I’ve held off for months on writing something about the song for the 23rd official James Bond film*, but it’s looking very likely that the artist for said lyrically-enhanced music has been locked into place. Yep, Adele. The trades and tabloids have been buzzing for months about the singer/songwriter’s potential participation in Skyfall. Hell, with the exception of a few random rumors from previous years (The Killers, Muse, etc.), I believe she might be the only one that has cropped up this time…at least to my knowledge.
This really has been a terribly kept secret. In addition to the artist herself teasing it for months now, multiple people within the production (including Daniel Craig and Michael G. Wilson) have hinted at it to the press. While “official” confirmation has yet to arrive and likely won’t until EON is ready for the song to be publicly released, at this juncture it seems like a done deal. Frankly, if it isn’t, it damn well should be. Heaven help us if we end up with another rushed song like Quantum of Solace‘s awful “Another Way To Die“.
The tune was composed and recorded under the supervision of franchise newcomer Thomas Newman** and has reportedly been completed. The fact that they have seemingly taken their time on this one is comforting. After bad quality demo leaks of the songs for the previous two Craig films, expect EON & Co. to keep a tight lock on “Skyfall“*** until we are closer to the release of the film’s score and the film itself.
Speaking of Skyfall, the official running time of the film clocks in at 145 minutes. That makes it the longest Bond film to date, usurping Craig’s own Casino Royale as the current record-holder. Funnily enough, Craig also holds the record for the shortest Bond film with Quantum of Solace (106 min.). Before I shoot my way out of this room and adjust my cufflinks, I’ll toss you the new official synopsis for the original Mr. Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang’s latest adventure…
In SKYFALL, Bond’s loyalty to M (JUDI DENCH) is tested as her past returns to haunt her. 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.
When Bond’s latest assignment goes gravely wrong and agents around the world are exposed, MI6 is attacked forcing M to relocate the agency. These events cause her authority and position to be challenged by Mallory (RALPH FIENNES), the new Chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee. With MI6 now compromised from both inside and out, M is left with one ally she can trust: Bond. 007 takes to the shadows – aided only by field agent, Eve (NAOMIE HARRIS) – following a trail to the mysterious Silva (JAVIER BARDEM), whose lethal and hidden motives have yet to reveal themselves.
Skyfall blasts its way onto screens in style on October 26th in the United Kingdom and November 9th in the US.
Source | Showbiz 411
* – Three unofficial (aka non-EON sanctioned) 007 adventures exist: Casino Royale (1954) (TV), Casino Royale (1967), and Never Say Never Again (1983).
** – Standing in for longtime composer David Arnold, who will presumably return to scoring duties for Bond 24. With the exception of the latest entry, David has scored every Bond outing since 1997. If Arnold does indeed come back, here’s hoping he realizes his dream of Shirley Bassey belting out one last Bond tune…which he almost accomplished on the last one.
*** – Assuming the song title remains intact, this will be the first tune for a Craig Bond film to bear the title of the film itself.