Bright Star actor Ben Whishaw to play youngest Q ever in next Bond film Skyfall

By Emily Sheridan

Last updated at 10:41 AM on 25th November 2011

It's been nearly 10 years since we last saw James Bond's gadget whiz Q.

But in a shake-up for the forthcoming 23rd 007 outing, the MI6 tech expert will actually be younger than the super spy.

Rising star Ben Whishaw, 31, will join Daniel Craig, 43, in the upcoming Skyfall next year.

New guy on the block: Ben Whishaw will play Q in the new Bond film Skyfall

The Bright Star actor follows in the footsteps of former Q actors, the late Desmond Llewelyn and John Cleese.

While Cleese was in his Sixties when he played Q, Llewelyn was 49 when he first played Q in From Russia With Love.

Funnyman Cleese only made two appearances in the Bond films, playing Q's protégé R in The World Is Not Enough in 1999, before replacing Llewelyn as Q in Die Another Day in 2002.

Hard act to follow: Desmond Llewelyn (left) in 1985 fo;, A View To A Kill and John Cleese in 2002's Die Another Day

Llewelyn was replaced by Cleese after he was killed in a car accident in December 1999, shortly after the premiere of The World Is Not Enough.

The character of Q has been missing from all of the Craig 007 films so far - Casino Royale and Quantum Of Solace.

A source told The Sun: 'Female fans will have more than Daniel to gush over now Ben's been cast as Q. He'll be a big draw.

The gang: Whishaw will joined (L-R) Javier Bardem, Berenice Marlohe, Naomie Harris and Daniel Craig

'It's a bold decision as it means Q will be younger than Bond for the first time.

'His role will be very different from previous Qs. He'll be far more serious, as is the trend with the new films.'

Currently filming on location in London, Skyfall will also star Dame Judi Dench as M, Javier Bardem as a villian, Naomie Harris, Ola Rapace, Ralph Fiennes and Bérénice Marlohe.

Skyfall is due for release in October 2012.

Critics' darling: Whishaw as John Keats and Abbie Cornish as Fanny Brawne in 2009 film Bright Star

Vanessa Hudgens is bringing sexy back at Sucker Punch premiere

Last updated at 9:33 AM on 24th March 2011

Vanessa Hudgens managed to steal the limelight from her Sucker Punch co-stars as she swept onto to the red carpet at the film's premiere last night.
The 22-year-old High School Musical star dazzled in a backless Jenny Packham dress at the Hollywood event held at the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre.
Dressed in the white gown, with intricate sequinned patterning, the brunette wore he hair in light curls as she posed with her co-stars, including Abbie Cornish.

On form: Vanessa Hudgens looked incredible in a backless flowing dress at the Hollywood premiere of Sucker Punch last night

Lovely ladies: She was joined by her co-stars, from left Carla Gugino, Jena Malone, Abbie Cornish, Emily Browning and Jamie Chung

Earlier in the day, Vanessa appeared on the Ellen DeGeneres show where she quashed rumours of romance with her Journey 2 co-star Josh Hutcherson.
'Can’t a girl have friends?' Vanessa said to Ellen when she asked if there was any truth in the rumours.
'Aww, I love him,' she added. 'We just did a movie together and we had the best time.'

Taking to the red carpet: Abbie looked fantastic in a floor-length blue gown while Carla donned a silk floral number for the event

Dressed to impress: Jamie opted fo yellow, Emily donned a white see-through number while Jena colour blocked with pink and black

Dressed to impress: Jamie opted fo yellow, Emily donned a white see-through number while Jena colour blocked with pink and black

Her co-star Abbie arrived to last night's event in a floor-length blue gown.
The Australian actress, 28, revealed in a recent interview that the hair extensions 'saved her life' while she was shooting the fighting movie.
The star described how she was shooting her new action flick when a fellow star came at her with a WW1 rifle with a steel bayonet on the end.

'I ducked it but the timing was off and this steel bayonet comes at my head it hits me on the side of the head,' she told Jimmy Kimmel on his talks show this week.

VIPs: Actress Malin Akerman also came along to the event, wearing a red dress, while Julia Roberts's niece Emma Roberts slipped into some leather trousers

'It was a really hard knock. I went down and when I came to and I looked in my hand and I had blood in my hand and blood running down my face,' she said.

It was later discovered that the metal grip holding her hair extension in place was what deflected the force of the blow.

'Your life was saved by hair extensions,' said host Jimmy Kimmel.

'It totally was,' she replied.

Lending their support: Diane Lane went for an orange dress while Joe Jonas played it casual in jeans

Sucker Punch also stars Emily Browning, Jena Malone and Jamie Chung.
It follows the story of a young girl Babydoll (Browning) who is institutionalised by her wicked stepfather.
Retreating to an alternative reality as a coping strategy, she envisions a plan which will help her escape from the facility.
Babydoll is determined to fight for her freedom and urges the other girls - outspoken Rocket (Malone), street-wise Blondie (Hudgens), loyal (Chung) and the reluctant Sweet Pea (Cornish) - to band together and try to escape their captors.

Sucker Punch opens in UK cinemas on April 1 and in the U.S. on March 25.