(Douglas Porter-Staff Writer)

Bond, James Bond is back. This time he is no longer 007 and has retired from Mi6 to live out his days with his true love Madeline played by Lea Seydoux. In an art imitating life situation Bond is thrust back into the dangers of Mi6, just like star Daniel Craig had been thrust back into the Bond universe. During the press junket for James Bond 24 know more specifically as Spectre, Craig had said that it was his final Bond. But, with the fans maintaining the stance of 1 more film with Craig, and a script that enticed Craig to return to the role, Columbia announced James Bond 25: No Time to Die with Craig returning for shaken Martinis one more time. Now don’t get the notion that he is now back for more; during an interview this week Craig has confirmed that this is definitively his final Bond.

After a small sizzle reel was released online, fans speculated a trailer would be released in November as it seems 6 months before release seems to be the standard timeline for a trailer. Columbia pushed the release of the first trailer to December 4, 2019.

Premiering in the morning tandemly with 5 character posters the trailer came in at 2 minutes 38 seconds. The trailer did not bury the lead, with the opening showing Bond being chased, fired at by henchman on motorcycles and finding out he had been betrayed by Madeline. Now in the world of deception and misdirection this could be a different scene just taken out of context, but with what the trailer furthered showed us, it is very obvious Bond will have to fight one more time in order to survive. This time he will not be 007, as that title has been given to a new Mi6 agent: Nomi, a no nonsense, paid her dues, Mi6 agent.

The most anticipated character to arrive with this movie is the new villain: Safin. Safin is being played by Academy award winner, and a much loved actor of our show, Rami Malek. With Rami’s sky rocket to fame after Bohemian Rhapsody, and his titular role as Elliot Alderson on Mr. Robot coming to an end fans were wondering what he would be doing next. Taking on the role of the facially scarred Safin, put Rami in a position to be one of the top Bond villains, behind Christoph Waltz and his portrayal of Bloefield, whom coincidently also makes a return in this film.

Also returning to the movie are: Ralph Fiennes as M, Naomi Harris as Moneypenny, and Ben Whishaw as Q, a character who Bond expresses his emotions for by claiming he missed Q. I don’t want to give much of the trailer away, as I feel it needs to be seen rather that read about, but there the Bond staples in this trailer, and a lovely homage to the infamous Bond opening credits. The only remaining staple to be announced by Columbia is what famous singer or band will take on the opening credits song whos past songs have been performed by the late Chris Cornell, Jack White and Alicia Keys, Adelle, and Sam Smith.

 No Time to Die the 25^th Bond film will be released to theatres on April 8^th, 2020.