Report: Oscar Winner in Final Negotiations to Play Villain in “Bond 25”

Rami Malek is set to star opposite Daniel Craig in director Cary Joji Fukunaga‘s new film.

March 1, 2019 10:30 am
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 24: Rami Malek, winner of Best Actor for 'Bohemian Rhapsody,' attends the 91st Annual Academy Awards press room at Hollywood and Highland on February 24, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 24: Rami Malek, winner of Best Actor for 'Bohemian Rhapsody,' attends the 91st Annual Academy Awards press room at Hollywood and Highland on February 24, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
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Fresh off an Oscar win for Bohemian RhapsodyMr. Robot star Rami Malek is in final negotiations to play the villain in the upcoming James Bond film, Bond 25. 

Though it was previously thought Malek’s shooting schedule for his hit show would be a conflict with the production schedule for the film, those issues have been resolved so he’ll be able to work on both projects.

As a result, Malek is set to star opposite Daniel Craig in writer-director Cary Joji Fukunaga‘s contribution to the Bond franchise.

“We’ll have to see about that. It would be nice to play a villain, that would be another dream role for me, I’ve got to play so many great ones so far so who knows. I’m keeping tight-lipped,” Malek, 39, previously said of the possibility of joining the Bond franchise.

Not much is known about Malek’s character, though the villain has been rumored to be a blind man.

In other Bond casting news, there were rumors Lupita Nyong’o was being courted to join the film, but her reps threw cold water on that talk, according to Deadline.

Lea Seydoux, Naomie Harris, Ben Whishaw and Ralph Fiennes will all reprise their roles in the new film.

It will hit theaters in April 2020.

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