Sam Mendes promises 007 fans Skyfall will be 'epic'

Director Sam Mendes has promised James Bond fans an "epic" film when Skyfall hits cinema screens this month.

The Oscar winner said the superspy would be a "three-dimensional" character and hinted the film could almost match On Her Majesty's Secret Service, which at 142 minutes is the longest Bond film yet.

He told Total Film: "As the movie progresses, it gets more epic.

"I loved the scale of it. I think there is a possibility that I put everything I've ever wanted to put in a Bond movie into this movie."

The publicity machine for the new film really gets into gear tomorrow when its theme tune, performed by Adele, gets its first full play at 0.07am.

It is just one of a series of events tomorrow - which has been dubbed Global James Bond Day - to mark the 50th anniversary of Bond's arrival on the big screen.

Fans were given a taste of the theme track, recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London with a 77-piece orchestra, when a 90-second clip appeared on the Soundcloud website earlier this week but it was removed within hours.

Adele has teamed up with Paul Epworth, who co-wrote and produced her massive hit Rolling In The Deep, to write Skyfall for the new film of the same name and she is 1/2 on to top the charts.

Stars who have missed out on the top spot with a Bond theme include Sir Paul McCartney, Tom Jones and Madonna, while Duran Duran got to number two in 1985 with A View To A Kill.

Bond fans will also get a chance to get their hands on Daniel Craig's trunks as his swimwear goes on sale in a charity auction.

The famous sky-blue tight shorts, worn as he emerged from a glistening sea in Casino Royale, are expected to fetch up to £5.000 in the sale of 007 memorabilia being staged by Christie's.

Craig's trunks, made by underwear brand La Perla, helped win over fans when he made his debut in the role in 2006. It was inspired by a similar scene in the first Bond film, Dr No, in which Ursula Andress appeared from the waves in a white bikini.

Skyfall, again starring Craig, is to be given its premiere on October 26.

PA