Javier Bardem Offered Villain Role in Bond 23

Javier Bardemis a busy man these days. Aside from recently welcoming his first son into the world with actress Penelope Cruz, the Oscar-winning actor is nominated for a“Best Actor” Academy Award forBiutiful, and is currentlyconsidering the leadin the sprawling adaptation of Stephen King’sThe Dark Towerseries.

The latest development is that Bardem, 41, has been offered the role of James Bond’s nemesis in the untitled 23rd installment of the 007 series. According to theLA Times, the Spanish actor met with the director, Sam Mendes (Road to Perdition,American Beauty), about the villainous part.

Bardem, who played the iconic antagonist inNo Country for Old Men, has not agreed to anything yet, since he hasn’t read the script, but reportedly enjoyed the thought of joining the long-running James Bond saga alongside returning actor Daniel Craig. “They’re changing the whole thing, the whole dynamic,” Bardem said. “I’d be playing Bond’s nemesis, yes, but it’s not that obvious. Everything is more nuanced. It’s very intriguing.”  Very intriguing indeed…

The script and its story details are under wraps, but the plot reportedly picks up whereQuantum of Solaceleft off. The growing gap between this upcoming installment and the oddly-named 2008 hit is due to MGM’s continuing financial woes. The company is slowly climbing its way out of roughly $4 billion in debt by leveraging its popular properties, like Bond and J.R.R. Tolkien’sThe Hobbit(set to start shooting this month). Meanwhile,Deadlinereports several studios are jockeying to distribute the movie, which may require a co-financing pact with MGM for Bond 23 and several others.

The untitled movie is already scheduled for release on November 9, 2012.

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