The daily telegraph repots that bond producers have come up with a modern villain to challenge 007 in Casino Royale.

"Barbara Broccoli wants to work an Osama bin Laden-type character into the script," says my source. "In Ian Fleming's book, the main villain is a Russian agent called Le Chiffre. But in the film, they want to replace Le Chiffre with a wealthy Islamic fundamentalist who provides funding for terrorism."

The producers had originally coined the idea for the last Bond film, Die Another Day.

"The last film was going to feature a baddie called bin Sane," adds my source. "But it was deemed to be too soon after the 9/11 atrocities, so the character was canned."

Any doubt about the casting of Dame Judi Dench for "Casino Royale" can now be laid, as the actress confirmed she will be appearing as M in the next James Bond film.

Following her last four appearances as the M with Pierce Brosnan as 007, Dench will continue her role as MI6 chief opposite Daniel Craig as the new James Bond.

Dench told Empire Online: "I heard today that I'm not going to be in London. I'm going to get to go to Prague and The Bahamas.

"They're getting me out of my box. It's a whole film there. I'm very much looking forward to working with Daniel [Craig], but I've not even read a script yet. All I know is that we're due to start in February."

The Sun has reported Mrs Jolie has been asked to play the latest James Bond girl but she is insisting the role is toughened up before she accepts. This news comes after reports last month that Angelina was on the shortlist for the lead female role. The paper claims that Jolie, 31, has seen the script in which she could play Vesper Lynd agent opposite 007 Daniel Craig.

An "insider" said: "Angelina would rather play a baddie than eye candy." Jolie and Craig previously co-starred in the first Tomb Raider movie.

 

The Sun reported that Vinnie Jones wants to play a James Bond villain in his next movie role. The ex-footballer is currently working on X-Men 3 in America but he already has his sights set on a new challenge.

Vinnie, 40, said: "I'm playing Juggernaut at the minute and it's great fun. I wasn't really a comic kid but I've got into my role for X-Men. You don't have to worry about too much dialogue as a superhero but it's a nice rest as I've just done 110 pages on another new film, Johnny Was. It's good being a superhero but I'd like to have a go at James Bond. I think I'd be a great villain so I'll have to see what I can do."

Apparently Vinnie has already met Daniel Craig and believes he would be the perfect nemesis for the new Bond.

The Lock Stock star said:

"I got talking to Daniel about two months ago in Los Angeles. He was a bit skeptical about the role at the time and didn't really know what was happening. Hugh Jackman, who I'm working with on X-Men, was also in the running but he was undecided about it. There's a lot of good movies in the pipeline so I'll have to see what I do next. But Johnny Was will be a hit. It's a gangster movie set in Ireland and I play the lead. The film also features Lennox Lewis, Roger Daltrey, Samantha Mumba, Patrick Bergin and Eriq La Salle. We've still got some final voiceovers to do but it'll be out next year."