James Bond will be back next year in Spectre

FOLLOWING the tongue-twisting Quantum of Solace and the elegant Skyfall, Bond 24 is to be titled Spectre, with Christoph Waltz, Andrew Scott, Lea Seydoux and Dave Bautista joining the cast.

According to an early synopsis released overnight: "A cryptic message from Bond's past sends him on a trail to uncover a sinister organisation. While M battles political forces to keep the secret service alive, Bond peels back the layers of deceit to reveal the terrible truth behind SPECTRE."

Bond fans will remember Spectre (Special Executive for Counter-intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge and Extortion) from Ian Fleming's novel Thunderball and the movie Dr. No.

Andrew Scott, believed to be playing a Whitehall employee, is already proving a popular new arrival on Twitter, having played the nefarious Moriarty in Sherlock, as is Waltz, who won an Oscar last year for his superb performance in Django Unchained.

Bar a turn toward something a bit more progressive, Seydoux will likely play a 'Bond girl'.
 

Bautista's transformation from wrestler to actor continues meanwhile, following up on his role in the summer's Guardians of the Galaxy. He will almost certainly play a brutish chief-henchman.

The announcement follows months of speculation over the title and cast, with Christoph Waltz, Lea Seydoux and Andrew Scott's casting having leaked in the press.

Based at Pinewood Studios, Spectre will also film in London, Rome, Mexico City, Tangier in Morocco and there will be a ski chase that takes place in the Austrian Alps.

Ben Whishaw, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris and Rory Kinnear are all back, playing their respective roles of Q, M, Moneypenny and Bill Tanner.

The artist for the film's theme has been arranged, but their identity has yet to be announced.

Skyfall  was the most successful Bond film ever, grossing over $1 billion at the box office worldwide.

Spectre will be Mendes' second 007 film, and will open in cinemas on 6 November, 2015.

The director revealed a details about the next instalment this morning, they were as follows:

The title: Spectre

The new cast members: Andrew Scott (Denbigh), Dave Bautista (Mr Hinx), Monica Bellucci (Lucia Sciarra), Lea Seydoux (Madeleine Swann), Christoph Waltz (Oberhauser).

The returning cast members: Daniel Craig (James Bond), Rory Kinnear (Bill Tanner), Ben Whishaw (Q), Naomie Harris (Moneypenny), Ralph Fiennes (M)

Bond's new car: Aston Martin DB10

Filming locations: London, Rome, Mexico City, Tangier, Sölden, Obertilliach, Lake Altaussee

The release date: 6 November, 2015