Bond 25: Rami Malek to join the 007 family

The Oscar winner adds to new arrivals to the franchise, including Ana de Armas and Lashana Lynch, as shooting starts in Jamaica

TOPSHOT - Best Actor winner for "Bohemian Rhapsody" Rami Malek poses in the press room during the 91st Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on February 24, 2019.  / AFP / FREDERIC J. BROWN
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The producers of Bond 25 have revealed the main cast of the next James Bond film at an event live-streamed from Ian Fleming's GoldenEye villa in Jamaica, where the movie will start filming this week.

Producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson, alongside director Cary Fukunaga, introduced the new cast to viewers, with the biggest news surely that, as widely rumoured, Oscar-winner Rami Malek is among the newcomers.

The producers did not confirm that Malek will be playing a villain, although his brief comments left little room for doubt: "I will be making sure Mr Bond doesn't get an easy ride in his 25th outing," said the Egyptian-American star of Bohemian Rhapsody.

Blade Runner 2049's Ana de Armas looks set to be the latest Bond girl, while the other newcomers to the cast are Billy Magnussen, Lashana Lynch, former boxer Dali Benssalah and David Dencik.

All of the main recurring characters will be reprising their roles. Including Daniel Craig as Bond, Ralph Fiennes and Ben Whishaw as M and Q respectively, and Naomi Harris as Moneypenny.

The producers also revealed the movie still has no title, and that filming will take place in Jamaica, Norway, Italy and Pinewood Studios in London.

This will be Daniel Craig’s final film in the role of Bond, with no decision on who will replace him in the franchise made as yet.