New James Bond film: Title, cast revealed

 

The next James Bond film is called "Spectre" and will feature Christoph Waltz, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Studio execs made the announcement Thursday at London's Pinewood Studios. Joining Waltz and James Bond himself, Daniel Craig, in the cast are Lea Seydoux, Dave Bautista, Andrew Scott and Monica Bellucci.

Shooting is scheduled to begin Monday.

The official 007 Twitter feed says Waltz will play Oberhauser, which could refer to Hannes Oberhauser, who was Bond's ski-instructor and like a second father to him. Seydoux will play Madeleine Swann, Bellucci will star as Lucia Sciarra and Bautista will play Mr. Hinx.

Mr. Hinx sounds like the name of a cat.



In addition to Craig, also returning from 2012's "Skyfall" are Naomi Harris (Eve Moneypenny), Ben Whishaw (Q), Ralph Fiennes (Gareth Mallory, later to become M). Rory Kinnear will return as Tanner. Scott -- who plays Moriarity in the hit BBC show "Sherlock -- joins the British secret service as a character called Denbigh.

Sam Mendes will return to direct, with "Skyfall" writers John Logan, Neil Purvis and Rob Wade also on board.

As you may know, "Spectre" likely refers to the fictional criminal organization featured in Bond novels that first appeared on screen in 1962's "Dr. No." It was led by Bond's arch-nemesis Ernst Stavro Blofeld.


Other than Pinewood, shooting will take place in Rome, London, Morocco, Mexico City, the Austrian Alps, and Stockton.


"Skyfall" was a huge hit, earning $1.1 billion, the second highest earner of 2012 behind "The Avengers" and the highest-grossing film in U.K. history. It won two Oscars, two BAFTAS and two Grammys.

"Spectre" is expected to hit U.S. theaters Nov. 6, 2015.

Tony Hicks writes celebrity commentary for the Bay Area News Group. Contact him at Facebook.com/BayAreaNewsGroup.TonyHicks or Twitter.com/tonyhicks67

Source: Mercury News