Daniel Craig criticizes chaotic James Bond film where he acted without a script: 'F*****g nightmare'

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Daniel Craig opened up about the tumultuous production of 'Quantum of Solace', his second outing as James Bond, during an appearance on The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast.

Craig described the filming experience as a “f*****g nightmare,” blaming the chaos on the 2007-2008 Writers Guild of America strike.

Daniel Craig regrets decision to start production for 'Quantum of Solace'

Speaking about the challenges of filming 'Quantum of Solace', Daniel Craig shared, “Paul Haggis did a pass on the script. Then, he went off and joined the picket line, and we didn’t have writers. So, we didn’t have a script."

Despite the significant setback, production pushed forward.

“We should never probably have started production, but we did. I ended up writing a lot of that film, which I probably shouldn’t say. I do not want the credit. It’s fine,” he added.

Mixed success for 'Quantum of Solace'

'Quantum of Solace', the Marc Forster-directed film featuring Olga Kurylenko, Mathieu Amalric, and Judi Dench among its cast, managed to gross nearly $600 million globally.

However, it was panned by critics and is often regarded as the weakest installment of Craig’s five-film Bond tenure, according to the New York Post.

“But it came out. There are some amazing stunt sequences in it. I’m still wearing the pins to prove it. In that sense, there’s a lot of great stuff in it, but it just didn’t quite work," said Craig.

"The storytelling wasn’t there. That’s the abject lesson. Going to start a movie without a script is not a good idea,” he shared.

Daniel Craig's farewell to James Bond and reflection on masculinity

In 2019, Daniel Craig confirmed he would hang up his tuxedo after five James Bond films, concluding his run with 2021’s 'No Time to Die', where his character met a dramatic end.

Reflecting on his time as the iconic spy, Craig acknowledged the challenges of portraying Bond, particularly the “construct of masculinity.”

Speaking to The New Yorker, he said, “It was often very laughable, but you can’t mock it and expect it to work. You have to buy into it.”

Craig emphasized the importance of vulnerability, saying, “We’re all vulnerable. It doesn’t matter who you are or how tough you are, everybody’s vulnerable.”

Daniel Craig reflects on his upcoming film 'Queer'

At 56, Daniel Craig is embracing new opportunities, including his role in the upcoming erotic film 'Queer'.

“When I took on Bond, I was one person. I’m now completely a different person,” he said.

The actor noted that he could not have taken on such a project during his Bond tenure without it feeling contrived.