These are some photos of Chiwetel Ejiofor out and about in LA a month ago. I’ve been wanting to use them for a while, but there were no new Chiwetel stories around. That’s Chiwetel’s girlfriend behind him. She was holding him tight throughout the awards season, which… I mean, if Chiwetel was your man, wouldn’t you be holding on tight too? Of course you would.
Unlike Lupita Nyong’o (who actually won an Oscar), Chiwetel’s career will probably continue on the same course he’s been on for the past decade: he quietly puts in solid-to-extraordinary performances in a variety of commercial and independent films and TV projects and he sprinkles in some theater work. No one is wringing their hands over Chiwetel’s career prospects because he’s a wonderful actor who already had a full, in-demand career and because he has a lot of friends in the industry (just not as many friends as Matthew McConaughey). But what if it’s Chiwetel (and not Lupita) who is about to take it to the next level? Variety says Chiwetel is the “top choice” to play the villain in the next 007 film!
After scoring big with Javier Bardem as its last Bond villain, MGM and Sony may be targeting another Oscar-nominated actor to play 007′s nemesis in the next James Bond pic. Sources tell Variety that Chiwetel Ejiofor is the top choice to play the villain in the next installment in the Bond series. No offer has been made yet, and scheduling would still have to be worked out, but sources insist he is the front-runner for the job. The studio had no comment.
Daniel Craig is already set to return as Bond, with Ralph Fiennes, Ben Whishaw and Naomie Harris set to return as well. “Skyfall” helmer Sam Mendes will again direct. Plot details are unknown at this point. Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson will produce, with John Logan penning the script.
The plan is start production in the summer in order to meet the pic’s release date of Nov. 6, 2015. Casting has been heating up, with the studio also on the lookout for one Scandinavian and one British woman to play the new Bond girls. After Bardem’s success as the villain in “Skyfall,” the team behind the latest pic has decided to look for someone with a similarly interesting persona.
Ejiofor may have been heroic in “12 Years a Slave,” but he’s no stranger to getting his hands dirty, having played the villain in “Children of Men” and “Four Brothers.” Ejiofor is currently filming “Z for Zachariah” with Chris Pine and Margot Robbie, and he is attached to John Hillcoat’s “Triple Nine.” He is repped by CAA and Markham Froggatt and Irwin.
Z for Zachariah has already wrapped, I believe, and Triple Nine is an ensemble film, and God knows how long Chiwetel will even have to be around for it. If he has to withdraw from Triple Nine to take a part in the James Bond film? YES. He should do it. I know this is a somewhat controversial opinion, but I really enjoyed Skyfall and I thought Javier Bardem was deliciously creepy, and Chiwetel would continue in that kind of vein. I like how they’ve set things up for the next film too – SPOILER with Naomie Harris, Ralph Fiennes and Ben Whishaw (he’s Q!). My one complaint about Skyfall was that the Bond Girls were utterly unmemorable – the last memorable Bond Girl was Eva Green, IMO. If they’re looking for a “Scandinavian,” they should go with Noomi Rapace (YES THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN). And if Chiwetel does sign on, I hope they let him keep his real accent. He is a suave motherf—er with that accent.
Photos courtesy of Pacific Coast News.
Yea and yay.
I’m always bored by Bond, so am not excited. Besides, Daniel should do one and Chiwetel should be 007, not a baddie.
Ooh, I like that idea better!
I doubt that I’d believe Chiwetel as the villain – he seems so damn likable!
@Liv-I must respectfully disagree. The first movie I saw him in was an awesome sci-fi movie called “Serenity”. I have seen that movie several times now. The first was with my man at the time (soon got rid of him-kept the movie). I was hypnotized by C.E., both his looks and voice. He was a bad guy, and he was so amazing. Quietly menacing, very logical in his reasoning for being a very naughty boy…oh, I can’t go on. He can play the Hamburgler and make him frightening.
