Rumor: Christoph Waltz Is Blofeld In ‘Bond 24’
WhenChristoph Waltzwas said to be set for a role inBond 24, one character name likely leapt to mind for long-time James Bond fans:Ernst Stavro Blofeld. The character was vaguely introduced inFrom Russia With Love(1963) but we didn’t see his face untilDonald Pleasence played him inYou Only Live Twicein 1967. Blofeld has not appeared in an official Bond film since 1981 due to a rights dispute. But that conflict, with the estate of thelateproducer Kevin McClory, was resolved months ago, putting Blofeld and hisorganizationSPECTRE back into the realm of possibility for a Bond film.
The Daily Mailhas the rumor, and while one reporter at that outlet, Baz Bamigboye, is on point with Bond news, this isn’t his scoop. So take it with a bit of caution. But the site has some specific info.
First up, the Daily Mail says a press conference will take place during the first week of December to announce the proper title of the new film, as well as the cast and some teaser summary of the story. We’ve known this would happen, as that’s the way Bond production company EON works. EON turns a new Bond announcement into an event.
Specifically, however, the Mail says EON “will announce the star is playing an unknown character called Franz Oberhauser, son of the late Hans Oberhauser, a ski instructor who acted as a father figure to Bond.” But the rumor is that, like John Harrison inStar Trek Into Darkness, who was revealed to be Khan, that character name is a smoke screen with Blofeld being the truecharacterplayed by Waltz.
AfterFrom Russia With Love, another faceless appearance inThunderball, and thatFrom Russia With Loverole, Blofeld was played by Telly Savalas inOn Her Majesty’s Secret Service, and by Charles Gray inDiamonds Are Forever. He was “killed” inFor Your Eyes Only, but appeared in the unofficialThunderballremakeNever Say Never Againin 1983, played by Max Von Sydow.
