Javier Bardem The Villain In 'Bond 23,' Actor Confirms

He won an Oscar for portraying one of the most chillingly psychopathic villains in recent film history, and now, Javier Bardem is set to go bad in perhaps the most iconic film franchise of all time.

Long rumored to be in talks for the part, Bardem confirmed to ABC's Nightline that he would be playing the villain in the next James Bond film, a Sam Mendes-directed feature with the current working title of "Bond 23."

"I am very excited, my parents took me to watch the movies, and I saw all of them, and to play that is going to be fun," he told the news magazine (via MI:6, the top Bond fansite). "They chose me to play this man, but I cannot give you many details."

The cast for the film has begun to assemble around returning 007 Daniel Craig; young French actress Bérénice Marlohe is rumored to be the next Bond Girl, while Naomi Harris will play Moneypenny. Ralph Fiennes is also rumored to be joining the cast. The film is rumored to be called "Skyfall."

Comments

[trweste144]

10:47 AM on 10/12/2011

Good news, good choice, good luck finding a more insance haircut.

[DaniFoxy]

09:58 AM on 10/12/2011

I'd let Javier catch me... :-)

[Hypocrites are Watching]

09:35 AM on 10/12/2011

Hollywood has overlooked Spain for too long Álex de la Iglesia is possibly one of the greatest directors in the last 20 years. El Crimen Perfecto, day of the beast alone are superior feats of horror comedy and suspense.

[Hypocrites are Watching]

09:52 AM on 10/12/2011

Javier was great in Goya's Ghost and Perdita Durango as well as the others mentioned by other posters. :)

[Hypocrites are Watching]

09:20 AM on 10/12/2011

Goya's Ghosts and Perdita Durango are fantastic Javier is a great actor.Hollywood has overlooked Spain for too long Álex de la Iglesia is possibly one of the greatest directors in the last 20 years. El Crimen Perfecto(The Perfect Crime) , El día de la bestia (The Day of the Beast) alone are superior feats of horror comedy and suspense.

[lozmaster2010]

09:14 AM on 10/12/2011

It MIGHT be a good movie if Hollywood dosent screw it up like just about every movie they make now, and if Daniel Craig isnt in it!

[Republican No More]

09:02 AM on 10/12/2011

It's so great to have a new fresh generation of James Bond... More gadgets this time!!

[Kisha Chapman]

11:26 PM on 10/11/2011

Oh if only they have a fist fight with no shirts on, that would be Awesome!

[Kisha Chapman]

11:23 PM on 10/11/2011

Best news since the last Best news, Awesome!!!

[kevinbaja]

10:01 PM on 10/11/2011

excellent choice !

[HHarvey]

09:27 PM on 10/11/2011

Love this casting.

[DisgruntledYouth]

09:06 PM on 10/11/2011

sam mendes directing, javier bardem playing the villain; this sounds like it's going to be a good time. i just hope they go with a better "bond girl" than they did in quantum. she wasn't very convincing.

[ArjenBoatsma]

08:21 PM on 10/11/2011

Anybody remember "Jamon, Jamon", the break-through role of Bardem, Javier Bardem.

[MOOSHDOG]

08:14 PM on 10/11/2011

Javier and Ralph Fiennes are awesome. I hope they'll both be villains.

[BuckyJamesDio]

08:52 PM on 10/11/2011

Agreed. Fiennes is great as a good guy, but even better as a bad guy. He was brilliant in "In Bruges" (as well as everything else).

[marred]

06:38 PM on 10/11/2011

A modicum of hope this Bond franchise can rise out of the pile of steaming garbage known as QOS?

[DennyCrane]

06:18 PM on 10/11/2011

Wow. A villain who looks tougher than Bond. Cool.