Producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. and Sony Pictures Entertainment announced that the 22nd James Bond adventure will be released by Columbia Pictures on May 2, 2008 with Daniel Craig reprising the role of the legendary British secret agent.

The story for the latest James Bond film produced by the franchise holders, EON Productions has yet to be announced.

"As we wrap production on Casino Royale we couldn't be more excited about the direction the franchise is heading with Daniel Craig. Daniel has taken the origins of Ian Fleming's James Bond portraying, with emotional complexity, a darker and edgier 007," said Wilson and Broccoli.

EON Productions is owned by the Broccoli family and is the most successful film series in history. The most recent adventure, DIE ANOTHER DAY (2002), was also the highest grossing film in the franchise bringing in almost $430 million in worldwide box office receipts. THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH (1999) grossed $353 million, TOMORROW NEVER DIES released in 1997, grossed more than $340 million around the world and GOLDENEYE, took in $345 million.

The enduring film franchise created by the late producer, Albert R. (Cubby) Broccoli, was launched in 1962 with DR. NO starring Sean Connery, who went on to play James Bond in FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE, GOLDFINGER, THUNDERBALL, YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE and DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER. George Lazenby had one outing as 007, in ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE, before Roger Moore took over the role in LIVE AND LET DIE, THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN, THE SPY WHO LOVED ME, MOONRAKER, FOR YOUR EYES ONLY, OCTOPUSSY and A VIEW TO A KILL. Timothy Dalton later inherited the role and played the famed spy in THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS and LICENCE TO KILL. The most recent James Bond was Pierce Brosnan, who starred in the global blockbusters GOLDENEYE, TOMORROW NEVER DIES, THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH and DIE ANOTHER DAY.