Report: Mathieu Amalric Cast As 'Bond 22' Villain

According to Fox News’ FOX411 column, French actor Mathieu Amalric has been cast as the villain in the next James Bond film.

Mathieu Amalric

Columnist Roger Friedman claims “that was the word” at a lunch this week for Le Scaphandre Et Le Papillon (The Diving Bell And The Butterfly), in which Amalric stars. Friedman writes, “Even though sources insist it’s true, Amalric would neither confirm nor deny.”

“Anyway, expect a formal announcement shortly. This is a done deal.”

While the source of this rumour is not unquestionable, there are some elements to the report that make it stand out. For a start, 43-year-old Amalric starred in 2005’s Munich, alongside Daniel Craig; he played the son of Moonraker villain, Michael Lonsdale’s character (curiously, in Le Scaphandre Et Le Papillon, he plays the son of Never Say Never Again baddie, Max Von Sydow).

Secondly, Eva Green suggested last year that Bond 22‘s villain would be none other than Vesper Lynd’s French-Algerian boyfriend, something screenwriter Paul Haggis recently refused to deny. Amalric’s age, nationality and appearance all gel with this.

His casting would also continue the practice of hiring relatively unknown European actors, which worked so successfully in last year’s Casino Royale.

Other rumoured candidates for the role include James Bond #6 candidate, Goran Visnjic and Swedish actor, Rafael Edholm.

Jesper Christensen, who played Casino Royale‘s Mr White – last seen confronted by James Bond at the end of the film – is also set to return.

It’s all worth taking with a grain of salt, so keep watching CommanderBond.net for any developments, confirmations or denials on this Bond 22 rumour.