MGM studios announced today that filming for the next installment of the JAMES BOND franchise will begin later this year with a scheduled November 9th 2012 release. The studio has been having quite a bit of trouble getting this film started and it should be a relief to hear that filming is on track and ready to begin soon.

The 23rd BOND film will be directed by Sam Mendes and has no official title or Bond girl attached. Daniel Craig and Dame Judi Dench are the only official actors on board playing James Bond himself and M. While the script has been written, no official details have emerged yet and no plot or general story line has been revealed.

CASINO ROYALE was released in 2006 with it’s follow up QUANTUM OF SOLACE two years later in 2008. We should have seen a new BOND in 2010, but problems with the studio got in the way so we will now have a 4 year (instead of 2 year) gap between installments. So we will just have to be patient and happy that things are now on the fast track and ready to begin filming. Daniel Craig sure has kept himself busy while waiting on the new BOND. We will see him all over the place in 2011 in the films COWBOYS & ALIENS, THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO, and DREAM HOUSE. Stay tuned for updates as they become available.