Dame Judi Dench says she will be back as M - filming starts around January 2006

Dame Judi Dench, who has played 007's boss M in the last four James Bond movies starring Pierce Brosnan, has said she is onboard the 21st film.

Dench appeared on the "Steve Wright" BBC Radio 2 show yesterday and briefly talked about "Casino Royale" - to be directed by "GoldenEye" helmer Martin Campbell.

She said filming for "Casino Royale" was expected to start around January / February 2006. This would fit in with the expected schedule of a November 2006 release in theatres.



No official casting announcements have been made, but Dench has said on a number of occasions that she would be returning as M for a fifth time.

Back in October 2004, Dench said filming for Bond 21 was originally going to start in January 2005, but this was shelved after MGM's proposed release date of 18th November 2005 was canned by the studio. The schedule for the production has now shifted a year.

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