Bond is back: Daniel Craig is spotted filming scenes for upcoming film Skyfall on a London rooftop alongside Naomie Harris

By Kirsty Mccormack

Last updated at 7:17 PM on 5th December 2011


It may not hit cinemas until late next year but James Bond fans can already get excited about the next film.

Skyfall, the 23rd film of the Bond franchise, has began filming and looks set to entice fans as much as any of the other 22 films.

British actor Daniel Craig - who has returned to play the spy for the third time - was spotted filming on a rooftop in London today and looked very serious as he did so.

Serious face: Daniel Craig looks stern as he films scenes for the latest James Bond film Skyfall

He was joined by Naomie Harris, who plays the part of Eve - a field agent who joins Bond on his quest to track down whoever is threatening the MI6.

Wearing a black Winter coat with matching leather gloves and a grey scarf, Craig was no doubt feeling the cold as he stood on top of the building but managed to stay in character and keep his stern face even in between takes.

Harris also wore a grey checked Winter coat and a black scarf as the pair filmed what looked like quite a crucial scene.

Give it to me: Craig was joined by Naomie Harris who plays a field agent called M in the film

Co stars: Craig was seen handing a black box to Harris as they filmed a tense scene for the upcoming movie

Craig was seen handing a black box to Harris that of course must contain something rather important.

But when the scene was up and the film crew prepared to do another take, Harris took the advantage to wrap up warm in a grey duvet as she hung around to continue filming.

The 28 Days Later star was thought to be taking on the role of Miss Moneypenny when the film was first announced but once her character's name was revealed, this speculation was laid to rest.

Warm enough? A member of the crew wraps up Craig's coat and scarf as they filmed on a rooftop in London

Feeling chilly: Harris was spotted wrapped in a grey duvet as she stood around in between takes

At a recent press release, Harris described Eve as 'believing she is Bond's equal, but she is really his junior.'

Another female character who Bond has issues with in the latest film is M, who will once again be played by Dame Judi Dench.

The head of MI6 sees her past come back to haunt her in this movie which results in Bond's loyalty with her being put to the test.

I'm back: The British actor has returned to play 007 for a third time after starring in Casino Royale and Quantum Of Solace

The film also stars Javier Bardem as the main villain - and no doubt the ultimate threat to MI6- and Ralph Fiennes is set to play a 'really interesting' character, which not much has been revealed about.

Skyfall is set to be released some time between late October and early December next year.

Getting underway: The 23rd Bond film is set to be released in late 2012

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2070325/Skyfall-Daniel-Craig-spotted-filming-scenes-upcoming-Bond-film-London-rooftop.html#ixzz1fh44yHMn

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

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2066095/Ben-Whishaw-play-youngest-Q-Bond-film-Skyfall.html#ixzz1ejvhFbVQ

Introducing Bond's black Moneypenny: Naomie Harris is the latest apple of 007's eye as she steps into the fictional secretary's shoes

By Georgina Littlejohn

Last updated at 6:49 PM on 3rd November 2011

It's a role that many actress would have love to play just for the chance to sidle up to the sexy double agent.

And Naomie Harris has become the newest woman to land the coveted part of Miss Moneypenny for the next James Bond adventure.

As a press conference today for the upcoming 007 film Skyfall, Harris, 35, was unveiled in the role of a field agent named Eve.

Big shoes to fill: Naomie Harris was unveiled as one of James Bond's new leading ladies, and although not confirmed, is believed to be stepping into the role of Miss Moneypenny

No one from the production was giving anything away but Eve will become the new Miss Moneypenny marking the first time the character has appeared in a Bond film since Samantha Bond played her in Die Another Day back in 2002.

The Daily Mail revealed the Moneypenny connection several weeks ago and film officials have said they won't confirm it on the record.

British actress Harris has had a steady rise to fame, landing her big break in Danny Boyle horror film 28 Days Later opposite Cillian Murphy.

New star: Naomie poses with Bond actor Daniel Craig and Bérénice Marlohe at today's press conference

She also starred alongside Johnny Depp in Pirates Of The Caribbean 2 (Dead Man's Chest) and 3 (At World's End).

And while she may not quite be a household name yet, she is making waves in the industry.

Harris was rewarded for her efforts in 28 Days Later by winning the Black Reel Award for Best Breakthrough Performance and later nominated for a Rising Star Award at the BAFTAs in 2007.

