The seven hills of Rome will provide the backdrop to 007's latest adventures as producers of the 24th James Bond film shoot scenes in the Italian capital next year.
In his fourth reprisal of the silver screen's most famous secret agent, British actor Daniel Craig is set to get caught up in several high-speed chases around the city's history-lined alleyways, main thoroughfares and river banks.
But the highlight of his trip to Rome will reportedly be a pinpoint landing, after parachuting out of a helicopter, on the Ponte Sisto, a narrow 15th-century pedestrian bridge across the River Tiber that is itself a replacement for an earlier walkway dating back to the fourth century.
Details of Rome's cameo role in the upcoming blockbuster, which is due to start filming at London's Pinewood Studios before the end of the year, were leaked to Italian media.
The film is to be directed by Britain's Sam Mendes, the acclaimed theatre director responsible for the phenomenally successful 23rd installment of the Bond story, "Skyfall".
The still untitled 24th chapter is expected to be released at the end of next year.
The shooting of scenes in Rome represents another boost for the capital's Cinecitta Studios, which is currently undergoing a revival of its fortunes.
Anne Rice's "Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt" and "Everest" starring Keira Knightley were both shot there recently and there are plans for a remake of the epic Ben Hur to be partly filmed at the iconic studios early next year.
Source: AFP