James Bond Will Help Kick Off the London Olympics

James Bond fanatics won’t have to wait until November’s ‘Skyfall’ to see their beloved 007 in action.  Current Bond Daniel Craig has filmed a short in character as the lethal agent for a bit that will be included in the opening ceremonies for the London Olympics and you'll never guessed who personally put in the request.

The Guardian reports that Queen Elizabeth personally recruited Craig and opening ceremonies artistic director Danny Boyle for a piece filmed at Buckingham Palace. Titled ‘The Arrival,’ it shows Bond being told that his next mission will be to kick-start the Games. Boyle and Craig reportedly were given “unprecedented access to the palace and its private rooms” to film the short, which will air during the BBC’s coverage of the opening ceremonies.

It’s too bad the Queen wasn’t a bigger ‘127 Hours’ fan, because one-armed James Franco would have been great at the opening ceremonies, as well.

This is a big year for Bond, as The Guardian notes the franchise turns 50 with the 23rd installment reaching theaters. But Bond isn’t too old to change. The story points out that due to a sponsorship deal with Heineken, 007 will drink a beer in at least one scene, replacing his trademark martini. That bit of news is bound to have die-hard fans shaken and stirred.

The opening ceremonies for the Summer Olympics in London are set for July 27. Hopefully the Boyle short film arrives online shortly before or immediately after it airs. As for ‘Skyfall,’ it is being directed by Sam Mendes (‘America Beauty’) and reaches U.S. theaters on Nov. 9.