After a stellar performance in 12 Years a Slave, Chiwetel Ejiofor is in the running for the next James Bond villain for the next 007 installment.

According to Variety their sources say Ejiofor is the top choice for MGM and Sony studios, largly in part to the success of having Javier Bardem play Bond’s nemesis in Skyfall.

Although the studio had no comment, production is due to start in the summer aiming for a November 2015 release date. Daniel Craig will be back as the British spy, along with Ralph Fiennes, Ben Whishaw and Naomie Harris returning. Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson will produce with John Logan writing the script.

The Wrap also noted casting will soon begin with two key female roles, including a new Bond girl and a Scandinavian with a troubled past who will serve as a brief love interest for Bond.

Pressure will be on for the next installment, dubbed Bond 24, as Skyfall, directed by Sam Mendes, who also returns to the director’s chair, grossed more than $1.1 billion worldwide.