Filming began on November the 7th for the 23rd Bond film entitled Skyfall – quite frankly, a ridiculous title in my opinion, but eminently better than Quantum of Solace (Which despite terrible reviews, wasn’t that bad). This is a little round up of the facts…

In case you missed our last casting update, here is an overview of what we know so far. Daniel Craig is returning as Bond – his 3rd time – as is Dame Judi Dench – her 7th time as M. They are joined by director Sam Mendes (American Beauty). All three of these things are good news as  they are all excellent.

Ben Whishaw will be playing master of gadgets Q. Skyfall will be Whishaws 4th film with Daniel Craig, appearing as he does in The Trench, Enduring Love and Layer Cake. This will be the first time the character has appeared since 2002’s Die Another Day – where he was played by John Cleese. It will also be the first time Q has been younger than Bond. Whishaw is an accomplished actor and I’m sure he’ll be great.

This will be French actress and model Berenice Marlohe‘s  first international film. She will play Severine, who will be – according to the actress – “glamorous” and “enigmatic”. How good an actor she is I don’t know, but she certainly looks ever inch the Bond girl. Naomie Harris (perhaps most famous for her role in the Pirates of The Caribbean movies, and has also appeared in 28 Days Later and A Cock & Bull story) is to play a character called Eve. Early reports speculated that the character would be Miss Moneypenny, though this is looking less likely now.

Javier Bardem the brilliant actor from No Country for Old Men (as well as Collateral and Jamon Jamon) is to be the films main villain, which is something we know he can pull off. Helen McCrory, is most famous for playing ‘Narcissa Malfoy’ in the Harry Potter movies. But she was also ‘Cherie Blair’ in The Queen, and appeared in the Doctor Who episode Vampires of Venice. She is now set to play a character called Claire Dowar. Playing so far unspecified roles are Swedish actor Ola Repace (Wallander), the legend that is Albert Finney and self-professed Bond fan – and all round fabulous actor – Lord Voldemort Ralph Fiennes (Nanny McPhee & the Big Bang, Wallace & Grommet: Curse of the Were-Rabbit and Schindler’s List).

There has already been filming in London. Other locations are apparently going to be Istanbul, China and Wales. Skyfall will be released next year as part of the year long celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the release of Doctor No, and the start of the Bond franchise. It’s due to premiere in London on the 26th of October. General US release dates are currently said to be between 23rd of October and the 7th of December – the UK on the 26th October and the US the 9th of November.