Production on James Bond 23 (tentative title) continues to ramp up with the film's release date slightly over a year away.  The new film has its villain (Javier Bardem), mysterious figure (Ralph Fiennes), and Miss Moneypenny (Naomie Harris).  It now also has the location for where director Sam Mendes will shot the film's opening scenes.  MI6-HQ.com reports that producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli met with officials in Istanbul (not Constantinople), Turkey to finalize plans to shoot in the city.  Istanbul (not Constantinople) has played host to the Bond films before with From Russia with Love and The World Is Not Enough, although it's unknown whether the city will serve as itself or as a substitute for another locale.  MI6-HQ also reports that the production is currently casting for a Turkish actress to play villain's girlfriend.  Principal photography begins in November.

Hit the jump for a new rumor surrounding who will play Bond's next gal.  The 23rd James Bond film is set for November 9, 2012.

Twitch reports that young French actress Berenice Marlohe has nabbed the role of the new Bond Girl.  Playing a Bond Girl (or Bond Villain-Girls) can seriously boost the career of a young actress (Famke Janssen, Eva Green) or the actress can become just another name that's ranked on the inevitable "Bond Girl" list that comes out before every new James Bond movie.  I don't know where Ms. Marlohe will land because I haven't seen any of her movies.  However, her next film, Un bonheur n'arrive jamais seul stars former Bond Villain-Girl Sophie Marceau (The World Is Not Enough).

With filming set to commence in a little over a month, we should expect a confirmation on all major casting very soon.

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