Published Friday, 31 August 2012
Movie bosses behind the popular franchise have declared 5 October Global James Bond Day, five decades after Sir Sean Connery made his debut as the superspy in 1962's Dr. No.
A series of special events are being organised around the world, including the launch of a Bond exhibition at New York's Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), The Music of Bond concert at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Los Angeles, and the release of a new documentary, Everything or Nothing: The Untold Story of 007.
Global James Bond Day will also feature a Christie's live internet auction, which will sell off Bond memorabilia in aid of 12 charities, and the Designing 007: 50 Years of Bond Style exhibition, which has been running in London this summer, will move to Canada as part of the Toronto International Film Festival.
Bond producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli say in a statement: "We are absolutely thrilled to be celebrating James Bond's golden anniversary on film with this special day of events for Bond fans around the world."
Global James Bond Day will take place three weeks before the release of the 23rd film in the franchise, Skyfall, starring Daniel Craig, which hits cinemas on 26 October.