The "James Bond 24" casting is updated with the involvement of Christopher Waltz, expected to play a central villain in the film.

The current "James Bond 24" casting is a follow-up to "Skyfall," with Daniel Craig retained for the role of the protagonist. A rumored addition to the ensemble is Christopher Waltz, who played the cunning yet charming villain in "Inglorious Basterds."

The Daily Mail reports on the script for the 24th James Bond film to date, insisting "it's not immediately evident whether [Waltz' character is] friend, or foe, for a bit of both."

Daniel Craig says the next James Bond film will try to reclaim some of the old irony of the franchise, and it appears Christopher Waltz fits in neatly with the objective.

"James Bond 24" casting reprises actors from "Skyfall:" Naomie Harris, Ben Whishaw, and Ralph Fiennes, with newcomers Léa Seydoux and Dave Bautista joining in.

Sam Mendez directs with the intent to finish where "Skyfall" left off:

"I started a number of stories that were incomplete. I cast a new M, I cast a new Moneypenny, I cast a new Q, I cast a new Tanner. There was a missing piece now. I felt like there was a way to create the second part of a two-part story. And then I started to get really interested again, when they agreed to wait a little longer and not go immediately and not go with two movies but with one, which I felt very strongly about."

A trilogy was reportedly planned for the next James Bond installments, but Mendez is currently committed to the first, insisting a two-parter would be enough.

"What we tried to do, and audiences seemed to embrace in Skyfall, was that for the first time characters were allowed to age, and they were allowed to acknowledge the passing of the years, and were allowed to acknowledge the history - in a kind of sly, mischievous way - the history of the franchise that they've been part of." (screenrant.com)

James Bond 24" release date is slated for November 6, 2015.