First official image of Daniel Craig as James Bond in Skyfall

Sony pictures have released the first official snap of James Bond himself - Daniel Craig — in upcoming 007 adventure 'Skyfall'.

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The moody image, revealed to 007.com, shows Bond in Shanghai holding a Walther PPK.

It's not the first 'official pic' from the movie of course, as last month another snap emerged showing the spy sitting in his swimming trunks by a swimming pool.

We think the new image is slightly much more exciting, but it doesn't shed much light on the film.

Nonetheless, as you'd expect there's been plenty of 'Skyfall' rumours doing the rounds.

A few weeks back director Sam Mendes and his crew were spotted shooting a stunt sequence with Bond on the back of Land Rover. Fans speculated the scene was an homage to 'Live and Let Die', which featured a scene where Bond's driver is assassinated and his car spins out of control.

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Also in London a mole on set spied a funeral scene being shot, with coffins draped in union jacks — will an iconic character bow out?

Another rumour: Ralph Fiennes will play a (possibly villainous) government agent who replaces Judi Dench as 'M' - the head of M16 - when her past comes back to haunt her.

Finally, a US site reckon the plot will revolve around about a downed intel satellite and the scrambling of various government agencies to retrieve it.

One thing we do know — Bond will sport a light beard.

Daniel Craig's co-stars in 'Skyfall' are Ralph Fiennes, Judi Dench, Javier Bardem, Albert Finney, Naomie Harris, Bérénice Marlohe and Ben Whishaw.

The 'Skyfall' release date in the UK on 26 October 2012.