SPECTRE : Bond looks set to face his greatest foe once again...

Director Sam Mendes

Starring Daniel Craig, Naomie Harris, Ralph Fiennes

ETA 23 October

Another first for the James Bond franchise: an acronym-based title. Yep, Bond 24 is now offically named SPECTRE – presumably a nod to the evil terrorist organisation (special executive for Counter-intelligence, terrorism, revenge and extortion) that has plagued 007 since his first appearence in 1962’s Dr. No.

Once again directed by sam mendes, who steered Skyfall to a staggering $1.1bn box-office haul, SPECTRE will apparently see a mysterious message from his past sending Bond (daniel Craig) on the hunt to uncover a sinister organisation, while the new m (ralph fiennes) fights interfering politicans in London. the globetrotting story will also take in locations including rome, mexico City, tangier and Austrian snow resort, sölden. Will Bond be back on his skis? here’s hoping…

Familiar faces also returning are naomie harris as moneypenny, Ben Whishaw as Q and rory Kinnear as tanner, while new cast members include Sherlock’s Andrew scott, Irreversible’s monica Bellucci and Blue Is The Warmest Colour’s Léa seydoux. then there’s dave Bautista, fresh from his Guardians Of The Galaxy breakout as the none more henchman-sounding ‘mr hinx’.

The film’s key new player, though, looks set to be Christoph Waltz. the cast announcement pegged the double oscar-winner as ‘oberhauser’. Could this be a reference to the ski instructor whose death Bond is investigating in ian fleming’s Octopussy?

More likely he’ll be revealed as Bond’s greatest nemesis, ernst stavro Blofeld – the evil genius behind SPECTRE. if so, expect a darker take than donald Pleasence’s oft-parodied portrayl, though hopefully he’ll still have his signature kitty in tow.