Rami Malek Joins Bond 25; Phoebe Waller-Bridge To Rewrite

 

While we still do not know the name of the 25th Bond film, Thursday morning’s 007 announcements did clarify a few things about the upcoming film, including Rami Malek’s participation and confirmation the film will be Daniel Craig’s final performance as the iconic secret agent.
According to the BBC, the film will start with a semi-retired Bond (Craig) enjoying an extended leave in Jamaica — as suitably appropriate spot as 007 author Ian Fleming lived there and often set Bond’s adventures on the island — but he is reactivated when Felix Leiter (a returning Jeffrey Wright) turns up asking for aid. That ask will lead Bond on a “mission to rescue a kidnapped scientist” which “turns out to be far more treacherous than expected, leading Bond onto the trail of a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology.”
Presumably, that mysterious villain will be played by Malek, who told reporters via a prerecorded video that he will “be making sure Mr Bond does not have an easy ride in this, his 25th outing.”
Also returning for the film are MI6 stalwarts Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Rory Kinnear and Ben Whishaw as  M, Moneypenny, Bill Tanner, and Q, respectively. Spectre‘s Lea Seydoux will also return as Madeleine Swann. Considering Bond girls do not typically return — except for Maud Adams in two different roles — it is entirely possible Swann will be fridged to get Bond back into action.
Or, possibly, Swann will avoid Tracy Bond’s fate thanks to writer Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who will be taking a pass at the script written by long-time Bond scenarists Neal Purvis and Robert Wade. Writer Scott Z Burns also made contributions to the script.
To be directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, the film will also feature Lashana Lynch, Billy Magnussen, and Ana de Armas. The still-untitled Bond 25 is due out April 8th, 2020.