Anthony Hopkins: Bond Villain?

Acting legend Sir Anthony Hopkins is in talks to sign on as the villain in the next James Bond installment, a source told The Sun. The forthcoming Bond 23 is the follow up to 2008’s Quantum of Solace, and will see Dame Judy Dench return as M and Daniel Craig as the titular leading man.

“The only stumbling block seems to be the number of films he is signing up for," according to the source. "There is a chance the character they want him to play could become a regular feature, like Blofeld back in the day.”

Hopkins is no stranger to playing the bad guy, having received an Academy Award for his portrayal of cannibalistic serial killer Hannibal Lecter in 1991’s The Silence of the Lambs. With Craig firmly holding the title of “best Bond since Sean Connery,” here’s hoping that Hopkins will join the film, likely creating one of the best Bond villains we’ve seen in a long time.

Sam Mendes is set to direct, with a tentative release date of Nov. 9, 2012.

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