Skyfall set high expectations for James Bond 24, but the right pieces are falling into place in order to meet the challenge.  Last week, we learned that Sam Mendes would likely return to direct Bond 24 (and possibly James Bond 25), and now Bond has his girl.  According to Yahoo! Movies UK, Oscar-winning actress Penelope Cruz will play the Bond girl in Bond 24.  Yahoo!'s story notes that when she turns 40 next year, Cruz will be the oldest Bond girl to date (and therefore charmingly age appropriate to the 45-year-old Daniel Craig).  Her age is a fun bit of a trivia, but getting to the actual casting, Cruz is a fantastic choice.  She's sharp, she's sexy, and she can easily hold her own against Craig.  Producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson reportedly tried to get Cruz in the past, but were unable to do so due to scheduling conflicts.

Filming on Bond 24 is set to begin next summer.  While a 2016 release had been mentioned, if the film shoots in summer 2014, then a 2015 release could be a serious possibility.