Bond 25: Rami Malek ‘wanted’ for villain role

It's believed he wouldn't be able to accept the role due to filming clashes with Mr Robot

With Bond 25 in the process of being rewritten by director Cary Joji Fukunaga, casting details of the next film in the long-running British spy franchise are beginning to roll in.

Fukunaga replaced Danny Boyle as director last month and has since confirmed that Léa Seydoux, Ralph Fiennes Ben Whishaw and Naomi Harris will all return for a film set to follow Bond’s Casino Royale arc.

While far from confirming that Christoph Waltz won’t be returning as Blofeld, it seems the hunt for a new villain is underway – and according to reports, eyes are on Rami Malek.

Variety states that Danny Boyle’s departure as Bond 25’s director came down to the casting of this particular character, with the Trainspotting filmmaker wanting Claes Bang (The Square).

Fresh off his Bohemian Rhapsody success, producers are said to be approaching the star although it’s believed he wouldn’t be able to accept the role due to his commitments to US series Mr Robot, which films its fourth and final season next year.

Regardless, this lends credence to the theory that Bond 25 could be set before Skyfall and Spectre.

Bond 25 will open in UK cinemas on 14 Febru

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