Predecessor: Samantha Bond was the last actress to play Moneypenny in Goldeneye in 1994 (L) and in Die Another Day in 2002, the last time the character appeared in a Bond film

She means business: Samantha's Moneypenny was quite stern with the double agent

It is looking likely that Eve will step into the role made famous by Lois Maxwell, who starred alongside Sean Connery and Roger Moore.

She was replaced by Caroline Bliss, who only starred in two Bond films alongside Timothy Dalton in The Living Daylights and Licence to Kill.

The character was then revived when Pierce Brosnan stepped into the Bond role in Goldeneye in 1995 right the way through to Die Another Day in 2002.

But when Daniel Craig took over the role as the double agent in 2005, Moneypenny didn't return - until now and the upcoming Skyfall, due for release in October 2012.

The original: The late Lois Maxwell played the secretary from the first Bond film Dr No until A View To a Kill in 1985

Miss Moneypenny was the creation of Bond author Ian Fleming and appeared from the start in his first Bond book Casino Royale.

She was originally called Miss 'Petty' Pettaval, believed to have been taken from Kathleen Pettigrew, the personal assistant to MI6 director Stewart Menzies, the Chief of MI6 during and after World War II but Fleming changed it so it wasn't obvious.

Enviable position: Maxwell starred alongside Connery's Bond, seen here with him in From Russia With Love in 1963...

... and with Roger Moore, seen here with him in The Spy Who Loved me in 1977

Miss Moneypenny is the clerk and private secretary to M, the head of MI6, now played by Dame Judi Dench.

She holds the rank of Lieutenant RN and is cleared for Top-Secret, Eyes-Only and Cabinet-Level intelligence reports.

Miss Moneypenny is also well-known for her flirtatious relationship with Bond although it has never been consummated.

Brief: Caroline Bliss played Moneypenny alongside Timothy Dalton's Bond, seen here with him in The Living Daylights in 1987

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2057208/Naomie-Harris-Introducing-James-Bond-23-Skyfalls-black-Moneypenny.html#ixzz1cfwLBBrF

Naomie's licence to thrill

By Baz Bamigboye

Last updated at 9:55 AM on 8th July 2011

Never say never: Naomie Harris could bring Miss Moneypenny back to Bond

Miss Moneypenny, 007’s tart-tongued, flirtatious foil, is returning to the James Bond movies in the shape of Naomie Harris.

The actress met with Sam Mendes, director of Bond 23, earlier this year and is now in the final stages of negotiations to play the long-running Bond girl — although, strictly speaking, Moneypenny isn’t a Bond girl at all; she’s the assistant to Bond’s boss, M.

Naomie made her name in Danny Boyle’s film 28 Days Later. Many will also know her from the Pirates Of The Caribbean movies, but I think she did her best work in Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll, The First Grader (an enjoyable low-budget recent release) and Danny Boyle’s National Theatre production of Frankenstein, in which she played the leading lady opposite Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller.

The actress is poised to appear alongside Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes and Judi Dench when filming begins later this year.

The Moneypenny character, who holds the rank of Lieutenant RN, hasn’t been seen in a Bond picture since Samantha Bond played her in Die Another Day back in 2002, when she appeared with Pierce Brosnan.

Samantha appeared in four 007 thrillers, starting with GoldenEye. It’s widely thought she threw the best retort ever at James Bond. Having bedded his Scandinavian tutor, he tells Moneypenny: ‘I always enjoyed learning a new tongue.’ Moneypenny responds dryly: ‘You always were a cunning linguist, James.’

It’s too early to know whether Mendes will want Naomie to play Moneypenny in the same drier-than-a-shaken-martini vein, but she’s an astute actress who will be able to deliver her character any way he desires.

Lois Maxwell was the original (and still the most famous) Moneypenny, appearing in the first Bond picture Dr No in 1962. She retired following A View To A Kill in 1985.

Caroline Bliss played the part in The Living Daylights and Licence To Kill before making way for Ms Bond.

Barbara Bouchet played her in the 1967 Casino Royale, and Pamela Salem had a go in 1983’s Never Say Never Again.

Both of those movies were made outside of the Eon organisation, which controls the screen rights to Bond creator Ian Fleming’s works.

A spokeswoman for Eon said that Naomie had met with producers but stressed it had not been confirmed she would be in the film.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2012464/Bond-23-Naomie-Harriss-licence-thrill.html#ixzz1RVQzelqQ