James Bond: 25th film title revealed as 'No Time to Die'

Long-awaited announcement comes after challenging production period for cast and crew

Actress Lea Seydoux, from left, director Cary Joji Fukunaga, actors Ana de Armas, Daniel Craig, Naomie Harris and Lashana Lynch pose for photographers during the photo call of the latest installment of the James Bond film franchise, currently known as 'Bond 25', in Oracabessa, Jamaica, Thursday, April 25, 2019. (AP Photo/Leo Hudson)
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Actor Daniel Craig's final outing as British spy James Bond will be titled No Time to Die.

In an announcement on social media on Tuesday on the official accounts of the franchise, the title was revealed along with a release date of April 2020.

Filming for the new instalment, previously known only as Bond 25, got under way in Jamaica in April when producers announced that Oscar winner Rami Malek will play the villain in the latest entry in the British spy franchise.

Craig confirmed in 2017 that he would return for a fifth and final time as secret agent 007.

Producers said on Tuesday that the new film would see Bond enjoying a tranquil life in Jamaica after leaving active service before an old friend, Felix Leiter, from the CIA turns up asking for help.

Bond embarks on a mission to rescue a kidnapped scientist, which puts him on the trail of a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology, they said.

No Time to Die was initially expected to arrive in cinemas in November but that date was pushed back to 2020 after the award-winning British director Danny Boyle pulled out and was replaced by American Cary Joji Fukunaga.

The film is also being shot in London, Italy and Norway and actors reprising their roles will include Ralph Fiennes as M, Naomie Harris as Moneypenny and Ben Whishaw as Q.

The Bond franchise is one of the movie world's most lucrative with 2015's Spectre raking in $880 million (Dh3.2 billion) at the box office worldwide, while Skyfall in 2012 grossed more than $1bn globally.