As I type this, the "James Bond 23" press conference is currently going on in London, with director Sam Mendes, producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli and cast members Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, Judi Dench, Bérénice Marlohe and Naomie Harris all in attendance. There are several live blogs currently taking place (Digital Spy and HeyUGuys being two of the best) and below we have a selection of Tweets from Empire. To read even more details and quotes from the cast members there, click HERE to head on over to their Twitter account or the link below to check out the site.
The title of Bond 23 is, officially, Skyfall.
"Bond's journey takes him to Shanghai, Istanbul and to Scotland. Purvis and Wade and John Logan have written a fantastic script." - Mendes
"It has a lot of action, and many other things too." He's confirmed Ben Whishaw, who'll be playing a non-disclosed role.
Albert Finney and Ralph Fiennes are also confirmed. He can't say anything about 'em "I am genuinely thrilled to have the most amazing cast."
Berenice Marlohe, first of the Bond girls, has walked on stage. And here comes Naomie Harris. And now Dame Judi Dench...
Here comes the villain of the piece - Mr. Javier Bardem.
Mendes: "I got very excited when I saw my friend Daniel play Bond in Casino Royale. I thought the story of Skyfall was fantastic."
Craig: "Tremendously excited by the people we've got in the movie. We've assembled an incredible crew. We start shooting today. THIS IS IT."
Marlohe: "I play a glamorous, enigmatic character called Severin."
Harris says she's playing a field agent called Eve. Not Moneypenny? Or is Moneypenny's first name Eve? WE GOTSTA KNOW!
Skyfall doesn't relate to any previous Bond title, or movie, apparently. And they don't have anyone in mind for the theme song just yet.
Bardem: "Who told you a villain is a bad person? For me, it's an honour to be at this table for many reasons. It will be fun to do."
Harris: "I've bene stunt driving and doing yoga three times a week to get into shape, and firing machine guns, which I've got a taste for."
Mendes has been put on the spot about directing another Bond movie. "If in six months I'm as excited as I am now, then yes."
What does Skyfall mean?, asks one intrepid journalist. Broccoli: "It has emotional context which will be revealed in the film."
Mendes: "It's its own story. It doesn't connect with the last two films." So QUANTUM has been put on ice temporarily?
Mendes says that the names of Fiennes, Finney and Whishaw's characters are withheld because Bond fans might know them. Or they might not.
Craig says that if he can do this for a few more years, he'll be happy. Ooh...
Thanks to HeyUGuys for the following image.
UPDATE: There is also a press release, where we have a first look at the official logo for the film and brief plot synopsis:
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.
UPDATE 2: And thanks to Digital Spy, here is the video of the press conference in full.