'Bond 23' UK release date announced

The James Bond film series' 23rd instalment will be released on October 26, 2012.

Sony Pictures UK confirmed the UK cinema release date on its official Twitter account on Thursday.

Bond 23 - the working title for the project - had already been announced as debuting in the US on November 9, 2012.

Plans for Bond 23 were reportedly put on hold last year as MGM faced a financial crisis, but were revived once the company emerged from bankruptcy in November 2010.

Judi Dench disclosed earlier this year that she is to reprise her role as M for the upcoming movie, but stayed tight-lipped on the film's storyline, saying: "I can't tell you anything at all!"

Oscar-winning director Sam Mendes is to helm the film and Daniel Craig will return as 007, while Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli will produce.

Sir Anthony Hopkins and Javier Bardem have both been linked to roles in Bond 23.

Watch the trailer for the last James Bond movie Quantum of Solace below: