Bond 25: Rami Malek lined up as Bond 25 villain after Oscars win

    Fresh from his Academy Award win for Bohemian Rhapsody, Rami Malek is set to sign up as the lead villain in Bond 25, the much-delayed new 007 film that is due to be Daniel Craig’s last outing in the role.

    According to Collider, the 37-year-old actor is in "final negotiations" to star in Bond 25, the much anticipated installment of the James Bond franchise. Variety previously reported Malek was being eyed to play the next Bond villain opposite Daniel Craig, but his shooting schedule for Mr. Robot's final season couldn't accommodate the film's production shoot. Sources said the actor's team has since resolved the scheduling conflicts, and are trying to finalize the deal. "The sides just wanted to wait and see whether Malek would win the Oscar, which would, of course, raise his quote," Collider reports.

    “In the past it was like, ‘Oh well, he’s an acceptable terrorist! He’s an accessible terrorist!” Malek told GQ this month. “But after I did that I said to myself, ‘You know what? No more. This is not how I want it.’”

So, Malek drew a line with his agents. “Any calls that come about playing Arabs or Middle Easterners in a negative light? I don’t need to respond to any of them anymore. No more of this.”

Unconfirmed reports also claim the next Bond villain will be blind.

    Rami Malek has been openly interested in the role, telling Entertainment Weekly: “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.”

     If cast, Malek will join Daniel Craig, reportedly making his last film as the British superspy, Lea Seydoux, returning as psychiatrist Madelaine Swann, and series regulars Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris and Ben Whishaw.

Bond 25 is due to land in cinemas in April 2020