Eddie Redmayne Would "Fight" Stephen Hawking For Bond Villain Role

Following on from Professor Stephen Hawking’s lighthearted declaration that he’d love to play a James Bond villain, actor Eddie Redmayne - who portrays Hawking in new biopic ‘The Theory of Everything’ - has joked that he would fight the noted scientist for the part.

Hawking had recently remarked to Wired that he might be suitable for an adversary of 007, as “the wheelchair and the computer voice would fit the part.”

Now, Redmayne tells the Radio Times, “I think he’d be an amazing Bond baddie. I’d be fighting him for the job, though. I’d be like, ‘how about I play you, playing a Bond villain? Could that work?’”

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Obviously Redmayne’s remarks are in jest, but even so they may give pause for thought as to whether the actor might conceivably have a future in the Bond series - perhaps even in the role of Bond himself?

Whilst Redmayne might seem a little young for the part at 32, we would do well to remember that’s just how old Sean Connery was when he originated the role in ‘Doctor No’ - and only six years shy of how old Daniel Craig was when ‘Casino Royale’ was released.

Whether Redmayne has the necessary blend of charm and machismo to pull the role off is another matter - and one which his existing body of work (which also includes ‘Les Miserables’ and ‘My Week With Marilyn’) might not seem to hint too strongly at.

Still, stranger things have happened, and with Craig probably set to be 007 for at least a few more years, that should give Redmayne plenty of time to beef up a bit - assuming he’s not preoccupied fighting Hawking for the bad guy part.

'The Theory of Everything' is in UK cinemas now, after which Redmayne will next be seen in the Wachowskis' 'Jupiter Ascending,' out 6 February.

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Picture Credit: WENN