In the space of a week we have seen two major rumours about who is going to be in “Bond 23.” Javier Bardem has already been linked with a role, and now the British newspaper the Daily Mail has reported that director Sam Mendes is in talks with his old theatre buddy Ralph Fiennes to play what sounds like a villain in the piece.
The word is that Fiennes has been approached for “a darkly complex” role. Such makes sense as the new generation of Bond films have been darker, mature and more modern. With Bardem and Fiennes being linked to the new Bond film it shows a possible new trend in Bond casting for well known Oscar-nominated actors instead of respected European actors who are not as well known in the English-speaking world.
Fiennes is of course a very talented actor and who has shown himself to be capable in villainous roles in “Harry Potter,“ Schindler’s List, Red Dragon, Clash of the Titans and Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit. Fiennes has been nominated for Academy Awards for his roles in Schindler’s List and The English Patient.
The actor is set to appear in the final "Harry Potter" film in July and in a modern adaptation of Shakespeare’s tragedy Coriolanus, which is also his directorial debut. Coriolanus is set to premier at the 61st Berlin Film Festival.
