According to The Wrap, Oscar-nominated 12 Years a Slave star Chiwetel Ejiofor is being lined up by Sony and Eon Productions for the coveted villain role in Bond 24, which is gearing up to go into production in October ahead of a release in 2015. It’s said that he’s yet to receive an official offer, but is widely considered to be the front runner for the role, although other actors are under consideration.
Bond 24 will mark Daniel Craig’s fourth outing as 007, and is set to reunite him with Skyfall director Sam Mendes and screenwriter John Logan. Also returning to the cast are Ralph Fiennes as M, Naomie Harris and Moneypenny and Ben Whishaw as Q, while the hunt is on for two key female roles, “including a new Bond girl and a Scandinavian with a troubled past who will serve as a brief love interest for Bond.”
Bond 24 is set for release in the UK on October 23rd and in North America on November 6th.