By Jill Lawless
LONDON (AP) --James Bond is back, in a new film with a retro title that evokes the series' past. The next 007 adventure will be called "SPECTRE," the dastardly fictional terrorist organization featured in "Dr. No" and other early Bond films.
Director Sam Mendes announced the name of the 24th official Bond movie Thursday at Pinewood Studios near London, along with the identity of several new cast members and a new version of Bond's iconic Aston Martin car.
Academy Award-winning Austrian actor Christoph Waltz and wrestling star David Bautista are joining the cast, while Andrew Scott — master criminal Moriarty in BBC series "Sherlock" — will play an MI6 officer. Monica Bellucci and Lea Seydoux are the new "Bond girls," Lucia Sciarra and Madeleine Swann.
Mendes, who directed the last Bond installment, "Skyfall," said the movie would have "everything you would expect from a Bond movie," with "a little more variety … maybe a little more mischief."
"SPECTRE" will be Daniel Craig's fourth film as the suave spy. Returning cast members include Ralph Fiennes as spy chief M, Ben Whishaw as gadget-master Q and Naomi Harris as secretary Miss Moneypenny.
Producers said the next film centers on "a cryptic message from Bond's past (that) sends him on a trail to uncover a sinister organization."
SPECTRE — Special Executive for Counterintelligence, Terrorism, Revenge and Extortion — was the terrorist organization headed by Ernst Blofeld that featured in several early Bond films.
Waltz, an Oscar winner for "Inglourious Basterds" and "Django Unchained," said his character is called Oberhauser — but fans hope he is really Blofeld, one of the most enduring Bond villains.
The cat-stroking evildoer, played by actors including Donald Pleasence and Charles Gray, hasn't appeared for several decades because of a legal dispute over rights to the character. The case was settled last year.
Mendes also revealed that Bond will drive an Aston Martin DB10, replacing the vintage DB5 that was spectacularly destroyed in "Skyfall."
Initial fan reaction to the details was enthusiastic.
"For Bond fans, this is the best Christmas present — the return of James Bond and classic elements of the series with yet another classic title coined by Ian Fleming," said Ajay Chowdhury of the James Bond International Fan Club.
Principal photography begins Monday. Filming will take place at Pinewood Studios and on location in Italy, Morocco, Mexico and Austria. "SPECTRE" is due for release late next year.
"Skyfall" was the most successful Bond film yet, taking more than $1.1 billion.
SMPTE elects board officers, regional governors
SMPTE®,the home of media professionals, technologists, and engineers, has revealed the board officers and regional governors who will serve terms beginning in January 2025.
Three new officers--Richard Welsh as SMPTE president, Eric Gsell as SMPTE executive VP, and Polly Hickling as SMPTE Education VP--have been elected for a two-year term from Jan. 1, 2025, to Dec. 31, 2026. One SMPTE officer, Lisa Hobbs, will be continuing her service as SMPTE secretary and treasurer for another two-year term. Additionally, Raymond Yeung will be stepping into the role of standards VP on Jan. 1, 2025.
“SMPTE’s membership has spoken,” said SMPTE interim executive director Sally-Ann D’Amato. “These officers have been tasked with an important responsibility, one each of them is prepared to tackle head-on. These next two years are looking bright for SMPTE!”
In addition to the officers, 10 regional governors were elected by the Society to serve two-year 2025-2026 terms.
These include the following regional governors, re-elected to continue their service:
Asia-Pacific Region Governor
Tony Ngai, Society of Motion Imaging Ltd.
EMEA - Central & South America Region Governor
Fernando Bittencourt, FB Consultant
United Kingdom Region Governor
Chris Johns, Sky UK.
USA - Central Region Governor
William T. Hayes, Consultant
USA - Eastern Region Governor
Dover Jeanne Mundt, Riedel Communications
USA - Western Region Governor
Jeffrey F. Way, Open Drives
Also elected were four newcomers to the SMPTE Board:
Canada Region Governor
Jonathan Jobin, Grass Valley
USA - Hollywood Region Governor
Allan Schollnick, Voxx... Read More