Thus far, Bond 25 as it remains known, has been largely a cauldron of bad news, delays and issues. But in recent days, the tide has turned, at least a little. And now there's some interesting news about one of the cast members, and to avoid spoiling anyone who truly doesn't want to know, we'll kick things off in the next paragraph.
Still with us? Good. So, according to The Daily Mail – which isn't always the most reliable source of information, but we're intrigued enough to hope it's real – Lashana Lynch's character is the person who inherits the 007 designation when Bond decides he's enough of the spy life and retires to Jamaica. "There is a pivotal scene at the start of the film where M says, 'Come in 007,' and in walks Lashana who is black, beautiful and a woman," according to one of the paper's sources. "It's a popcorn-dropping moment. Bond is still Bond, but he's been replaced as 007 by this stunning woman." It's apparently part of Phoebe Waller-Bridge's additions to the script.
The paper also mentions that Daniel Craig's Bond tries to hit on her, but she's having none of it. Lynch's agent seems unlikely to hold on to the status, given that Craig has been busy filming now his ankle is recovered, but we're fascinated to see how the character works out.
With Cary Fukunaga directing, the film also features Ralph Fiennes, Rami Malek, Léa Seydoux, Ana de Armas, Naomie Harris, Jeffrey Wright, and, if recent reports pan out, Christoph Waltz as Blofeld. The film is still targeting a 3 April release next year in the UK, ahead of its 8 April debut in the States