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Bond 24's Villains, Girls, Plot Rumours: Everything We Know So Far

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The latest news on the next 007 film ‘Bond 24’ is that the double Oscar-winning actor Christoph Waltz is joining the cast in a “significant role”, presumably as a villain.

The release of ‘Bond 24’ is now less than a year away, and shooting is rumoured to due to begin imminently, so we reckon there’s an announcement about the film’s official title and its cast due very, very soon.

The ‘Skyfall’ press conference happened roughly a year before its October 2012 release, so we’re overdue that first announcement from MGM and EON.

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So before that happens, let’s take stock of what we know about ‘Bond 24’ so far.

Warning ‘Skyfall’ spoilers ahead…

'Bond 24' release date: 23 October, 2015

Daniel Craig is playing James Bond

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Ah, Mr Bond, we’ve been expecting you! Yes, it’s no surprise that Daniel Craig is set to don that iconic tux play agent 007 of Her Majesty’s Secret Service for a fourth time following ‘Casino Royale’, ‘Quantum of Solace’, and ‘Skyfall’.

In doing so, he’ll match Pierce Brosnan’s record of four Bond movie adventures, but he’s still got a long way to catch up with Sir Roger Moore’s seven, and Sean Connery’s six. No, ‘Never Say Never Again’ doesn’t count.

After ‘Bond 24’, Daniel Craig has just one more 007 film left on his contract. We expect he’ll step down after ‘Bond 25’ in 2017 or 2018, by which point the ‘Girl With A Dragon Tattoo’ star will be 49/50.

Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Ben Whishaw, and Rory Kinnear are all returning for ‘Bond 24’ too.

Who are the Bond girls in ‘Bond 24’?

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Above: Lea Seydoux at the 2014 BAFTAs

French actress Lea Seydoux is reportedly due to play the lead Bond girl in ‘Bond 24’. The role was said to have been written for an actress of Scandinavian origin, but was changed to suit the Gallic star.

The actress best known for ‘Mission: Impossible: Ghost Protocol’ and ‘Blue Is The Warmest Colour’ is set to play a “femme fatale” role, which presumably rules out an appearance from Penelope Cruz who has been long linked with a starring role.

Other female actors tipped for Bond girls type roles include pop star Rihanna, British supermodel Cara Delevigne, ‘The Other Woman’ star Kate Upton, and ‘Downton Abbey’s Joanna Froggat.

‘Bond 24’ plot rumours

It has been suggested that ‘Bond 24’ could be taking plot cues from Sebastian Faulks’ 2008 Bond novel ‘Devil May Care’, which saw an ageing 007 battling drugs lords in the Middle East, but this should be taken with a huge pinch of salt, as there’s currently no proof to substantiate the claim.

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Another rumour suggested ‘Bond 24’ would actually be a two-hander, with the film ending on a cliffhanger which would be resolved in ‘Bond 25’, but somehow that doesn’t feel right for the franchise either.

Sam Mendes told the Charlie Rose show that ‘Bond 24’ would tie up loose ends left by ‘Skyfall’, which probably refers to the last film ending with a new M, Q, and Moneypenny in place, so we can expect all three of those characters to play a bigger part this time around.

You can safely assume the plot with involve 007 chasing down baddies in various tropical locales, while drinking vodka martinis, and driving a fancy Aston Martin. Because… don’t they all?

Who is the villain of ‘Bond 24’?

Christoph Waltz is just the latest big name star rumoured to have a adversarial role in ‘Bond 24’.

’12 Years A Slave’ star Chiwetel Ejiofor was strongly linked with the role of 007’s nemesis in ‘Bond 24’ back in April, but there’s been no official announcement to confirm or deny his involvement so far.

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Mark Strong is another British actor strongly linked with a role in ‘Bond 24’. He was snapped with Daniel Craig in two separate locations in Morocco where the film is rumoured to be a shooting.

Daniel Craig and Strong are old friends after shooting ‘Our Friends In The North’ together back in the day, so it could just a coincidence, but we think Strong would make a great Bond baddie.

MGM finally settled the ongoing legal battle over the McClory rights recently, leaving the door open for classic villain Blofeld and the evil group SPECTRE to return, so could Strong, Ejiofor or Waltz be playing the kitty-stroking baldie?

Who will sing the Bond 24 theme tune?

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After the huge success of Adele’s ‘Skyfall’ theme, which won the London-born star an Oscar, a Brit award and a Golden Globe, we wouldn’t be surprised to see her return to do the theme for the next film.

However, it was reported recently that Adele was undecided about returning and that MGM had offered the gig to British soul singer Sam Smith. The New York Post added that Smith had edged out Lana Del Rey who had lobbied for the chance to sing the theme.

The Mercury-nominated (and current beau of Robert Pattinson) FKA Twigs is also said to be working on the film’s soundtrack, but not the theme itself.

Dave Bautista may be playing a henchman in ‘Bond 24’

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Above: Dave Bautista in ‘Riddick’

After a long wait, we may be getting a worthy physical adversary for Bond, with the filmmakers said to be seeking a henchman along the lines of Odd Job or Jaws.

Reports on Latino Review say Dave Baustista, the former WWE wrestler who shot to fame this summer with his standout turn as Drax The Destroyer in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’, is in line to play the new heavy.

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The physically imposing character, currently code-named “Hinx”, is set to face off with Bond a number of times throughout the film.

‘Bond 24’ will have snow scenes

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Bond blog MI6 HQ says sets are currently being built in various Austrian mountain locations in preparation for a 25-day shoot in January. A tiny town called Obertilliach will play host to the massive shoot with ski-lifts, helicopters, glaciers and more all set to play a part.

‘Bond 24’ is also set to film in Morocco, Italy, and Pinewood studios which was recently vacated by ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’.

Sam Mendes will direct ‘Bond 24’

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After a bit of “will he, won’t he?” it was revealed last year that Sam Mendes, the director of ‘Skyfall’, would return to direct ‘Bond 24’.

‘Bond 23’ AKA ‘Skyfall’ became the most successful 007 film ever when it released in late 2012, raking in over £700m at the global office, so his return makes total sense for EON the franchise’s production company.

He’s not the first director to direct consecutive Bond films though, he joins the illustrious club currently occupied by Terrence Young, Guy Hamilton, Lewis Gilbert, and John Glen who all helmed multiple 007 adventures.

Unfortunately, Mendes’ regular cinematographer Roger Deakins, who earned an Oscar nom for his work on ‘Skyfall’ will not be returning for ‘Bond 24’ as he’s hard at work on the Coen Brothers’ Hollywood spoof ‘Hail Caesar!’.

Instead, the gloriously monikered Hoyte Van Hoytema will be on DOP duties, fresh from working on Chris Nolan’s ‘Interstellar’.

The script was written by the ‘Skyfall’ team

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‘Hugo’ screenwriter John Logan was due to take over solo scripting duties on ‘Bond 24’ after co-writing ‘Skyfall’ with Bond veterans Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, however it hasn’t quite worked out like that.

The Daily Mail reported earlier this year that Purvis and Wade had been recalled to help rewrite Logan’s script following some “polite turmoil” at EON, to give it some extra “punch” and “sprinkle in more gags”.

‘Edge of Tomorrow’ screenwriter and playwright Jez Butterworth recently revealed he’d been brought in by Sam Mendes to have another pass at the script, but it’s not clear whether it’s a full rewrite or an uncredited script doctor-style polish.

Stay tuned to Yahoo Movies for ‘Bond 24’ news as we get it.

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Image credits: Sony Pictures/MGM/Rex/Press Association/EON