Spectre: Christoph Waltz says rumours he plays Bond villain Blofeld are 'absolutely untrue'
The actor is confirmed to star as Franz Oberhauser in the next 007 movie
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Kelly Rissman
US News Reporter
Christoph Waltz has disappointed the internet by debunking speculation that he is playing classic villain Ernos Stavros Blofeld in upcoming James Bond movie Spectre.
The Oscar-winning actor is confirmed to star as a character named Franz Oberhauser, but little is known about what this mysterious role involves. One thing's for sure, it is “absolutely untrue” that he will be revealed as the chief of the evil Special Executive for Counter-intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge and Extortion.
“That rumour started on the internet and the internet is pest,” Waltz told GQ, refusing to drop any further hints.
The 58-year-old admitted that he hesitated before accepting the major part. “You ask yourself, hang on: what James Bond are we talking about?” he said. “The thing about Spectre is that it is not the work of hack writers. It does not have a hack director. The actors are not hams.”
Waltz credits the 007 movies with Daniel Craig for “shifting the tone” away from a “set formula that forces actors simply to go through the motions”.
“The action sequences in Mexico are extravagant to say the least,” he said. “The scenes in Austria are traditional Bond action in the snow. These films with Daniel Craig have shifted the tone. They don't depend on a set formula that forces actors simply to go through the motions.”
Spectre, also starring Lea Seydoux, Monica Bellucci, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris and Ben Whishaw, is scheduled for UK release on 6 November. Only then will we find out whether or not Waltz is taking us for a ride with his denial.
Shooting at Pinewood Studios suffered a setback recently when Craig injured his knee on set and had to be flown to New York to undergo surgery. He is expected to resume filming on 22 April.
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