Rachel Weisz speculated as Bond 23 female villain

British actress Rachel Weisz has been linked to a possible role in the upcoming James Bond film, the 23rd in the official series.

Despite the financial situation with MGM keeping production officially on hold, Sam Mendes is understood to be working on planning the movie, although he is performing this duty as 'consultant' rather than director until the studio can fund the film, or until EON can produce under a different banner.

With the first draft script from Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and Peter Morgan complete, thoughts have reportedly turned to casting. This despite the fact that female lead casting for recent films has often been finalized just days ahead of shooting, or in some case, after shooting had actually started.

Cinema Blend claims, via a reputable source, that Rachel Weisz is being considered for a major role in the film. But she would not take on the traditional Bond Girl part, rather the head of the mysterious organization 'Quantum' that have been behind the plots in both of Daniel Craig's two outings as 007 so far.

The site says, "Weisz is actually friends with Daniel Craig (in fact they�re working together on the upcoming movie Dream House) and in the past she had a personal relationship with would-be Bond 23 director Sam Mendes. She has before expressed real interest in doing a Bond movie with Craig. So why not give her something substantive in the movie, something that won�t reduce her to being 007�s latest conquest? Why not let her play the villain? Our source says that�s exactly what they�re discussing behind the scenes of Bond 23. In fact, they�re considering Weisz to play the head of Quantum."



40 year-old Weisz would bring some star power and Oscar credentials to the series, which has seen relative unknowns cast in supporting roles since Daniel Craig took over the tuxedo. And despite other movie sites claims, a woman has already been the lead villain in a Bond film when Sophie Marceau played Elektra King in "The World Is Not Enough" (1999).

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