Javier Bardem To Play Next 'Bond' Villain

Bardem. Javier Bardem.

Javier Bardem Gets His Villain On For Bond

Javier Bardem, or as some like to call him, Penelope Cruz's baby daddy, confirms to ABC's Nightline that he will, as has long been rumored, be the next baddie to go up against 007.

"I am very excited, my parents took me to watch the movies, and I saw all of them, and to play that is going to be fun," says the Spanish actor. "They chose me to play this man, but I cannot give you many details."

Daniel Craig will return for his third go-round as James Bond in Bond 23, with Ralph Fiennes and Judi Dench also slated to appear in the film.

Read: Javier Bardem, Penelope Cruz's Baby Has Mystery Name

"We've got a great script this time," Craig tells MTV. "I'm as excited about this script as I was about the Casino Royale script. I think in Sam (Mendes) we've got the perfect director. The cast is coming together now. I can't wait to get going on it."

Initially Craig's involvement in the film was questionable because execs feared his production schedule for The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo trilogy might become a conflict.

Bond 23 is scheduled to hit theaters in November 2012, 50 years after the franchise got its start.