Next James Bond film to start shooting in December

Shooting of the next James Bond film, the 24th installment of the popular spy series, will begin on Dec. 6 at Pinewood Studios near London, Variety reported.

Sam Mendes is back to direct the new film following his work on the hugely successful “Skyfall” (2012).

Daniel Craig will once again play Agent 007 in the new installment, starring in his fourth Bond flick after his turns in “Casino Royale” (2006), “Quantum of Solace” (2008) and “Skyfall.”

Rounding out the main cast are Ralph Fiennes as “M,” Naomie Harris as “Eve Moneypenny” and Ben Whishaw as “Q.”

The rest of the cast has not been confirmed, Variety said.

The screenplay is by John Logan, Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, the team behind “Skyfall.”

MGM, Sony and producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli said last summer that the movie would open on Oct. 23, 2015, in Britain and Nov. 6, 2015, in the United States.

“Skyfall,” which featured Spanish actor Javier Bardem as the villain, was the most successful film in the Bond series, grossing more than $1 billion worldwide.