Monica Bellucci And Andrew Scott May Be In "Bond 24"

When the official title and cast are announceed on Thursday you can put all Bond 24 rumors to bed, but until then, anything is fair game. Which brings us to two casting rumors that were reported today by Deadline and The Mirror.

Nancy Tartaglione from Deadline reports, “I’ve also heard that Monica Bellucci may be in the mix.” The Italian actress is best known to mainstream audiences for her roles in The Matrix Reloaded (2003) and The Passion of the Christ (2004).

The Mirror believes Irish actor Andrew Scott, who plays Moriarty in BBC’s Sherlock, “is set to appear in the new James Bond movie as a villain.” They believe the Irish actor is looking to make the leap from TV to film, just like his Sherlock co-stars, Benedict Cumberbatch (“Star Trek Into Darkness”) and Martin Freeman (“The Hobbit: The Battle of The Five Armies”). The Mirror’s inside source added, “Andrew was hand-picked for a role in the new Bond movie after film bosses loved his star turn in Sherlock.”

BOND 24 will be directed by Sam Mendes (“Skyfall”), from a screenplay written by John Logan. The cast will include: Daniel Craig as James Bond (007), Ralph Fiennes as M, Naomie Harris as Miss Moneypenny, and Ben Whishaw as Q. The film will be released in the UK and US on October 23, 2015 and November 6, 2015, respectively.

Wait Christoph Waltz Is Playing Who?

Just two weeks after initially reporting that two-time Academy Award winner Christoph Waltz would play the main antagonist in the upcoming Bond 24, The Daily Mail is back and reports that Waltz will play none other than James Bond’s nemesis Ernst Stavro Blofeld. Production is expected to begin on the sequel next month.

It was revealed over a year ago that MGM had settled with writer Kevin McClory regarding the rights to the Blofeld character and the infamous SPECTRE organization, which sparked rumors they could appear in future films, and now it appears that could be a reality. Blofeld has been heard or seen in six of the previous James Bond films and was previously played by Donald Pleasence, Telly Savalas and Charles Gray.

Set for release on November 6, 2015, the Bond 24 will see Waltz join Daniel Craig, Léa Seydoux, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Ben Whishaw and Dave Bautista. Sam Mendes returns to direct the film, which is produced by Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson.

Christoph Waltz May Be "Bond 24" Villain.

Two-time Oscar winner Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds, Django Unchained) has reportedly joined the cast of James Bond 24 as an “extremely cunning” character.

“It’s not immediately evident whether the part’s friend, or foe, or a bit of both,” claims The Daily Mail’s Baz Bamigboye, who has a good track record in reporting 007 scoops. The Mail’s source, who is said to have knowledge of the script, calls Waltz’s character a “nemesis of sorts.”

According to TheWrap, “Chiwetel Ejiofor had been in talks for a villainous role in the film, but TheWrap confirmed several weeks ago that the deal never came together. It’s believed that Waltz is taking over that role.”

Bond 24 will be directed by Skyfall’s Sam Mendes, with filming slated to start in early December. Daniel Craig, Naomie Harris, Ralph Fiennes, and Ben Whishaw are all returning, with new cast members reportedly including Lea Seydoux and Dave Bautista.

Walt’z upcoming movies include Big Eyes, Tarzan, and Horrible Bosses 2.