James Bond's 25th film adventure has been revealed--sort of. Following a recent tease, fans expected the movie's title to be unveiled, possibly along with a trailer, but neither snippet was forthcoming during the film's reveal livestream, which you can watch below.
Instead, we got some details regarding cast and crew and more clues about the film's plot. As expected, Daniel Craig, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, and Lea Seydoux will all reprise their roles in what is still only known as Bond 25. Jeffrey Wright and Ben Whishaw also return.
Actors new to the series include Rami Malek (Bohemian Rhapsody), Billy Magnussen (Game Night), Ana De Armas (Blade Runner 2049), David Dencik (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo; Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy), Lashana Lynch (Captain Marvel), and Dali Benssalah. Malek will seemingly play the film's villain, as he stated his excitement to be a part of the film before promising to make sure "Bond does not have an easy ride."
The only plot hints given away were that Bond is "not on active service" at the start of the film; he is instead "enjoying himself" in Jamaica. A plot synopsis continues: "His peace is short-lived when his old friend Felix Leiter from the CIA turns up asking for help. The mission to rescue a kidnapped scientist turns out to be far more treacherous than expected, leading Bond onto the trail of a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology."
Producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson confirmed the film's script has been written by longtime Bond duo Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, along with newcomers Scott Z Burns (The Bourne Ultimatum) and Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag, Killing Eve).
Lastly, director Cary Fukunaga revealed a segment of filming has already been completed in Norway, and the crew is about to begin shooting in Jamaica. Production will then move to London and, finally, Italy.
The movie was previously rumored to be titled Shatterhand, a reference to one of Ernst Stavro Blofeld's aliases from the 1964 novel You Only Live Twice. However, Broccoli later indicated this was inaccurate.
The project has suffered a somewhat troubled production so far, with its first director, Danny Boyle, leaving in August due to "creative differences." Fukunaga replaced Boyle before the film was delayed first from October 2019 to February 2020 and then again to April 3, 2020.
The Bond actor himself, Daniel Craig, appeared reluctant to return for Bond 25. After wrapping Spectre, the previous film in the series, he claimed he'd rather slash his wrists than play the character again. He also said if he were to play Bond again, it would "only be for the money." A year later, a report claimed that Craig was offered $150 million to star in the next two 007 movies, before the actor confirmed his return in August 2017.