I didn’t see much of him, so maybe you’re right. I just think that he seems so nice that I can’t imagine him playing a bad guy! I know there’s this little thing called acting, but I still can’t help it.. 😉
I completely agree with what kri says – his “Serenity” villain was so interesting and haunting – I would love to see what he does with a Bond villain. So, it is a Yay for me.
Obviously you’ve never seen “Serenity”. He was bone-chilling.
Agreed he should be Bond. He’s played solidly as supporting cast for years now he should be a leading man.
Agreed-in fact I initially misread the title as “Chiwetel the top choice to play the next James Bond” and got unreasonably excited. Is much rather see him as Bond than as the villain.
Me too!
Exactly! That is a beautiful idea Sixer, he’d be a great James Bond.
Agree. Would be more impressed if he was Bond. Never got into Craig in the role, so this would make me want to go see it.
Actually, Chiwetel makes a great baddie, at least he did in Serenity.
@Red32, yes, he was great in Serenity.
I’d ralther see Idris Elba as the new Bond, Chiwetel is agreat actor, but he doesn’t have “it” to play Bond. Then again, I didn’t like Daniel as Bond either.
Idris would be the perfect new Bond.
I totally agree with you Eleanor. Chiwtel doesn’t have that sex appeal, Idris Elba does and he should be the next James Bond.
I think he is an outstanding actor. I couldn’t personally give a fig for Bond (or any other action franchise) – but I do think Chiwetel the man also has the perfect (posh) credentials to be the first black Bond. He also does a great line in repressed feelings, which seems to be the direction in which they’re taking the character.
Sixer, did you see Skyfall? That was the first Bond film I’ve enjoyed in…ever. I’m not saying it was a film of great depth or significance but it was entertaining. I am usually bored by Bond films as well, though my love for Sean Connery and possibly Daniel Craig will never die.
Yes – Sixlets love a bit of Bond, plus it had Whishaw. I don’t mean to trash the franchise. It’s all well done an’ all. Fights and chases bore me rigid, however. Always have.
@Sixer, you and me both. Some ‘action’ films, intended to be exciting, have been some of the most boring films ever made. Same old plot, same little character development, etc.
Yes, I can see how they would bore you.
I have never seen a Bond movie. By choice.
I like me an intelligent thriller but never ever got the impression that Bond fit that description.
Until then.
*yawn*
Yes Sixer, I read the headline and my eye skipped the word “villain” and I got excited for a minute. I am so sick of every single hero looking the same. Our country’s population doesn’t all look alike so why do our lead actors? It’s just so boring. Get a grip on 2014, Hollywood.
Scrolled down to say this. Chiwetel for the next Bond!
No.
🙂 only opened this page to say exactly that! I don’t doubt he can also be amazing as the villain, but it would be a really nice change for 007.
Also, Noomi Rapace all the way!! She would make it memorable.
Yay and Nay
Yay cause it’s a big movie.
Nay cause it’s an other british vilain.
Can’t argue with Hiddles in a Jaguar 🙂
On a different note; has anyone else noticed what looks like a bloodied ‘Stop’ sign behind them?
Yeah, why not rack up some retirement money while you can?
Nay. I would love to see an amazing villain played by a WOMAN. Hollywood producers: it is about time that you start cast women for those meaty roles written for men. I dream of seeing a woman villain in the next bond movie, for example Robin Wright, whom has proven to be a great antiheroine character in House of Cards. She’s even better than Spacey, because she plays Claire Underwood not as a caricature bad b!itch (and she IS a terrifying icy b!itch) but as a complex, layered and sometimes vulnerable woman. Great actress.
I also like this idea. This movie needs to happen.
As much as I like the idea of Chewy playing a Bond villain-he does play ‘bad’ very well, I like your idea as well.
Heck, Noomi could play the villain as well.
She is amazing in that role.
YES! The idea of Robin Wright taking on a villain role makes me so happy! This totally needs to happen!
