, would play Ernst Blofeld, a character previously portrayed on screen by actors including Donald Pleasance.

Specture with gunshotBut Mendes was content for the rumours to fly. “Part of the fun of it, I’ve realised, having been a little more surprised about how many rumours came out on Skyfall, is that you have to embrace the speculation,” Mendes laughed at a news conference at Pinewood Studios to release details about the film.

Daniel Craig will return to the lead role, playing secret agent 007 for the fourth time, after his last outing, Skyfall, was the biggest grossing Bond film in the five decade long franchise. “I think we started something in Skyfall and it felt like the beginning of something so this feels now the continuation of that.  And we’re just going to put all of those elements in and much more.”

Spectre will also see the return of Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris and Ben Whishaw as well as the introduction of Monica Bellucci and Léa Seydoux as “Bond girls.” Sherlock actor Andrew Scott will also feature, with the chief Bond villain role being taken by the double-Oscar-winner Christoph Waltz, who described the franchise as “modern mythology.”

A seven month shoot, that will take the cast and crew to Morocco, Mexico, Italy and Austria, and include skiing in the Alps, will begin on Monday. Spectre will be released in November 2015.