FIFTY YEARS SINCE Sean Connery was named as the first film star of James Bond, details of the latest movie in the franchise have been released at an event attended by more recent Bond actors Daniel Craig and Judi Dench.

Bond returnees Craig and Dench will be joined by Ralph Fiennes, Bérénice Marlohe, Javier Bardem, Albert Finney and Naomie Harris in the new Bond film Skyfall, with Bardem playing the main villain.

Skyfall – the 23rd Bond movie – will be directed by Oscar-winning director Sam Mendes and starts filming today in London.

Doubt had been cast over the film’s production during difficulties surrounding MGM studio’s financial position and its difficulty in attracting a buyer. MGM has been involved in all of the Bond films. Skyfall’s production was secured by a distribution deal between MGM and Sony earlier this year.

The @007 Twitter account noted that today’s press conference falls on “the same date that Sean Connery was announced as the first James Bond” five decades ago. Bond producer Michael Wilson described 2012 as the “golden anniversary” of the series, with Skyfall’s release next year coming “within days” of when the first Bond film Dr No opened in 1962:

Some of the Skyfall cast turned out to to mark today’s announcement: