Rami Malek reportedly in talks for villain role in Bond 25

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

Fresh off of taking home the Best Actor award at the 91st Academy Awards for BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY, it seems that Rami Malek's next big project could find him facing off against Daniel Craig in his fifth and final James Bond film. This is something which has previously been hinted at as it was reported that Malek was being eyed for the villain role in BOND 25 last year, but it was thought that the shooting schedule for the final season of Mr. Robot would be an obstacle.

In a new report from Variety, it seems that MGM and Eon Productions are still quite keen to have Rami Malek onboard and have apparently been working hard for months in order to accommodate shoots for both BOND 25 and Mr. Robot. Variety's insiders say that meetings with other actors for the role have taken place, but it's clear that Malek is the favourite, especially after his recent Oscar win. Collider took the news one step further, claiming that Rami Malek is actually in "final negotiations" for the role, but admit that the deal is not yet done. I suppose we'll have to wait and see but Malek would certainly make for a great addition to the Bond franchise. 

In other BOND 25 casting news, Variety also says that Billy Magnussen (Maniac) is the top choice to play an American CIA operative (similar to Jeffrey Wright's Felix Leiter) who crosses paths with Bond. Producers are still searching for actresses for two female roles, one of which is an MI6 agent and the other an accomplice along the same lines as Olga Kurylenko's character in QUANTUM OF SOLACE, but nothing has been decided yet. Daniel Craig is scheduled for chemistry reads with actresses auditioning for the two characters, but Variety doesn't know how far along they are in that process. Production on BOND 25 is expected to kick off this spring under the direction of Cary Fukunaga (True Detective), and, in addition to Craig, it's expected that Lea Seydoux, Ralph Fiennes, and Naomie Harris will be back as well. The film, which is reportedly going by the working title of SHATTERHAND, will hit theaters on April 8, 2020.

What are your thoughts on Rami Malek potentially playing the villain in BOND 25?