Hollywood is pursuing Spanish actor Javier Bardem to star in the 23rd Bond film in the series opposite Daniel Craig.

The actor is a new father to his baby boy with wife Spanish actress Penelope Cruz. He has won an Oscar for No Country for Old Men and received his latest Oscar nomination for best actor for his work on the film Biutiful. Cruz and Bardem have known each other since 1992 and were reunited onscreen for Woody Allen's Vicky Cristina Barcelona.

If Bardem accepts the Bond film offer, he is expected to either play another secret service agent or a villain in the movie.

The James Bond 007 character was penned by former Naval Intelligence officer Ian Fleming in 1953. The Bond movies began in the 1960s with Dr.No. .