James Bond 25: Ralph Fiennes on keeping 007 movies ALIVE and playing M beyond Daniel Craig

Introduced as new M at the end of Skyfall following Judi Dench’s incarnation’s death, Fiennes reprised the MI6 chief in 2015’s Spectre. Now he’s back for James Bond 25, although admits he doesn’t know much about the film and hasn’t even seen a script. Speaking with Yahoo Movies, while promoting his new film The White Crow, the 56-year-old said: “The thing is, I don’t know anything about it. I think Cary [Fukunaga] is a great choice for director, but I really don’t know, I haven’t seen the script.”

He continued: “This is the usual pattern, where cards are held very close to the chest of the producers, writer and director, and I think when the moment is right then I’ll be allowed to read something.

“I just guess that the challenge of keeping the films intelligently alive with a contemporary twist that is entertaining to audiences, that’s a challenge.

“I’ve seen articles where he is increasingly written off as a dinosaur from another era, so it’s a juggling act to keep him in the conversation.”

Fiennes was also asked if he’d like to continue playing M beyond Craig’s incarnation of Bond, opposite the next 007.

Fiennes replied: “I like playing M, yes. I would be very happy to continue on.”

He certainly wouldn’t be the first actor to play M with different Bond actors.

Bernard Lee starred opposite Sir Sean Connery, George Lazenby and Sir Roger Moore.

While Robert Brown played M in the latter’s later films and Timothy Dalton’s two movies.

JAMES BOND 25 TITLE LEAKED? IT’S NOT SHATTERHAND

Then Dench was introduced as the first female M in Pierce Brosnan’s films, before returning for the big reboot opposite Craig and dying in Skyfall.

In another interview, Fiennes admitted he wasn’t in favour of a female or black Bond.

He said: I’d like to see a great black actor inhabit a Bond-like persona, but not necessarily in the same franchise.

“We could re-make Bond as a woman or as an actor of any ethnicity – in another vehicle.”

Bond 25 is released in UK cinemas on April 3, 2020.