According to a new report, the next James Bond film has just gotten a new jolt of homespun energy.
Welsh star Rhys Ifans has joined the upcoming Sam Mendes-directed film, London's Telegraph reports. Tentatively titled "Bond 23," the movie will bring back Daniel Craig for a third go round as 007, while Judi Dench will return once again as M. It was recently confirmed that Oscar winner Javier Bardem will play an unnamed bad guy, while Ralph Fiennes -- aka Voldemort -- will play an undisclosed role, too.
Naomi Harris is set to take on the role of faithful assistant, Moneypenny.
Ifans has forged a strong if unsung career over the past two decades, starring as Hugh Grant's friend in "Notting Hill" and Ben Stiller's depressed buddy in "Greenberg." He'll get his biggest American stage yet as Dr. Curt Connors/The Lizard in the upcoming Spider-Man reboot, playing the film's main villain.
Look for Ifans, as well as everyone else in the cast, to be wearing very specifically branded clothing, and driving very specific cars, among other things; the film is set to take in $45 million in product placement cash.
Unrelated but still quite interestingly, Ifans is already very intimately acquainted with Craig; the two co-starred in "Enduring Love," in which Ifans played Craig's stalker. Notably, and as seen below, the pair shared a kiss in the film.
For more, click over to the Telegraph.
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