When was SPECTRE released – UK release date, cast and DVD details

On a giant monochrome stage in London’s Pinewood Studios, the 24th installment of James Bond was announced on the 4th December 2014 by director Sam Mendes and the brilliantly named producer Barbara Broccoli. With typical British reserve, the announcement was delivered with a very understated style, but you’ve only got to take a quick look at the size of the press audience in the video below, along with the dramatic title reveal to see that this is going to be anything but a restrained affair.

The event also saw a large number of the new cast members join forces to announce the movie title, including Daniel Craig and Bond girls Léa Seydoux and Monica Bellucci. It also gave us our first view of the new car James will drive in SPECTRE, the Aston Martin DB10, whcih you can see in the image below.

Release date

When was Spectre released in cinemas:

In addition to the announcement of the name of the movie, Mendes also confirmed the UK release date for the 26th October 2015 at the launch event, which meant that as of the reveal in 2014 there was less than a year to go. It was followed by a US and worldwide release on the 6th November 2015. While rumours have been rife that the movie would be hitting the big screen in 2015, it was good to get to see the action when it finally arrived and you can read our SPECTRE review to find out more about what we thought of the film.

DVD, Blu-ray and digital download:

The DVD has been scheduled for a release date in the UK of the 22nd February 2016, along with the Blu-ray and digital download. Bizarrely, and in contrast to the cinema release, it will be arriving in the US a couple of weeks earlier than in Britain with a date confirmed for the 9th February 2016, so for anyone that either missed it on the big screen, or itching to see it again you didn’t have long to wait.

You can see all of the DVD and Blu-ray special features below, along with front cover imagery and the movie poster. You can also visit to see more on the latest film in the series, No Time To Die, or visit the James Bond Twitter page at https://twitter.com/007.

Storyline

While Sam was happy to spill the beans on the title and release date for SPECTRE, he was a lot more tight lipped on the plot of the movie. However, we were able to take a lot from the name itself, along with some of the location details that were mentioned in the video below, but with more information seeping out in the run-up to the release and the first teaser trailer release, we know a lot more about the plot for the film.

Firstly, SPECTRE is a pretty epic reference to the sinister international organisation who’s very name stands for SPecial Executive for Counter-intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge and Extortion. They first appeared in Thunderball, Sir Ian Fleming’s 1961 novel, which went onto to be the classic film it was in 1965. Back in their heyday they were headed up by one Ernst Stavro Blofeld and while he’s not reappearing in Bond 24, we wouldn’t be surprised if the storyline leads on to his introduction to the series once again later on down the line.

Facing a worldwide conspiracy orchestrated by the nasties at SPECTRE, James must put all of the clues together to uncover the truth behind the ever increasing intensity of their interventions on the world stage. However, there will also be a secret from James’ past to contend with, linking him to the very head of the many tentacled organisation, picking up directly after the onslaught of Skyfall.

Cast

Daniel Craig (The Adventures of Tintin Secret of the Unicorn) is inevitably back in the role of James Bond and he’ll be joined once again after the fury of Skyfall by returning cast members, Ralph Feinnes (The Grand Budapest Hotel) as M, Naomie Harris as the recently revealed Miss Moneypenny, Ben Wishaw (Cloud Atlas) as Q and Rory Kinnear (Black Mirror) as M’s chief of staff, Bill Tanner.

Mendes also confirmed a number of new additions to the cast, including the Bond girls for the film, with Monica Bellucci (The Matrix Reloaded) as Lucia Sciarra and Léa Seydoux (The Grand Budapest Hotel) as Madeleine Swann. Christoph Waltz (Epic) will also star as Franz Oberhauser, Bond’s nemesis in the movie, alongside Andrew Scott (Sherlock) as Denbigh, a new addition to M’s team, and wrestler Dave Bautista (Guardians Of The Galaxy) as baddy Mr. Hinx.

The most recent new addition to the cast is Mexican actress Stephanie Sigman, who has been confirmed to play the 3rd Bond girl in SPECTRE, Estrella. For anyone not familiar with the relative newcomer, you can see her in the latest photoshoot with our Bond 24 movie images.

Production

SPECTRE began shooting on Monday 8th December 2014, just a mere four days after the announcement of the title for the movie, following on from rehearsals that had been underway at Pinewood Studios throughout November and into December of the same year. The seven month shooting cycle saw the production roll into London, Rome, Morocco and the Austrian Alps.

Mendes was joined once again behind the camera by production designer Dennis Gassner, costume designer Jany Temime, head of special effects Chris Corbould, head of stunts Gary Powell and head of visual effects Steve Begg. Thomas Newman (Finding Dory) was back to compose the score for the movie, and the writing team was the same one that completed Skyfall; John Logan, Rob Wade and Neal Purvis. You can check out more on the production at https://www.007.com.

Michael G. Wilson also produced the film with Barbara Broccoli and there’s a couple of additions to the back room staff, including editor Lee Smith (Interstellar) and cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema (Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (2011).

DVD and Blu-ray extras

DVD special features:

• Video feature with director, Sam Mendes
• Supercars featurette covering the fast drives that were used in the film, including the DB10, which you can see below
• Day of the Dead Festival – video on the festival that features in the opening sections of SPECTRE
• Introducing Léa Seydoux and Monica Bellucci as the latest Bond girls
• A video on the action sequences in the film
• Music feature, looking at the score and opening single by Sam Smith
• Guinness World Record video feature, looking at the record the film set for the world’s largest stunt

Blu-ray special features:

All DVD extras plus…

• SPECTRE: Bond’s Biggest Opening Sequence
• Image gallery from the production and run-up to the release of the film

Review

SPECTRE had already got the hallmarks of a classic bond outing right from the very first press briefing, with a brilliant cast on board, the addition of a new Bond Car – the DB10 unveiled in the video below – and a return to the infamous nemeses of past Bond greats. The production team was as solid as they come and the addition of both Smith and Hoytema only add to the quality of the end result.

We literally couldn’t wait to see Bond back in the snow of the alps, racing the DB10 and hunting down the sinister presence of the SPECTRE organisation and the good news is that when the release date finally came around it delivered on all of the promise of the build up. It’s not faultless with its unnecessary family ties, but it does pack a very sharp punch with great action, classic bond elements and a slick plot development. If you missed it on the big screen, or if you’re just a big Bond fan, then it should be high up on your DVD to-do list.

SPECTRE announcement video:

SPECTRE imagery:

DVD front cover, with James looking every bit the ice-cold killer that he is.

The new car for Bond 24, the impressive Aston Martin DB10, looking pretty cool at the launch event.

New Bond girls Monica Bellucci, Lea Seydoux and Naome Harris looking very glamorous at the reveal.

Daniel Craig rocking the woolly jumper in anticipation for the release.

Movie poster:

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