Over the years, James Bond has delighted and gripped us in equal measure. Although met with some skepticism at first, the "blonde Bond", Daniel Craig, has done an exceptional job in portraying the British secret agent. The next James Bond film will represent 007's 25th "official" outing - and after months of mystery, No Time To Die seems to be finally taking shape.
But what do we know about the film so far? And what can we expect from what promises to be one of the most absorbing James Bond films to date?
Bond Will Be Back on Our Screens in 2020
The official James Bond account on Twitter posted a teaser video on August 20th, which confirmed the name of the film and the release date. Although officially planned for an October and November 2019 release in the UK and the U.S. respectively, the movie is now expected to be released on the 3rd April of 2020 in UK cinemas and will hit the States five days later, on April 8th. One of the main reasons for the pushback is due to director Danny Boyle unexpectedly quitting the project a mere few weeks before shooting was to begin. Boyle allegedly cited "creative differences" and a dispute over the portrayal of the villain. As of right now, True Detective and Maniac director Cary Fukunaga has taken the reigns, so we're fairly certain that the movie is in good hands.
Location, Location, Location
With the premise of the movie centering around Jamaica, it's likely we will see a decent amount of the Caribbean in the new installment. However, the shooting of the film was recently reported to be taking place in Matera, which is also coincidentally this year's European capital of culture. Matera is well known for being one of the most spectacular locations in southern Italy, and Bond's iconic Aston Martin DB5 will look superb gracing the cobbled streets of the city. It's also worth pointing out that the south of Italy is famous for its casinos. This, together with the growing appeal of online casinos as a home-based or even mobile entertainment choice, might influence Fukunaga's decision to include a new take on the classic Bond casino scenes we've seen in so many films in the past. With over 25 casino rewards brands to choose from, you are spoiled for choice when it comes to online platforms, and audiences have taken note, with the popularity of casino games on the rise allowing for a poker, baccarat or blackjack scene that would certainly go down with the general public.
Source: Pixabay
The Final Bow for Craig
Given that Spectre gave the character a happy ending, many speculated that it would be Craig's last movie. Although he himself indicated that he wanted to "move on" from Bond back in 2015, Craig will reprise the role one last time and will be keen to deliver a memorable performance which we expect will leave a lasting impression on the audience. Craig will also be a producer on No Time To Die, which is a fitting touch for the actor who will have played Bond for 17 years when the film is released next year. The annual debate surrounding who the next Bond should be will obviously continue to rage on in the meantime.
Expect to Be Entertained
Although Spectre wasn't anywhere near as good as Skyfall, we are still expecting big things from Craig's latest movie. There are rumors that Rami Malek is wanted as the next Bond villain and even whispers that Christophe Waltz could be set for a return (imagine that!). Either way, we're looking forward to giving Craig the send-off he deserves next April and will be applauding either way at the end of the first screening possible.