Oppenheimer star David Dastmalchian really wants to play a Bond villain.
During an interview with /Film, the actor, who also appeared in Marvel’s Ant-Man and as Polka-Dot Man in DC’s The Suicide Squad, said he’s keen to land the Mount Everest of villainous roles.
“It begins right now,” he said when asked whether he’s spoken to Eon about the upcoming Bond film. “So, whoever is reading this, take it as a sign. You were meant to be reading this line at this moment as you're thinking about the future of what you guys are doing with the franchise.”
Dastmalchian is certainly upping his screen presence recently. He recently appeared in Oppenheimer as William L. Borden and also stars as Wojcek in the upcoming Dracula movie, The Last Voyage of the Demeter. However, he’s clearly keen to flex his villainous muscles.
“Trust me when I say that I can bring something to an enemy of 007, whether he or she or they be played in a way that no one has ever seen Bond brought to life before, which is of course the way that you guys always do it,” he said.
Daniel Craig’s Bond villains have certainly pushed the envelope, each bringing something new and unique to the table. We can’t help thinking Dastmalchian is exactly the kind of actor who would do the same.
“I think there's no one to push Bond to the limits of their capabilities the way that I could, and I would love to do it,” he said. “So, there's my pitch to them. I can't wait for them to read this. And then I will owe you when or if I ever get that role, I guess 10%.”
Bond producers are still looking for the next 007 following Daniel Craig’s exit, and I can’t help thinking the next Bond villain will depend a lot on who they cast as the iconic superspy. According to producer Barbara Broccoli, the next Bond film will be a complete reinvention of the franchise. “We’re reinventing who he is and that takes time,” she said back in 2022. “I’d say that filming is at least two years away.”
Want to read more about 007? Check out why Henry Cavill’s James Bond audition was "tremendous" as well as why a 007 in his early-20s just wouldn’t work.
Ryan Leston is an entertainment journalist and film critic for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.
