Rami Malek In Final Talks For 'Bond 25' Villain Role

Oscar-winner Rami Malek is gunning to be James Bond’s newest villain.

Collider reports that Malek, who recently won Best Actor for playing the late Queen singer Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody, is in final negotiations to play the baddie in Daniel Craig’s fifth outing as 007. While the villain’s name has yet to be revealed, sources say that the character will reportedly be blind.

Back in December, Variety reported that Malek was approached for the role but the official line was that “scheduling conflicts” between shooting Bond 25 and his USA series, Mr. Robot, would make it hard to commit. According to Collider’s sources, the scheduling issue was a stall tactic on the part of Malek’s reps; they were waiting to see if Malek would win the Academy Award and therefore up his quote.

Also on the casting front, Billy Magnussen (Game Night; Aladdin) is rumored to be in the running for a young CIA operative that crosses paths with Bond according to Variety. No word yet if that CIA agent will be an ally, like series staple Felix Lighter (last played by Jeffrey Wright in 2008’s Quantum of Solace), or a threat. Variety also reports that Bond 25 helmer (and co-writer) Cary Fukunaga had his eye on Magnussen for the role following their previous collaboration on Netflix’s Maniac. Fukunaga tried to cast him in his Leonard Bernstein pic, which was set to star Jake Gyllenhaal before that project was shelved. Fukunaga’s most recent draft, reportedly turned in earlier this year in January, had the CIA agent written younger to fit Magnussen’s age.

If Malek signs on, he will be the third Oscar-winning actor to play a Bond villain in Craig’s series of films. The first was Javier Bardem in Skyfall, followed by two-time Oscar winner Christoph Waltz in 2015’s Spectre. Bond 25, to be helmed by writer-director Cary Fukunaga, starts shooting this spring after rewrites by Fukunaga. Bourne Ultimatum scribe Scott Z. Burns was recently brought on to handle last-minute production rewrites before the film shoots.

Two more roles are looking to be filled quickly, as well: A young female MI6 operative and a woman at Bond’s side during his adventure — think Olga Kurylenko’s character in Quantum of Solace.

Returning to Bond 25, which is expected to be Craig’s last 007 mission, are Spectre stars Lea Seydoux, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, and Ben Whishaw.

Bond 25 is slated for release April 8, 2020.