James Bond might be one of the most popular characters Hollywood has ever given us, but equally popular and remembered are the series’ villains.

Oscar Rami Malek is in negotiations to board Denzel Washington-starrer cop thriller ‘Little Things’.

Oscar winner Rami Malek will play the international villain who Daniel Craig’s James Bond must battle in the British spy franchise’s 25th film set for release next year, the producers announced on Thursday.

Rami Malek, who recently won an Oscar for Best Actor, is in final negotiations to play the antagonist in the latest installment of James Bond franchise. The film will be directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, who came onboard as a director after Danny Boyle exited the project over "creative differences". It was being reported earlier that Malek was being eyed for the villain role, but his schedule on the last season of his breakout show "Mr. Robot" which shoots from March through July, was a hindrance.