Mendes promises 007 fans an 'epic'

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

The Oscar-winning director 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.

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.

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