As with the Lea Seydoux reports from Friday, today's Bond 24 news remains unconfirmed by any official word from EON. But reports are coming in that Dave Bautista has also scored a role in the as-yet untitled **Bond 24. If Latino Review's secret sources are accurate, we can expect to see the former wrestler as a henchman called Hinx.
As per the casting call, Sam Mendes and his team were looking for someone "ideally over 6'2"... imposing and physically fit... unusual [and] possibly from a sports background." Bautista certainly fits that bill. And following his revelatory breakout turn in this summer's Guardians Of The Galaxy, he's proved he's capable of far more than one-note tough guy roles. Hinx could be very entertaining indeed.
Not much has been revealed about Hinx so far, except that he's a "henchman/assassin", has to drive and will have several fights with Bond. Daniel Craig had better prepare himself. The name is perilously close to "Jinx", but we're assuming Bautista wouldn't be required to emerge from the sea in an orange bikini. Although then again...
Elsewhere in the cast we can expect returning core elements Ralph Fiennes, Ben Wishaw and Naomie Harris, with Mendes once again directing and Hoyte van Hoytema replacing Skyfall's Roger Deakins as cinematographer. There was talk a while ago that Penelope Cruz and Chiwetel Ejiofor may have significant roles, but that hasn't resurfaced so far.
Shooting on Bond 24 will take place at Pinewood and in Austria (with Rome and Morocco also rumoured), and the cameras finally start rolling in December for a release on October 23 next year.