Empire released a series of photos today from the set of the 23rd James Bond film. They show, largely, Daniel Craig charging around Whitehall offices. They also show M at her desk in what we assume is MI6 HQ before certain events take their toll…
The most interesting one, we think, is evidence that Ralph Fiennes will not just play a desk jockey in Skyfall.
About Skyfall – James Bond 23 (2012)
The new Bond movie will star Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Berenice Marlohe, Albert Finney and Judi Dench, produced by Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli. The 007 screenplay will be written by regular James Bond scribes Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, working with John Logan (Gladiator & The Last Samurai). Director of American Beauty and Road To Perdition, Sam Mendes will be directing the new James Bond movie. MGM and Sony Pictures Entertainment in a joint statement on 2nd June 2011 announced that “Bond 23″ will go on release in the UK on Friday, 26th October, 2012 and in the USA on 9th November 2012. The first major announcement from EON Productions and Sony Pictures came on 3rd November 2011 in London when the principle cast was announced, along with a rough plot line. In Skyfall, 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.
#1 by Sean on 11 April 2012 - 10:39 pm
Quote
For me, this solidifies the belief that Blowfeld will finally be returning to the franchise, and Ralph Fiennes will be playing him. I know that most of the chatter that’s been circulating about him suggests that his character is an advisor within MI6 who will become the new “M”, but I suspect that this is only a half truth. Fiennes character will probably start out looking just like what people have been speculating about, but then it will turn out that he is actually an evildoer who is trying to become the next head of MI6 so he can secretly allow his criminal activities to be carried out by his number 2: Javier Bardem. In the process M will die and Bond will seek revenge against Fiennes and his organization by killing Bardem, and thwarting whatever evil plan he was attempting to carry out for Fiennes. Now with his well-laid plans in ruins and his cover blown, Fiennes will attempt to take revenge against Bond, which will culminate in the climax at the Skyfall manor. In the fight, Fiennes will get away, but not before receiving the trademark Blowfeld scar across the eye from Bond, thus giving a rebirth to the character. Also, I think that Naomie Harris is not going to be playing a re-invented Moneypenny, but a revival of the role of Mary Goodnight, as seen in The Man With The Golden Gun, and who’s character in the books is as Bonds secretary who becomes an agent. Also, I think that Albert Finney’s involvement in Skyfall is one which has for the most part been overlooked, and under speculated about. I feel that, while he will play a small role in this particular movie, he most likely will become the new “M” after Judi Dench dies. His adoption of the role of “M” would harken back to the days of Christopher Lee, and really give the franchise an old-school Bond feel going forward. I know that most of these ideas may prove totally incorrect, but nevertheless I am really looking forward to seeing this movie.
#2 by Grain on 13 April 2012 - 7:10 am
Quote
@ sean
Hope your ideas turn out true
sounds exciting and perfect as a script
#3 by GP on 13 April 2012 - 9:39 pm
Quote
I really really really really hope those rumors about M being killed off are false, they’d better have a really good story reason behind it, and I can’t think of a single one. Judy Dench’s character offsets Bond’s personality so well that it would be a giant mistake to take her out of the equation this early in Craig’s tenure.
@Sean, I intensely hope you’re right about Fiennes being Blowfeld, I’m sure Skyfall will be fantastic in any case, but re-establishing Blowfeld as Bond’s arch-enemy will solidify this as one of the great classic Bonds, perhaps the best ever.
#4 by Hroozley on 14 April 2012 - 3:37 am
Quote
@GP, I agree that Judi Dench is an excellent M but you know, she’s almost 78, so who knows, maybe it was her decision to leave Bond franchise. She doesn’t seem like some tired old lady, but still, 6 or 8 months long filming must be exhausting. Maybe she’s taking a rest…
And if SHE really wants to leave, than Ralph Fiennes is a great new M (for me)