One of James Bond films' most memorable and despised villains of all time, Ernst Stavro Blofeld, will be making a comeback in the upcoming 24th installment of the movie franchise.
Two-time Oscar winner Christoph Waltz is tipped to relive Blofeld and give Agent 007, who shall be played by Daniel Craig for the fourth time, a very worthy but otherwise evil adversary, reports the Daily Mail.
In agreeing to play the role of Blofeld, Waltz is actually joining a premiere roster of Hollywood actors who deliciously played the villain role in past Bond movies including Donald Pleasance in "You Only Live Twice" (1967), Telly Savalas in "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" (1969), Charles Gray in "Diamonds Are Forever" (1971), and John Hollis in "For Your Eyes Only" (1981), details the report.
Blofeld also appeared in two other James Bond films - "From Russia with Love" (1963) and "Thunderball" (1965) - but there was no face to the villain as only his lower body stroking his white Angora cat were shown in scenes involving him, adds the Daily Mail.
The popularity of Blofeld as a James Bond villain was actually highlighted in the first two of three "Austin Powers" movies by Mike Myers shown from 1997 to 2002, notes Universal Exports (another spoof since this is the company which 007 represents when doing undercover work).
Myers spoofed Blofeld as Dr. Evil. And instead of an Angora cat, Dr. Evil has a fictional cat named Mr. Bigglesworth, the site added.
Blofeld's character disappeared from the James Bond movie franchise after 1981 because of a falling out and eventually a legal dispute between 007 author Ian Fleming and Eon Productions and Kevin McClory, a producer and former friend of Fleming, over ownership right to the Blofeld character and his evil SPECTRE organization, disclosed the Daily Mail.
But MGM has already settled with Kevin McClory more than a year ago so now the James Bond franchise is free to use the villain character and his evil organization again for its future movies, including the current one in production, reports Coming Soon.net.
From 1981 to 2015, it took Blofed 34 years to make his return to the James Bond movie franchise and it looks like Waltz is the right choice to play villain role.
"James Bond 24" has yet to have an official title but it's already set for a November 6, 2015 playdate.
Coming Soon.net said that in addition to Daniel Craig and Christoph Waltz, also in the cast of "James Bond 24" are Lea Seydoux, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Ben Whishaw and Dave Bautista. Sam Mendes is directing the film, produced by Barbara Brocolli and Michael G. Wilson.