With MGM’s financial woes resolved and Spyglass Entertainment taking over, the brakes are finally off the production for the next James Bond movie with casting and location scouting underway. With news that Judi Dench was returning – which was something of a no-brainer, word spread last week that Javier Bardem had been offered a lead role as the villain in the next movie. While no official announcement has been made a few days later Bardem confirmed that he was indeed considering the possibility of playing a villain in the Sam Mendes directed Bond flick.
When he spoke to the LAtimes he said he was yet to read the screenplay, but seemed excited by the idea:
I’m a huge fan of the James Bond saga… When I was little, I went watching Mr. Connery doing James Bond with my father. Who in the world would think I’d be in one of those movies?
The only reason that Bardem sees himself not doing the project is if the material doesn’t hold up. However he said that he was intrigued by what Mendes told him at their meeting who has ‘revolutionary’ plans for ‘Bond 23’.
They’re changing the whole thing, the whole dynamic,” Bardem says. “I’d be playing Bond’s nemesis, yes, but it’s not that obvious. Everything is more nuanced. It’s very intriguing.
With a new take on the classic villain, Bardem might only be one of the bad guys in this new ‘dynamic’. Empire is reporting that Ralph Fiennes who worked with Mendes a few decades back on the Royal Shakespeare Company production of Troilus And Cressida, has been approached by the director for ‘a darkly complex’ role in next year’s James Bond flick. According to a film executive in Los Angeles connected to the production, ‘The part is one of extreme complexity and only an actor of great ability and dexterity can take it on — and Ralph’s name is top of our list.’
While the main role opposite Bond is usually the diabolical antagonist, Fiennes is being considered for a different role than the one offered to Javier Bardem.
The story originated from The Mail’s Baz Bamigboye, who’s source added:
It’s the first of a new generation of Bond films, and the ideas Mendes has push the film into darker territory where the characters are modern, mature and challenging.
Ralph Fiennes is no stranger to portraying villains from his turn as a Nazi Soldier in ‘Schindler’s List’ to Lord Voldemort in the ‘Harry Potter’ series, so he’s obviously equipped to handle the complexities of a Bond baddie.
With 007’s quest for revenge overwhelming the events in the sequel to the impressive Casino Royale, it will be interesting to see a more ‘challenging’ group of characters in the next outing. The story is from Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and John Logan ( Gladiator) so hopefully they have something up their sleeves for this eagerly awaited and long overdue installment.
Production on Bond’s next venture is slated to begin later this year.
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