07/13/2012 17:52

By Josh Grossberg

Bill Gates Q is in the house!

After being missing in action since 2006's Casino Royale, the first flick with Daniel Craig in the role of the suave superspy, James Bond's gadget-loving comic foil returns to the franchise's next installment, Skyfall, with Ben Whishaw playing the iconic Q.

The 31-year-old British thesp, who previously costarred with Craig in 2004's Layer Cake, will pick up where Welsh actor Desmond Llewelyn left off, having portrayed Q and aided 007 in 17 previous big screen missions.

Llewelyn's last turn came shortly before his death in 1999 following the release of the Pierce Brosnan vehicle The World Is Not Enough during which Q handed his MI6 chores over to his assistant and ultimate successor, R, played by John Cleese.