007 star waves bye with film named Shatterhand
THE next James Bond film which is expected to be actor Daniel Craig’s last performance has been given the working title Shatterhand, it was reported yesterday.
The name was revealed in the publication Production Weekly and is the strongest hint yet.
It was previously known as Bond 25 to mark the 25th instalment of one of cinema’s most popular franchises. The name comes from an alias used by villain Blofeld in Ian Fleming’s novel You Only Live Twice. He adopts the alias after murdering Bond’s wife Tracy in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.
Film bosses will begin production in April in Pinewood Studios, Bucks, as well as on location in London and Matera, Italy.
And the proposed name will fuel rumours over whether Bond’s arch nemesis will return after an explosive ending in Spectre. Lea Seydoux is expected to reappear as Dr Madeleine Swann and it is rumoured she may even be killed off in a similar way to Tracy, played by Diana Rigg, in the 1969 classic starring George Lazenby.
Naomie Harris will return as Miss Moneypenny and Oscar nominee Ralph Fiennes will play M.
Cary Joji Fukunaga will direct Shatterhand after replacing Danny Boyle who quit over “creative differences”. He said: “You have some of the best actors in the world here. Why wouldn’t I have the best coming back?” Boyle is said to have clashed with producer Barbara Broccoli and Craig. The film is due in cinemas on April 8, 2020.
Bond novels were serialised in the Daily Express as a comic strip starting with Casino Royale in 1958 after former owner Lord Beaverbrook approached Fleming about the idea.