10/28/2011

Albert Finney cast in Bond 23


The last time we saw the great Albert Finney on screen it was back in 2007 when he appeared in both The Bourne Ultimatum and Sidney Lumet's Before the Devil Knows You're Dead. Since then he's been battling some major health issues, but in recent months he's been making one heck of a comeback. Recently he signed to reprise his role as the manipulative Dr. Albert Hirsch in The Bourne Legacy, and now he's set to join the biggest spy franchise of them all in Sam Mendes' upcoming James Bond flick.

Rumored to be titled Skyfall, the film brings back Daniel Craig and Judi Dench in the super agent's battle against the evil Quantum organization. Ralph Fiennes, Javier Bardem, Naomie Harris, Ben Whishaw, Helen Mcrory, and Berenice Merlohe will all have roles, with Finney reportedly playing M's superior at the British Foreign Office. He sounds like the type of guy who'll likely bet in Bond's way at some point, and considering the role is said to be "reasonably big" by the folks at TheDailyMail, I'd bet on it.

Finney's inclusion only assures me this will be the best Bond flick in years, based mostly on the wealth of talent involved. With Quantum of Solace being considered such a disappointment by many, there's a need to really blow people away this time. With a script by John Logan(The Aviator, Rango) and Mendes behind the camera, I can hardly wait. Bond 23(or whatever it'll be called) will hit theaters November 9th 2012.