I also remember Cate Blanchett talking about how she’d love to play a Bond villainess, and citing Lotte Lenya as one of her main influences…
Ooh! She does icy so well…she was one of the only good parts in ‘Hanna’
That would be perfection.
I like this idea too.
How about: Chiwetel as Bond vs Helen Mirren as the villain. She’s already said she’d love to play a Bond villain and I would pay SO much money to see that!
His gf looks so pleased with herself in that top picture, and rightly so.
How ’bout he plays 007 instead of the villain?
He’s a good actor, but not everyone can play Bond. And not every Bond was a good one. He doesn’t have the grit needed after Craig set the bar very high.
Casting him seems to be a bad move. Big NAY!
I hope he doesn’t do it. He is such talent. I don’t find playing the villain in a Bond film this great accomplishment. If he is smart he will turn it down. Bond Villains are all fluff and no meat.
Yay. Except if Daniel and Chitwetel were in the same film, I might explode from the thrill, thus disturbing my fellow audience members.
Ejiofor is great, but the Bond films ossified years ago into a tiresome formula. The role of Bond villain is high profile, for a few weeks anyway, but what does it do for a career?
So no–because he’s better than that. Because he needs to raise his profile, but this might slot him into “sidekick” roles or villain roles forever.
I think we need to factor in that there aren’t many mahousive budget British films and that are shot largely in London. That’s why our thespy actors who do a lot of theatre like doing them.
He made a compelling villain in Serenity.
Not a huge Bond fan, though the oldies have a nostalgic appeal and I love Dame Judi in the newer ones. But more Chiwetel is always a good thing! Hope the script is worthy of him.
I would love love love it! I think it would be a good move for Chiwetel too, because he wasn’t that known to a large audience before 12YAS and is now in the heads as a character you absolutely root for. So I think it would be great if he would play now a really ghastly villain. 🙂
I’m over the moon that Sam Mendes will do the next one too because personally I loved what he did with Skyfall. I think the cinematography was outstanding, one of the most aesthetically pleasing Bond movies in my eyes. He’s got a real flair for colours and frames.
And YES to Noomi Rapace. That needs to happen, I really like her. And I think Eva Green was not only the last memorable Bond girl but also the most interesting one ever.
Grace jones was my most memorable Bond female villainess. I think she was the sidekick to Christopher Walken if my memory is correct one of the best baddies ever!
She was pretty cool eh? Too bad the movie was a bit of a stinker. Her and Walken were the only parts I remember.
My first reaction is I would like to see him as Bond but. If I had to choose another I would want Idris first. So, Yay, Chiwetel villain! I’d love to see him in big budget, splashy cinemagraphic glory. I’m tired of Daniel so he would be fun to look at.. Maybe he could do some hot scenes with Naomi and try running to get Intel.
I also like the idea of a female Bond super-villainess. Like a Jolie where they run the show instead of just being a “bad girl” linked to the male villain. Dear Bond writers – call me! LOL.
I think he’d be great. I’m not a huge Bond fan, but I really enjoyed Skyfall too, and I’m glad most are returning to the next one. Chiwetel would be a great addition to the cast.
Yay!
The villains, when written well, are usually the most interesting part of a Bond film. It’s a good opportunity for him.
Nope. I like someone else’s idea of a female villain. Also, it would be great if she stayed bad and not just end falling for Bond and changing to the good side.
Wasn’t Elektra King a female villain? And yes, she slept with Bond, but only to further HER goals.
I don’t care for him at all. I don’t know why. I don’t actively root against him and I wouldn’t lose any sleep if he got it. Doesn’t matter to me. All I know is Daniel Craig was a crappy Bond.
I’d rather he played James Bond.
yes yes yay
Yay, I guess, I’d be much more excited if they announced Idris Elba for Bond though!
Why does he have to be the villain? Why can’t they have a black actor as Bond finally?
I Think he’d make an even better Bond 007 . As for the girlfriend holding him tight. Who among us wouldn’t hold tight to a million dollar man.