Bond 23 Gets Its Title

Just announced this morning: the 23rd James Bond film is being titled Skyfall. Click through to read the official plot description and learn about the cast.

Daniel Craig reprises the iconic role for his third go ’round as James Bond, with Judi Dench returning as M. According to the synopsis, it sounds like Dench will be getting a beefed-up role in this film, as the story centers around her mysterious past. Personally, I love this idea, as the character of M has always been pretty two-dimensional (even more so back when it was played by a man), and choosing to delve into her past is another smart way Craig’s Bond films will set themselves apart from all of the prior films.

Directed by Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Road to Perdition), Skyfall is written by Neal Purvis & Robert Wade (who both wrote drafts of Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace) and John Logan (Gladiator, The Last Samurai). Paul Haggis (Crash) famously rewrote the scripts of both prior Bond films, and is largely credited with humanizing the character for the 21st Century. But Haggis is absent this time, presumably replaced by Logan.

Here’s how Sony describes the film:

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.

Starring alongside Craig and Dench are Javier Bardem, Naomie Harris, Bérénice Marlohe, Ralph Fiennes, Albert Finney, and Ben Whishaw. The addition of Bardem, Fiennes, and Finney give the supporting cast some tremendous acting chops.

Skyfall begins production Monday, November 7th, and will premiere on October 26th, 2012 in the UK, followed by the US premiere on November 9th, 2012.

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