Watch highlights of the press conference below:
Bond 23 Press Conference live blog below:
09:30 We’ll be covering the Bond 23 press conference on our live blog and Twitter from 11:30 GMT. Just 2 hours to go. #bond23
10:50 The #Bond23 press conference is due to start in 55 minutes.Will the title be Skyfall?Are Javier Bardem and Ralph Fiennes on board as villains?
Has Albert Finney joined the cast as M’s boss?
Is Naomie Harris the new Miss Moneypenny?
Expect these questions and more to be answered in today’s Bond 23 press conference.
11:04 Locations for Bond 23 are expected to include Istanbul and Scotland, but will South Africa also feature? Not long to wait to find out.
11:39 Only a few minutes to go before the Bond 23 press conference kicks off. Follow our live blog and twitter for up to date details.
11:45 The pre-conference chat has begun. No photos or flipcams.
11:46 Multilingual cast but all questions have to be in English. Reminder that it is 50 years to the day that Sean Connery was announced as Bond. Producers introduced.
11:47 Michael G Wilson confirms Bond 23 is SKYFALL.
11:48 Sam Mendes now speaking. Shooting in Whitehall in London, China, Istanbul and Scotland. Says writers have produced excellent script with classic Bond elements – and plenty of action.
11:49 Ben Whishaw , Albert Finney and Ralph Fiennes confirmed, won’t say who they play.
11:50 Bernice Marlohe and Naomie Harris and Dame Judi Dench introduced to stage. Also Javier Bardem as the villain. And 007 himself Daniel Craig.
11:52 Sam Mendes speaking about how he loves the James Bond films, first saw Live And Let Die. BTW Daniel Craig has NO beard.
11:55 Daniel Craig comfortable to return for third time, excited about script and cast.
11:55 All cast members saying how excited they are about Skyfall.
12:00 Guardian asking about gadgets – Mendes replies lots of surprises. Question about Bond girls – Bernice Marlohe is Severine, Naomie Harris is a field agent called Eve.
Mendes confirms Scottish element but denies Bond is going back to roots.
Server overloaded – sorry if you can’t see updates.
12:15 Wilson says a documentary is being made for the James Bond golden anniversary.
Naomi Harris has been doing yoga, driving, training with machine guns. Bernice Marlohe has also trined with guns.
What does Skyfall mean? It has some emotional context, replies Barbara Broccoli.
BBC asks Craig how frustrating it was to have Bond 23 delayed. He replies he kept himself busy and he wasn’t frustrated as he couldn’t do anything about it but he’s keen to get going.
Skyfall doesn’t follow on direct from Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace.
Wilson asked if he wanted to make Skyfall more highbrow. Replies that following on from Casino Royale they wonted to continue a trajectory.
Asked whether some of the characters may be familiar to Bond fans which is why they haven’t been announced Mendes replies that they may… but they may not.
David Leigh founded The James Bond Dossier in 2002. A fan of 007 since the age of 8, he is also author of The Complete Guide to the Drinks of James Bond. You can order a copy here if you don't own it already.
November 3rd, 2011 at 11:53
@007dossier no beard now or no beard in the movie?
November 11th, 2011 at 18:20
In fact Daniel Craig had a short beard that went unnoticed as I pounded my keyboard. Sorry about the misinformation on that!