Sony To Make 007 Announcement Official On Friday

Sony Pictures Entertainment said Wednesday that the studio will announce the actor who will play James Bond in director Martin Campbell's Casino Royale on Friday, October 14, at a news conference in London.

Reuters says no further details were disclosed, and the mystery remains over who will star in the film franchise that has grossed nearly $4 billion at global box offices since the first Bond film, Dr. No, hit the silver screen in 1962.

Reports in London have identified English actor Daniel Craig, who recently starred in Layer Cake, as the new Bond, but that could not be confirmed.

The new actor will succeed Pierce Brosnan, who first played 007 in 1995's GoldenEye, also directed by Campbell, and ended his run with 2002's Die Another Day. Four others have portrayed James Bond, including Sean Connery, Roger Moore, George Lazenby and Timothy Dalton.

Casino Royale is scheduled to begin production in January for an October 19, 2006 release.