Returning for the a second go is Oscar winning director Sam Mendes (American Beauty) and Oscar nominated screenwriter John Logan (Hugo). In Spectre, Bond is sent on the hunt to uncover a mysterious organization after enigmatic secrets from his past are brought in the limelight. Yet things are different, as fans of Skyfall will surely be aware of– significantly Ralph Fiennes (The Grand Budapest Hotel) has taken over as the newly instated M, a role memorably portrayed by Oscar winner Judi Dench (Shakespeare in Love) since the Pierce Brosnan run.
The trailer also gives us our first exposure to Spectre‘s main foe Franz Oberhauser, played by two-time Oscar winner Christoph Waltz (Django Unchained) as well as all the daring do expected in a James Bond vehicle. The ensemble is rounded out by Dave Bautista (Guardians of the Galaxy), Léa Seydoux (Blue is the Warmest Color), Andrew Scott (Pride) and Monica Bellucci (Shoot ‘Em Up). Ben Whishaw (Cloud Atlas) and Naomie Harris (Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom) returns as Q and Moneypenny, respectively.
Spectre, regardless of pedigree, has plenty of live up to as Skyfall left expectations for the franchise at an all-time high. Not only was Skyfall a hit with audiences (the film earned over $1 billion worldwide) but was also critically admired and nominated for five Academy Awards (winning two including a win for Adele’s instantly iconic title song). Skyfall also was distinctively one of the best looking Bond pictures of all time, thanks to lensing of cinematographer Roger Deakins (the Unbroken director of photography and Coen Brothers favorite earned an Oscar nod for Skyfall). Deakins isn’t returning for Spectre but Hoyte Van Hoytema (Her, Interstellar), his replacement, is hardly a slouch.
While that kind of success was unparallelled within the James Bond cinematic sphere, Bond, James Bond is readying a return to theaters. Spectre is set for release on November 6, 2015.
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