14 DAY TRIAL // The upcoming James Bond film will truly be the darkest and most complex of the series. As such, it needs a villain to match – or two, if possible. Producers are courting Ralph Fiennes for one such part, it has emerged.
A few days ago, word got out that director Sam Mendes wanted Oscar-nominated actor Javier Bardem for the baddie in the upcoming 007 flick but, as it turns out, the film may include more than one villain.
The Daily Mail has learned that the director and producers are also in talks with Ralph Fiennes for the part of the villain – and it’s not the same as the one that’s being offered to Javier.
In other words, Bond 23 will probably be facing more than one villain.
It makes sense, sources close to the production tell the Mail, since Mendes is gunning to make this the biggest and most complex installment in the franchise.
“Mendes, who will direct Daniel Craig as Bond and Judi Dench as M, has spoken to Fiennes about taking on what has been described to me as ‘a darkly complex’ role,” the Mail writes.
“Fiennes is not interested in the usual run-of-the-mill action picture, but he was intrigued when he was told of Mendes’s ‘revolutionary’ plans for Bond 23,” the tab further writes.
Had the film been in the same vein as previous installments, Fiennes wouldn’t have even bothered to listen to the offer, the report argues.
“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,” a film exec from LA explains for the tab.
“At the moment, the situation with Fiennes is purely at the discussion stage. I was told Fiennes was approached because ‘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’,” the Mail argues.
However, as noted above, this villain part is different from the role Bardem was offered days ago.
Kevin Spacey – who is known for his ability to give life to outstanding villains, too – has also been offered the same part as Fiennes, but he had to turn it down because his schedule was already too busy, the report says.
As of now, the only two stars officially attached to the cast of the new James Bond film, out in November 2012, are Daniel Craig and Dame Judi Dench.