In this May 20, 1977 file photo, Roger Moore, alias British secret agent James Bond, is accompanied by co-star Barbara Bach as they arrive for the screening of "The Spy Who Loved Me" at the Cannes Film Festival on the French Riviera. Moore played Bond seven times over a dozen years. By the time he finished playing 007 in 1985's "A View To A Kill," he was 57, making him the oldest actor to portray Bond. The upcoming new Bond film "Spectre" starring Daniel Craig has its World Premiere on Monday Oct. 26, 2015, in London. (AP Photo, File)
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LONDON (AP) - A glitzy premiere is an inherent part of the whole Bond experience.
And no doubt Monday's world premiere of "Spectre," the 24th official James Bond film, at the Royal Albert Hall in London will deliver the expected goods: royalty, celebrities, adoring fans and a photographer or two.
Just like many elements of the films themselves, the marketing of the Bond series follows a successful template. As one Bond film ends, the quest for details about the next one begins.
And those involved with the lucrative - and hugely expensive - franchise have no qualms in walking the well-trodden path so "Spectre" can more than recoup its hefty outlays. The media blitz ahead of the premiere started in earnest Thursday with photo shoots and TV appearances involving the cast.
The buzz over Daniel Craig's fourth and potentially last outing as the British secret agent with the 007 moniker started almost as soon as the well-received "Skyfall" hit the screens back in 2012. Now, there's almost as much anticipation about who will eventually replace Craig than for "Spectre" itself, which has already garnered largely positive reviews following Wednesday's first showing to the press.
First came the announcement of the name of the new Bond film, followed by various photo opportunities, carefully crafted trailers, as well as slick promotional activity from the film's partners such as Heineken, Omega and Sony.
The process ends with official premieres around the world. This is the third time that the Royal Albert Hall will host the World Premiere, following "Die Another Day" in 2002 and "Skyfall." Prince William, his wife Kate and brother Prince Harry are all expected to be in attendance.
The Associated Press has been covering the Bond franchise from its more subdued beginnings with "Dr. No" over 50 years ago. Here are some memorable moments surrounding the glamorous promotion of Bond films, as captured by photographers from The AP.
File - In this 1963 file photo, Scottish actor Sean Connery, left, actress Phyllis Newman and conductor Leonard Bernstein are shown at the US premiere of the James Bond movie "Dr. No" in New York. "Dr. No" was the first official Bond film adaptation of an Ian Fleming novel. The movie didn't have anything like the budget of future Bond films, including the upcoming "Spectre" which has its World Premiere on Monday Oct. 26, 2015, in London. Connery would play Bond in five further authorized films, before returning from a 12-year hiatus to star in the unofficial "Never Say Never Again" in 1983. (AP Photo, File)
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File - In this Apr. 25, 1963 file photo, Sean Connery and Italian actress Daniela Bianchi are seen in Istanbul, Turkey. The pair were in the country filming the second Bond film, 'From Russia with Love.' Connery was playing the British secret agent for the second time in what many critics consider to be one of the best Bond film of all. His suave but menacing Bond remains the standard for many Bond fans. The upcoming new Bond film "Spectre" starring Daniel Craig has its World Premiere on Monday Oct. 26, 2015, in London.(AP Photo, File)
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File - In this January 10, 1969 file photo, Sean Connery's replacement as James Bond, George Lazenby is pictured with British actress Diana Rigg. The two are captured during takes of "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" at Schilthorn near Muerren, Switzerland. Though the Australian actor never played Bond again following disagreements with producers, his one outing is considered one of the best. The film's ending is perhaps the most memorable in the entire Bond series. The upcoming new Bond film "Spectre" starring Daniel Craig has its World Premiere on Monday Oct. 26, 2015, in London. (AP Photo/Bob Dear, File)
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File - In this Aug. 1, 1972 file photo, Roger Moore poses for a photograph at the Dorchester Hotel in London, after the announcement that he would play James Bond in "Live and Let Die." Moore was the first Englishman to play Bond. Aided by his natural charm and comic timing, Moore's seven Bond films were more light-hearted than those that had gone before. His films saw a proliferation of gadgets, which grated with many Bond fans. The upcoming new Bond film "Spectre" starring Daniel Craig has its World Premiere on Monday Oct. 26, 2015, in London. (AP Photo/File)
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File - In this Monday, June 29, 1987 file photo, Princess Diana meets Timothy Dalton, who succeeded Roger Moore as James Bond at the charity premiere of "The Living Daylights" at London's Odeon Cinema. The Welshman, who was a trained Shakespearean actor, played Bond twice. His interpretation of Bond was far grittier than Moore's. After his second outing as Bond, 1989's "License To Kill," legal issues meant Bond wouldn't return again until 1995's "Goldeneye", when Pierce Brosnan took the role of 007. The upcoming new Bond film "Spectre" starring Daniel Craig has its World Premiere on Monday Oct. 26, 2015, in London. (AP Photo/Pool, File)
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File - In this Monday, Nov. 118, 2002 file photo Pierce Brosnan poses for photograph with co-star Halle Berry at the World Premiere of the James Bond film "Die Another Day" at the Royal Albert Hall in London. This was the fourth and final time that the suave and demure Irishman played the British secret agent. The same venue will be hosting the World Premiere of Daniel Craig's latest outing as 007, "Spectre," on Monday, Oct. 26. (AP Photo/Dan Chung/Pool, File)
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File - In this Sunday, Nov. 17, 1996 file photo, three of the actors who played James Bond, Timothy Dalton left, Roger Moore, center, and Pierce Brosnan, at a London cinema to celebrate the life of Albert R. "Cubby" Broccoli, the American film producer behind seventeen Bond movies. In total, six actors have portrayed Bond officially. The upcoming "Spectre" with Daniel Craig as 007 is the 24th in the series. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)
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File - In this Friday Oct. 14, 2005 file photo, new James Bond, Daniel Craig, 2nd right, arrives by boat for his press unveiling in London. Craig's selection was revealed as he was whisked down the River Thames aboard a military Rigid Raider boat. "Spectre," which has its World Premiere Monday Oct. 26, 2015, in London in front of Prince William, his wife Kate and brother Prince Harry, is the fourth, and potentially last time, he will reprise his role as the British secret agent. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)
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File - In this Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2014 file photo, Daniel Craig jokingly gestures to photographers as he films a scene for the new James Bond film, "Spectre," in London, which has its World Premiere on Monday Oct. 26, 2015. Craig has indicated that Spectre may be the last time he will don James Bond's tuxedo. His portrayal of Bond has won widespread acclaim, notably in his first outing in 2006's "Casino Royale." (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)
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Christoph Waltz, from left to right, Monica Bellucci, Daniel Craig, Lea Seydoux and Naomie Harris, pose for photographers during the photo call for the latest Bond film, "Spectre," at an hotel in central London, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015. The media blitz ahead of Monday's World Premiere of the movie at the Royal Albert Hall has started in earnest. Craig is reprising his role as the British secret agent for the fourth time. (Photo by Joel Ryan/Invision/AP)
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