I haven’t even kept up with the latest rumors about the next James Bond movie. I seem to remember hearing something last year about how they were prepping Daniel Craig’s last Bond film, and he was training for it and they were putting all the pieces together. I guess production got pushed back? Or maybe I’m hallucinating all of that, and they were always going to start production this spring. In any case, we’re getting more information about this Bond film. It will be directed by Cary Fukunaga. Billy Magnussen is reportedly in contention for a role. They’ve been looking to cast two women and the villain – one female character will be a new MI6 agent and one female character will be the accomplice/Bond girl. Apparently, Bond producers were really interested in Lupita Nyong’o for one of the roles, but now that’s not happening? But guess who is happening: Rami Malek?!
James Bond 25 might well have multiple Oscar winners in its star studded cast. Sources tell Deadline that Lupita Nyong’o is being courted to join the Bond film – UPDATE: her team is now telling me it won’t work out with her — and that Rami Malek is closing his deal to play the villain opposite Daniel Craig. Our sister publication Variety was first to mention Malek’s talks. Cary Fukunaga is directing. Malek won the Best Actor Oscar for Bohemian Rhapsody and Nyong’o won the Best Supporting Actress prize in 2013 for 12 Years A Slave, and she is coming off being in the cast of the Best Picture nominated Black Panther. She is also about to open in the Jordan Peele-directed genre film Us.
There hasn’t been a black Bond Girl since Halle Berry, so Lupita Nyong’o would have made for an interesting addition. I actually liked Halle as a Bond Girl – she was good at that kind of cheeseball Bond dialogue and Halle is an underrated actress at stunt work and action sequences. Lupita would have been able to flex some different actress-muscles, but then again, the Bond Girls in the Daniel Craig era have been kind of terrible, the exception being Eva Green in Casino Royale. I can totally see why Lupita wouldn’t be interested because the writing probably wasn’t there. As for Rami as the villain… I imagine he will be really good at that. He is, at heart, a character actor who excels at playing oddballs. They’ll probably give him a weird facial scar and an accent.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
Meh. Whatever. I’m well and truly over this money grab movie that they keep struggling to nail down a script for. Past history tells us it has a 50% chance of being great (Casino Royale and Skyfall) and a 50% chance of being awful (Spectre and…the other one?) Considering no one seemed to have a big idea or be particularly passionate, I’m guessing it will be one of the awful ones.
Smart of him to take the role though, he’s not really a leading man but he could have a go in films as quirky, not physically threatening villains and weirdos. (But thank god Luptia is out, waste of her time.)
Given the state of the world, they have so many avenues, I would think anyway. I hope they don’t screw it up but you’re right, no one seems to be that enthusiastic.
To be honest he probably doesn’t need a facial scar. I suppose they have to make him international otherwise it’d be MI5’s job?
They could probably just keep him American, it would be kind of appropriate in today’s times.
Personally not into ethnic villains but I hope he optimizes every opportunity that comes his way – good for him.
I find his eyes weird.
He’s weird.
he should take the role for easy money. if he speaks in his own weird, disjointed cadence and inexplicably weird old timey transatlantic accent he will seem terrifying.
That guy is so damn weird. I watched bohemian rhapsody just to see if his acting was all that and Oscar worthy. It was not. A star is born was trash too. What a bad year for movies if those were the top dogs.
Agreed, I was very disappointed in the Oscar win and nom, even though I love Queen and Rami in Mr. Robot, it definitely felt forced and there was no huge stretch of emotion. A Star is Born, I liked it but Oscar worthy?? meh.
Love him in Mr. Robot, he’ll be a good villain.
Ugh. I was really turned off by his handling of the Singer situation and invoking Freddie’s ghost prior to Oscars, and after seeing him spray champagne all over backstage when he won…ugh.
I guess he was very drunk when he did that champagne schtick… it was embarrassing
He is extremely small physically, so his presence as a villain will be anything but menacing.
Natalie Dormer as ethe accomplice seems like a no brainer, could even be a great M in a handful of years. She’s said she would “love to be a Bond Girl. Gemma Chan would also be fantastic. After watching the Oscars I have to say that Charlize Theron and Daniel Craig looked great together and I would to see a Bond Girl who really was a Bond Woman and came across as such. Oh, Lotte Verbeek would be fab too.
Gemma Chan in everything!