The 23rd Bond Movie: Skyfall

Directed by: Sam Mendes

Produced by: Michael G. Wilson, Barbara Brocolli

Written by: John Logan, Neal Purvis, Robert Wade

Based on James Bond by: Ian Fleming

Cast: Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Berenice Marlohe, Ben Whishaw, Helen McCrory, Rory Kinear, Albert Finney, Judi Dench

Music by: Thomas Newman "Skyfall" performed by Adele

Cinematography: Roger Deakins

Studio: Eon Productions, Danjaq LLC

Distributed by: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Columbia Pictures

Release date: 23 October 2012 (London, premiere), 26 October 2012 (United Kingdom), 1 November 2012 (Indonesia), 9 November 2012 (USA)

Running time: 143 minutes

Budget: $150 million

Skyfall is the twenty-third spy film in the James Bond series, produced by Eon Productions and distributed by MGM and Sony Pictures Entertainment. Directed by Sam Mendes, Daniel Craig reprises his role as James Bond and Judi Dench reprises her role as M. The film was released 26 October 2012 in the UK & Ireland and 8 November 2012 On IMAX screens in the USA & Canada and a day later for regular screens. It will be the first Bond film released on IMAX. As a stand-alone adventure, it doesn't continue the story arc of Casino Royale or Quantum of Solace.

Synopsis

Daniel Craig is back as Ian Fleming's James Bond 007 in Skyfall, the 23rd adventure in the longest-running film franchise of all time. In Skyfall, Bond's loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.

Character

Daniel Craig as James Bond

Director Sam Mendes described Bond as experiencing a combination of lassitude, boredom, depression and difficulty with what he's chosen to do for a living.

Judi Dench as M

The head of MI6 and Bond's commanding officer. Skyfall was Dench's seventh and final appearance in the role.

Naomie Harris as MI6 field agent Eve Moneypenny

Harris' role was initially presented as that of Eve, an MI6 field agent who works closely with Bond.

Javier Bardem as the film's main antagonist Raoul Silva

Silva is a former MI6 agent turned cyberterrorist who is seeking revenge against those he holds responsible for betraying him.

Ralph Fiennes as a British government agent Gareth Mallory

The Chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee. His position gives him the authority to regulate MI6. Fiennes stated that he could not say anything specific about the role other than that it was a really interesting part which is really quite fun.

Berenice Marlohe as Severine

arlohe described her character as being "glamorous and enigmatic", and that she drew inspiration from GoldenEye villain Xenia Onatopp (played by Famke Janssen) in playing Sévérine.

Albert Finney as Kincade

The gamekeeper of the Skyfall estate.

Ben Whishaw as Q

Rory Kinnear as Bill Tanner

Ola Rapace as Patrice

Helen McCrory as Clair Dowar

Production

After Quantum of Solace was released many fans and other people thought that the title would use a Ian Fleming title that hasn't been used which were "007 in New York", "Risico" and the "The Hildebrand Realty"and since those rumours the movie was for the time being called "Bond 23" as a working title.

According to producer Barbara Broccoli, the title will have emotional context to be revealed in the film, similar to Quantum of Solace. The title refers to a building named Skyfall Lodge, a critical location in the film. Skyfall is also the first one-word Bond film since GoldenEye.

Shooting began in and around London, with scenes shot in Southwark and Whitehall, the National Gallery, Smithfield meat markets and St Bartholomew's Hospital, Canary Wharf, the Department of Energy and Climate Change, Charing Cross station and the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, with residents reporting further filming as taking place in Cadogan Square, Tower Hill, and Parliament Square. The Vauxhall Bridge was closed to traffic for filming the aftermath of an explosion at the MI6 headquarters at Vauxhall Cross.