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Everything We Know About James Bond Sequel 'SPECTRE' So Far

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We are now less than two months away from the release of the 24th James Bond movie, SPECTRE, which will mark Daniel Craig’s fourth turn as superspy 007. Though many details about the production are still top secret, there’s been more than a few strategic reveals in the run-up to the movie’s premiere. Here’s what we know so far about director Sam Mendes’ blockbuster, which hits theaters on November 6.

What do we know about the movie’s nefarious plot?

The film picks up after Skyfall ends, with a new leader for MI6 (Ralph Fiennes’ M) and a slightly broken Bond. The official logline explains that, “a cryptic message from Bond’s past sends him on a trail to uncover a sinister organization,” known as SPECTRE. Dedicated Bond fans will know about that evil empire’s long history with the franchise, starting with the very first 007 movie Dr. No in 1963. This time around, the group is led by Franz Oberhauser (Christoph Waltz), who seems to have a history with Bond.

In the new issue of Empire, Mendes says that the film will also dig deep into Bond’s murky personal story. “In Skyfall, we got to Bond age 12 when his parents died, but what happened after that?,” he asks. “What happened during his adolescence? It’s kind of a retrospective creation story, in a way. When you looked at the surface of Skyfall, it all felt like an ending. But it was a new beginning on so many levels. It felt like there were all these threads to pull, so let’s pull them.”

Does one of those threads include Blofeld?

One of the most indelible villains in the murderer’s row of Bond baddies has always been Ernst Stavro Blofeld, leader of the SPECTRE organization, who in previous films has been played by Telly Savalas and Donald Pleasence, among others. Given the title of the new film, it would seem logical that the diabolical mastermind would be back in the fold, but both Waltz and Mendes have insisted repeatedly that Waltz’s character is definitely not Blofeld.

Speaking with Empire, Mendes again pushed back on inquiries, saying that, “The naming of a character is part of a story. The audience cannot and should not be given — and I’m not confirming or denying anything — information that the characters do not have.” Of course, Empire pushed him even further, which led him to say the same thing, but in a more joking manner.

“The B-word! We talk about it all the time. It’s the great figure from the Bond vault, as it were… There was this big spectre hanging over the movie and the franchise, which is Blofeld, and what happened to the supervillain. That’s all I’m going to say.”

What about the other characters?

For starters, there are several new Bond Girls, of different ages and nationalities:

Lea Seydoux, the French actress best known in the U.S. for Blue is the Warmest Color, plays Madeleine Swann. She’s a mysterious doctor who has "a pivotal relationship” with Bond, according to Mendes.

Monica Bellucci, meanwhile, considers herself more of a “Bond Woman,” and plays Lucia Sciarra, “an Italian widow with secrets.” Here’s something we do know: Her husband was a Mafioso before he was rubbed out, and now she faces the same danger.

Stephanie Sigman, a 27-year-old Mexican actress, is the first Bond Girl from that country. We don’t know much about her character, though she goes by the name Estrella.

Meanwhile, Guardians of the Galaxy star and former professional fighter Dave Bautista plays Mr. Hinx, a skull-crushing hatchet man who chases Bond across the world. Literally — they race through the streets of Rome and on the slopes of the Alps, which we’ll get to later.

We’ll also be seeing the return of some familiar characters from Skyfall, including Ralph Fiennes’s Lt. Col. Gareth Mallory, who takes over the role of M after Judi Dench’s character death. According to Empire, M will have to deal with opposition from within the British security apparatus, led by MI5’s C (Andrew Scott), who “advocates the supremacy of digital surveillance” in a post-Edward Snowden world. “MI6 represents the man on the ground who has to make contact with his opposition. He has to put himself in harm’s way in order to do his job. As opposed to drones, and surveillance, and satellites: everything done at arm’s length.” To that end, M actually gets into the action this time, and Fiennes says there’s only one scene in his newly redesigned office.

Naomi Harris also returns as M’s ever-capable assistant Moneypenny. And Ben Whishaw is back as the new weapons wiz Q. Despite his slight and dorky appearance, he is also going to get in the middle of the fight against SPECTRE. Whishsaw told Empire that, “he goes rogue” and heads off to Austria “to try and bring Bond back” when he starts fearing for his mental health.

Where in the world will Bond land this time?

Presumably, the film will have plenty of scenes in London. But as always, Bond will also be racking up the frequent flier miles. The film begins with an elaborate action sequence in Mexico City during the Day of the Dead parade.

At some point after that, there will be a wild car chase in Rome between Bond and Mr. Hinx. And 007 will also hit the slopes in Austria, for a high-wire action sequence in a cable car.

Speaking of cars…

As per tradition, Bond will be behind the wheel of a pretty slick Aston Martin. But he’ll be chased by an equally slick car: The Jaguar C-X75, a million-dollar-plus electric hybrid car that the luxury automaker decided not to produce for the public a few years ago… maybe because it goes from 0-60 in three seconds and has a top speed of over 200 MPH.