New James Bond film - details announced today

The title of the 23rd James Bond movie is set to be released later today. Rumoured to be entitled Skyfall (Sony registered around a dozen URL domain names referring to Skyfall and James Bond last month), the latest installment will feature Daniel Craig for the third time. Spanish actor Javier Bardem has confirmed that he will play a villain in the new movie due to be released in autumn 2012.

The film will be directed by Sam Mendes of American Beauty fame, and it has been suggested that much of the film will be set in South Africa and India, as 007 hunts down a criminal organization. Other potential filming locations include Duntrune Castle in Argyll, Scotland, rumoured to be the spy's ancestral home.

Dame Judi Dench is also expected to return to her role as no-nonsense M in the film, which until now has been referred to as James Bond 23.

Casino Royale, the most successful James Bond movie until now (making $594 million) will be fresh in many people's minds, with 2.5 million viewers watching on Sat.1 last Saturday. Many were critical of the decision to cast Craig as Bond prior to the release of Casino Royale, but the success of the film has established the British actor as one of the favourites.

After financial difficulties at MGM, filming was put on hold - but James Bond never dies, and the Kite Runner director will join producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson this afternoon to reveal details of the 23rd James Bond film.