Forget the usual suspects. An unexpected contender is suddenly dominating the 007 villain conversation, and fans are already saying yes.
The internet has spoken: James Bond needs a villain worthy of 2025. Not some cartoonish billionaire with a cat. Not another generic strongman with a facial scar.
The people need a villain who can out-charm, outwit, and, according to one fan “out-hot 007” himself. Insiders have said Pedro Pascal is in new Bond bosses at Amazon’s sights and according to the latest betting frenzy, the stars might finally be aligning to give fans exactly that.
The actor of the moment has suddenly rocketed to the top of Bond villain list, with bookies slashing his odds to 4/1 after a surge of late-night bets.
While Cillian Murphy (5/1) would make a chilling antagonist, and Giancarlo Esposito (6/1) could stare down Bond with terrifying stillness, Pascal offers something the franchise has been missing: dangerous fun.
Imagine it: That effortless swagger from The Mandalorian, the unpredictable edge from The Last of Us, and the wicked humour he brought to SNL, all weaponised against 007.
This wouldn’t be a villain who monologues about world domination from an underground lair.
This would be the kind of antagonist who steals Bond’s drink at the casino, flirts with Moneypenny just to mess with him, and still manages to be three steps ahead. The kind who makes you root for him just a little, until you remember he’s the bad guy.
Fans aren’t just excited, they’re already storyboarding the perfect showdown. "Pedro could deliver a villain who’s actually having fun," tweeted one film critic. "Bond hasn’t faced someone this charismatic since Silva in Skyfall, but with way more chaotic energy."
Others are pointing to his Narcos role as proof he can balance charm with genuine menace. And let’s be real: after Gladiator 2 and The Last of Us, the man is basically Hollywood’s official new casting solution.
But here’s the twist: This might actually happen. With Amazon now steering the Bond ship, the franchise is under pressure to deliver fresh energy.
And while the hunt for the next 007 drags on (Aaron Taylor-Johnson is still the bookies’ favourite), locking in a villain this buzzworthy could be a masterstroke.
As one industry insider put it: "You don’t cast Pascal as the villain. You build the villain around what Pascal does best, and let him steal the whole movie."
The only question left? Whether Bond survives the encounter with his ego intact. Because if there’s one thing Pascal’s career has proven, it’s that nobody steals the spotlight quite like him.
