James Bond 25: Who is Said Taghmaoui? Actor ‘in line to play next villain’

Wonder Woman star Taghmaoui spoke out over the weekend about being cast by Boyle, despite previous rumours suggesting it was Tomasz Kot who he had recruited – leading to disagreements with leading man and producer Daniel Craig.

Taghmaoui told The National that he is “supposed to do the next James Bond, playing the lead bad guy”, but he’s now uncertain whether he will get the career-changing job or not after Boyle’s shock exit.

“We don’t know who the director will be, and the producers don’t know if they’re going to go Russian or Middle East with the baddie right now,” he’s quoted as saying.

“I literally just received a message saying: ‘If they go Middle East, it’s you. If they go Russian, it’s someone else.’

“It’s the story of my life. Always on that line between something that could change my life and something that disappears.”

The French-American star, who is of Moroccan descent, played Sameer in Wonder Woman last year, and was also Captain Said in Three Kings.

The 45-year-old’s other credits include The Kite Runner, Vantage Point, four episodes of Lost, and American Hustle.

He’s also appeared in GI Joe: The Rise of the Cobra, Conan the Barbarian and the Bryan Cranston-fronted crime drama The Infiltrator.

Last week it was claimed that at least three directors are currently in talks with James Bond producers with a view to taking over from Boyle.

Variety suggested that Bart Layton, SJ Clarkson and Yann Demange are having meetings with bosses, and Clarkson – who would be the franchise’s first ever female director – has seen a wave of support at the bookies’ ever since.

As of late last week she had odds of 5/1 with Ladbrokes, behind only David Mackenzie (7/2) and Christopher Nolan (4/1).

“There’s plenty of talk around who’ll direct the next Bond film, but the latest odds suggest the name’s Clarkson – SJ Clarkson,” spokesperson Alex Apati said.

Behind her, Layton, Demange and Denis Villeneuve are all on 6/1, with Edgar Wright on 7/1 and Sam Mendes on 8/1.

Boyle’s departure was officially said to be over “creative differences”, with issues rumoured to include his casting suggestions, and Barbara Broccoli’s desire to kill off Craig’s incarnation of 007.

The latter point, however, is now thought to be something she’s reconsidering.

“Daniel now has a huge role on the film along with Barbara, and she doesn’t want to kill his character off completely,” a source told the Mirror.

“She thinks Daniel could be encouraged to come back for another film. And since Danny quit as director, Barbara has taken on a new motto: When in doubt, go back to the original Fleming material.

“So that is what they are doing now after the chaos.”