Posted by | Ray Cornelius
If MGM and Sony have their way, 12 Years a Slave star Chiwetel Ejiofor will play 007’s nemesis in the next Bond film. According to Variety, the Oscar nominated actor is the studio’s top choice.
Reportedly, no offers have been made. However, producers are looking to start shooting the untitled project this summer in order to beat the release date of November 6, 2015. Apparently, the franchise is looking to replicate the success of the last villain played by Spanish actor Javier Bardem.
What we do know for sure is that Daniel Craig will reprise his role as Bond along with Ralph Fiennes, Ben Whishaw and Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom actress Naomi Harris. Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson are set to produce with John Logan writing the script.
If Ejiofor is cast, I believe he would be the second Black villain in a Bond series. Yaphet Koto was the first African-American pitted against Bond in the 1973 classic, Live and Let Die. He played the Caribbean drug lord Dr. Kananga aka Mr. Big along with his voodoo henchman, Baron Samedi played by dancer/actor Geoffrey Holder.
Ejiofor is keeping himself busy these days with a number of other projects including Z for Zachariah, Triple Nine and Half of a Yellow Sun alongside Thandie Newton.
Stay tuned…
Photo Credit: FashionVertigo.com