007 is officially back. James Bond 23 has been set with an official release date of November 9, 2012. Read the official, yet brief press release below:

Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli of EON Productions, together with Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum, Co-Chairmen and Chief Executive Officers of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc., today announced that the 23rd James Bond film will commence production in late 2011 for a worldwide release on November 9, 2012.

Daniel Craig will be returning as the legendary British secret agent, with Sam Mendes directing a screenplay written by Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and John Logan."

The producers are reportedly casting other roles at this time, with speculation that Simon Russell Beale is being eyed for a villain role. Producer Barbara Broccoli was attracted to the actor after seeing his current London play, Deathtrap. He will also star as King Lear in a 2012 stage production which Sam Mendes is directing at the National Theatre. Simon Russell Beale also told a U.K. newspaper last year that he wanted to play a "baddie" in James Bond 23.