Corona | Coming Attractions

EON Productions, MGM and Sony Pictures have announced that the 23rd James Bond movie will be titled Skyfall. The first day of filming is scheduled for Monday, November 7, and the movie itself is slated for release in North America on November 9, 2012 and the United Kingdom and Ireland on October 26, 2012.

In making their announcement, the filmmakers also confirmed the key cast starring in Skyfall. Daniel Craig returns to play 007 for his third time; Judi Dench returns as M, the leader of MI6; and Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes, Albert Finney, Naomie Harris, Berenice Marlohe and Ben Whishaw are all confirmed to have roles in the movie.

Producing are longtime 007 vets Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli. The Skyfall screenplay is credited to Neal Purvis & Robert Wade and John Logan (Star Trek: Nemesis). And yes, Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Road to Perdition) is directing the picture.

We've also got a logline for Skyfall, as supplied by the team: "Bond's loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost."

In a joint statement producers Wilson and Broccoli said, "We're so delighted to have Sam Mendes direct Skyfall and be working once again with Daniel Craig. We've a great script, an extraordinary cast and an incredibly talented creative team for this latest James Bond adventure."

Still unconfirmed are the roles that the supporting cast play in Skyfall. Rumor has it Bardem is the primary villain of the movie while Fiennes could be playing Blofeld, the leader of the shadowy terrorist organization Bond pursued in the last two films.  Naomie Harris is supposedly playing the new Miss Moneypenny.