The upcoming Bond 25 is set to serve as the grand finale for Daniel Craig’s run as 007, and it seems that director Cary Joji Fukunaga is hoping to assemble a cast fit for the occasion. We’ve already heard this week that Bohemian Rhapsody star Rami Malek is in final talks to play the villain, and in a new report from Deadline, not only is this claim reaffirmed, but it’s also said that fellow Oscar-winner Lupita Nyong’o is being courted for a role.
Since nabbing an Academy Award for her feature debut in 2013’s 12 Years a Slave, Nyong’o has attached herself to a number of blockbuster properties, including Star Wars, and more recently, Black Panther. Now it looks like she may soon add James Bond to her resumé, with Deadline reporting that the actress is currently at the top of the Bond Girl shortlist. As for Malek, it’s said that the star is “closing his deal” to play the antagonist, suggesting that he’ll soon officially take his place opposite such returning players as Craig, Lea Seydoux, Ralph Fiennes, Ben Whishaw and Naomie Harris in the 2020 flick.
Though the details on Nyong’o’s potential role have yet to be revealed, one rumor around Malek’s character is that the villain will be a blind man. There’s also been some speculation that the script calls for a North African antagonist, seeing how Malek is of Egyptian heritage and actor Saïd Taghmaoui – who was reportedly eyed for the part – is of Moroccan descent.
In any case, we’ll see if Fukunaga can give Craig a fitting sendoff when Bond 25 hits theaters on April 8th, 2020. In the meantime, you can catch Nyong’o in Jordan Peele’s Us when it comes out on March 22nd, 2019.
