Actress Lashana Lynch will take on the iconic spy role of 007 in Bond 25, according to reports.

The British actress, 31, will be starring alongside Daniel Craig, Lea Seydoux, Naomie Harris, as well as newcomers Rami Malek and Ana de Armas in the untitled Bond 25 film, which will be released on the 8th of April 2020.

While titular hero James Bond will still be portrayed by Daniel Craig, 51, writer Phoebe Waller-Bridge has introduced a major twist to the long-running franchise, The Sun reported.

She will introduce the Captain Marvel star, 31, as the current 007’s replacement within the secret service, while a decision has yet to be made who will take over from Craig in Bond 26.

An insider told the Mail: “There is a pivotal scene at the start of the film where M says ‘Come in 007’, and in walks Lashana who is black, beautiful and a woman.

Lashana Lynch will take on the iconic spy role of 007 in Bond 25, according to reportsCredit: Getty Images – Getty

“It’s a popcorn-dropping moment. Bond is still Bond but he’s been replaced as 007 by this stunning woman.”

The source also revealed that Bond will be brought out of retirement in Jamaica to thwart a “global crisis”.

It comes after it was revealed Cristoph Waltz will reprise the role of Blofeld in the flick after he was spotted on set at Pinewood Studios.

The star, 62, played the head of a shadowy organisation of villains in 2015’s Spectre, and is back for a second outing despite previously claiming he wouldn’t be in the next flick.

The Mail’s Baz Bamigboye broke the news on Twitter, posting: “Exclusive:Hello Mr Waltz… we’ve been expecting you.#ChristophWaltz is back as #Blofeld in ⁦@007⁩ #Bond25 , shooting scenes at Pinewood studios . When a visitor spotted him , Waltz insisted , “You haven’t seen me.”

Christoph Waltz will reprise the role of Blofeld in the film after he was spotted on set at Pinewood Studios

The Sun Online has contacted a representative for Cristoph for comment.

Super-villain Blofeld tried to establish a global surveillance network in Spectre that would enable the organisation to monitor and evade criminal investigations at the highest level.

In an explosive finale, Blofeld’s helicopter was shot down and the villain was seen crawling from the wreckage.

But with his fate left up in the air, it looks as if he evaded arrest.

Meanwhile, Oscar winner Rami Malek has been announced as taking on the role of the suave Secret Service agent’s latest nemesis.

Ralph Fiennes (M), Lea Seydoux (Dr Madeleine Swann), Naomie Harris (Eve Moneypenny), Ben Whishaw (Q), Rory Kinnear (Bill Tanner) and Jeffrey Wright (Felix Leiter) will all return for Bond 25.

In Bond 25, the agent has left active service and is enjoying a tranquil life in Jamaica but his peace is short-lived when his old friend Felix from the CIA turns up asking for help.

Earlier this month Bond bosses insisted the next 007 film will be in cinemas in just nine months’ time despite being rocked by a string of disasters.

A spokesperson for the spy franchise told The Sun Online that the 25th Bond movie would definitely be released in the UK on 3 April next year.

The troubled film has been hit with several calamities – including three explosions, a crocked Daniel Craig and Grace Jones walking out.

A triple explosion erupted at the 007 Stage at the movie franchise’s Pinewood Studios base in London last month.

A crew member sustained an injury during the blast, which took off part of the roof and several wall panels.