Scenes for the long-awaited new James Bond movie will be filmed in Scotland, the Sunday Mail can reveal.
Producers are said to be keen to connect the movie, starring Daniel Craig, to its tartan roots.
Ian Fleming’s novels, on which the secret agent’s exploits are based, tell how Bond was born and raised here before he joined MI6.
It was confirmed at a launch event on Thursday that filming will take place in Norway and Italy.
But we can reveal that crews are also planning to record scenes in the Highlands.
A source said: “Main cast members are due to arrive in Scotland for filming around August. Locations in the Highlands and Aviemore have been scouted and filming is expected to last for just over a week.
“As is the norm with Bond films, a number of locations across the world are being used. The schedule is tight and simultaneous production can take place in more than one location at a time.”
(Image: SUNDAY MAIL)
Scotland provided a backdrop for previous movies in the series.
Scenes for Skyfall were shot at Glencoe, while Eilean Donan castle was MI6’s Scottish HQ in The World Is Not Enough.
Faslane on the Clyde was used as the location for a mission briefing for Bond at the start of 70s classic The Spy Who Loved Me.
It was revealed on Thursday that Oscar winner Rami Malek is to play a villain in the new movie, which has a working title of Bond 25.
The film, the 25th in the series, will be Craig’s fifth and final outing as the secret agent.
Cast members and movie details were disclosed at a launch event at GoldenEye, the former home in Jamaica of creator Fleming.
Malek, who won the Oscar for best actor in February for playing singer Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody, said: “I will be making sure Mr Bond does not have an easy ride in this, his 25th outing.”
Ralph Fiennes and Ben Whishaw are returning as MI6 staff members M and Q respectively.
Moneypenny will again be played by Naomie Harris, while Lea Seydoux is reprising her Madeleine Swann character from 2015’s Spectre.
The title of the film, to be released next April, wasn’t announced at last week’s “reveal” event. But sources have suggested the working title is Eclipse.
Reports last month suggested that producers want a Scot to replace Craig in further moves to take the agent – first played on screen by Sean Connery – back to his roots.
Outlander star Sam Heughan and Richard Madden, who gained fame in Bodyguard this year, have been linked to the role.
No one from Bond producers Eon was able to confirm if filming would take place in Scotland.
