James Bond gets a new Q

By Ann Oldenburg, USA TODAY

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Ben Whishaw in a scene from 2010 off-Broadway play, 'The Pride' by Alexi Kaye Campbell, in New York. (Credit: By Joan Marcus, AP)

Producers of the upcoming James Bond film, Skyfall, say they have found a new, young actor to play Q, the gadget-meister of the movie franchise.

EON productions said Thursday that British actor Ben Whishaw, 31, will play the role made famous by the late Desmond Llewellyn, who played Q in 17 Bond films from 1963 to 1999, reports AP.

Comedian John Cleese later played the character in two films during Pierce Brosnan's stint as 007.

Q was absent from Daniel Craig's first two Bond adventures, Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace. Skyfall will be out later this year.