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Sherlock star Andrew Scott, who plays the TV detective’s nemesis Moriarty, is set to appear in the new James Bond movie as a villain.

The Irish actor, 38, who found fame in the hit BBC show four years ago, will play another baddie in the highly anticipated 007 flick - which has the working title of Bond 24.

Dubliner Andrew is set to appear alongside returning cast members Daniel Craig, who plays the secret agent, Ralph Fiennes, Ben Whishaw, Rory Kinnear and Naomie Harris along with Léa Seydoux, Dave Bautista and Christoph Waltz who are reported to be joining the cast.

The movie, directed by Sam Mendes, is set to be released in October 2015, with the cast and title officially announced tomorrow.

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Andrew is hoping to follow in the footsteps of his Sherlock co-star Benedict Cumberbatch and break Hollywood.

An insider told the Mirror: “Andrew was hand-picked for a role in the new Bond movie after film bosses loved his star turn in Sherlock.

“Casting directors thought he was perfect to play a baddie and they wanted to use his existing Sherlock profile - and amp it up to the next level.

“Andrew is hoping the move will see him leap from TV to the big screen, where he can eventually divide his time between London and LA. He knows this is his big break.”

Andrew has previously admitted that BAFTA award-winning show Sherlock had changed his life and opened many doors in the acting world.

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He said: “Sherlock has changed all our careers, and I’m really pleased about that. It gives you the benefit of the doubt because executives like to see recognisable faces.

“It was overwhelming to be on a TV show that is quite so popular. That took me totally by surprise. People had an instant affection for it from the first episode.

"The reaction was extraordinary. People still come up to me in the street all the time, wanting to talk about it.”

But he admitted earlier this year that he did not want to be typecast as a baddie, while promoting Brit comedy The Stag.

He said: “I was looking forward to playing something less dark. I’ve done a lot of comedy in the theatre, but in recent years I’ve done projects that are a little bit more serious in nature.”

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