You haven’t been expecting this, Mr Bond ... new 007 film ‘ to be called Shatterhand’

JAMES Bond fans have been left shaken and stirred that the much-delayed new 007 film finally has a title.

Shatterhand is the main contender for the 25th Bond movie’s title, according to industry publication Production Weekly. It has also claimed that filming is due to start at Pinewood studios on April 6.

While the title may sound unusual, it will be familiar to diehard 007 fans – Shatterhand is an alias used by supervillain Ernst Stavro Blofeld in Ian Fleming’s 1964 Bond novel You Only Live Twice.

The news comes days after the film’s release date was pushed back two months to April 8 next year because of extensive rewrites.

Production is said to have been plagued with issues over the past couple of years, including who would play Bond following previous claims by Daniel Craig, pictured, that he was giving up the role.

Original director Danny Boyle dropped out last August after ‘creative differences’ with the producers, and the script is said to have gone through a number of changes. Bourne Ultimatum writer Scott Z Burns is now reworking it.

There are also rumours that Oscarwinning actress Lupita Nyong’o will play a key role in the new movie.

While speculation will continue to surround the upcoming film, one thing fans can be certain of is that this will be Daniel Craig’s fifth and final outing as 007.

The 50-year-old will be joined by familiar faces including Ralph Fiennes as M, Ben Whishaw as Q, and Naomie Harris as Moneypenny. Lea Seydoux, who played Madeleine Swann in 2015 Bond film Spectre, is also expected to return.