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In professional sports, teams are constantly trading players and signing free agents before the start of the season. While this sort of analogy has all sorts of holes when you try to link it to the film industry and casting, it is an interesting way to illustrate this new James Bond news. You see, it appears that in the case of the upcoming “Bond 25,” director Cary Fukunaga ended up losing actress Lupita Nyong’o and gained Rami Malek. And much like controversial sports transactions, we’re curious if one Oscar winner coming on board is enough to take the place of another Oscar winner.

In all fairness, it’s not like the folks behind the upcoming James Bond film chose Malek over Nyong’o. Instead, it would appear that when talks between the actress stalled due to whatever reason, at the same time, the production ended up hiring the recent Oscar winner, Malek, to play the villain in the upcoming spy film (as we previously reported), per Deadline.

READ MORE: Rami Malek & Billy Magnussen In Talks For Major Roles In ‘Bond 25’

Both Malek and Nyong’o are some of the best, most award-winning actors in Hollywood at the moment, with the actress starring in the Oscar-winning film “Black Panther” and soon to be the lead in the upcoming Jordan Peele horror flick “Us.” She was being courted to play one of the “Bond Girls” in the upcoming film. Maybe Malek will have to amp up his sex appeal as the villain to try to compensate? Okay, probably not. We’re just sad that the incredible Nyong’o won’t be partaking in the project.

Either way you look at it, “Bond 25” was bound to have some serious acting credibility with either Nyong’o or Malek. It just appears that for Daniel Craig’s swansong as the suave British superspy, he won’t have Nyong’o on board.

READ MORE: Cary Fukunaga Says He’ll Carry On The ‘Casino Royale’ Character Arc In ‘Bond 25’ But “There Will Be Changes”

But for those wanting to see the actress kick some ass in a spy film, you’re in luck. Let’s not forget that Nyong’o is set to star in Jessica Chastain’s upcoming all-female spy flick “355.” So, after the success of “Black Panther” and the upcoming “355,” there’s still a shot that the Oscar-winning actress could cement herself as an action star without the help of James Bond.

“355” doesn’t have a release date as of yet. However, “Bond 25” will hit theaters (possibly, if there are no more delays) on April 8, 2020.