Bond 25: Christoph Waltz says he will not be returning as Blofeld

'I'm really sad, but that's the tradition'

Having been introduced as the new Blofeld during Spectre, Christoph Waltz was widely expected to return as the James Bond villain for the sequel.

However, according to Waltz, the character will not appear in the 25th Bond film. Speaking to the Italian movie news website Talky Movie, the actor revealed the news.

"No, I'm sorry. I'm really sad, but that's the tradition, that there is a new… name,” he told the publication while attending a red carpet event. “Sorry. I would've liked to.”

The iconic character has never been played by the same actor twice, unless counting Anthony Dawson whose hands and back of head appeared in both From Russia with Love and Thunderball.

Waltz could, of course, not have been asked to return just yet, but the comments widely suggest another actor could take on the Blofeld role for Bond 25.

Considering how Daniel Craig’s Bond films have stressed continuity, unlike former Bond films, this seems a slightly odd choice.

Meanwhile, Craig recently confirmed he will return as the spy once more despite previously saying he would 'rather slash his wrists' than make another Bond film.