PRESS > New Bond movie casts its villain

BBCNEWS.COM: Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen has been cast as the villain Le Chiffre in the latest James Bond film, Casino Royale.

Director Martin Campbell announced his casting at a press conference held at the Czech Republic's Barrandov Studios.

Mikkelsen, 40, is best known for his role as Tristan in King Arthur and for playing an ex-convict in Danish drama Pusher II: With Blood On My Hands.

Daniel Craig plays 007 in the 21st film in the series. The production moves to the Bahamas later this week.

The role of Bond girl Vesper Lynd has yet to be cast, though names currently in the frame include Kingdom of Heaven actress Eva Green and Olivia Wilde from TV series The OC.
Campbell's announcement follows reports that Mikkelsen's father, a taxi driver, had told his customers his son had won the role of the Bond villain.

The Le Chiffre character - whom Bond author Ian Fleming is said to have based on British occultist Aleister Crowley - was played by Orson Welles in the 1967 film of Casino Royale.