Bond 25 launches
Shooting starts in Jamaica, with Malek tapped to play villain
The 25th James Bond movie, Daniel Craig’s fifth and likely final instalment as 007, is heading home to Jamaica. Craig, Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, and director Cary Fukunaga on Thursday launched the film from the Caribbean island nation where Ian Fleming wrote all of his Bond books — 12 novels and a collection of short stories.
The film remains officially untitled so far.
Producers have dismissed an unfounded rumour that it will be called Shatterhand.
Bond 25 will partly be set in Jamaica, which was also a setting for Dr. No, the first official Bond movie in 1962, starring Sean Connery, and Live and Let Die, when Roger Moore took over the role in 1973. Rami Malek is joining the cast as the villain. Malek, a recent Oscar winner for his role in Bohemian Rhapsody, said in a videotaped message that he’ll make sure Bond “will not have an easy ride of it” in Bond 25.
Craig has said this will be his final turn in the tuxedo.
When the 51-year-old actor first confirmed his return for Bond 25, he said: “I just want to go out on a high note.”
But Broccoli and Wilson, in an interview from Jamaica, said they aren’t ready to contemplate a new 007 yet.
“We’re very happy with the Bond we have in Daniel Craig. He’s just been phenomenal in the role,” said Broccoli.
“I really just don’t want to even think about if and when we have to replace him.
“We’re excited to have him back and thrilled he decided to come back.
“We’re just going to set about trying to make the best Bond film ever and not think about the future.” The film finds Bond out of active service and enjoying a tranquil life in Jamaica, producers said. That changes when his CIA friend Felix Leiter (Jeffrey Wright), turns up asking for help.
Their mission is to rescue a kidnapped scientist.
Aside from Jamaica, filming locations include Italy, Norway and London, with studio production based at Pinewood Studios outside London. Returning cast members include Léa Seydoux as Madeleine, Ben Whishaw as Q, Ralph Fiennes as M and Naomie Harris as Moneypenny. Production will begin Sunday.
Bond films have usually been announced in Britain, but this time, the cast and filmmakers flocked to Fleming’s villa in Jamaica for a livestreamed announcement. Fleming called his villa and estate Goldeneye, named in part for a contingency plan Fleming had developed during the Second World War in case of a Nazi invasion of Gibraltar through Spain. Fleming was a British naval intelligence officer during the war. GoldenEye was also used as the title of a 1995 movie starring Pierce Brosnan as Bond.
Delays and disagreement have made for an especially long break between Bond films.
The last one, Spectre, came out in 2015, when it made more than $880 million worldwide. Part of the delay with the film was caused by a directing change. Danny Boyle was initially set to helm the film, but he departed last year over creative differences.
Bond 25 is due out April 8, 2020.