Daniel Craig says he doesn't care who becomes next James Bond after playing the role for a decade
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Daniel Craig, who starred as the iconic James Bond for almost a decade, says he's not concerned about who takes over the role after him.
Craig, who first stepped into the shoes of the British spy in 2006's 'Casino Royale', went on to appear in four more Bond films, including 'Quantum of Solace', 'Skyfall', 'Spectre', and finally 'No Time to Die' in 2021, where his character meets a dramatic end.
Daniel Craig laughs off at passing the torch of James Bond
After Daniel Craig's farewell in 'No Time to Die', the franchise has yet to announce its next James Bond, leaving fans speculating on who will fill the role of Agent 007 in the upcoming movies.
In a recent interview with Variety, Craig, now 56, seemed relaxed and amused when discussing his Bond legacy alongside 'Queer' co-star Drew Starkey.
When asked by the outlet, “If you were to pass the James Bond torch, who would you love to see play him?” Craig answered bluntly, “I don’t care,” accompanied by a laugh and a shake of his head.
During the interview, Craig and Starkey were asked to guess how many Bond films Craig had completed. “I’m gonna get it wrong,” Craig admitted, as Starkey humorously answered, “too many.”
Craig laughed in agreement, responding, “Exactly... I don’t know either. I’d have to count. One, two, three… five? Five.”
Daniel Craig on discussing James Bond’s future with Barbara Broccoli
In a 2022 interview with 'The Times', Daniel Craig shared that he had only expected to make one James Bond film.
After the premiere of 'Casino Royale' in Berlin, he recounted a conversation with producer Barbara Broccoli where he expressed surprise at the film's success.
“I had genuinely thought I would do one Bond movie, then it would be over,” Craig said. But by the time they were leaving the Berlin premiere, “we knew we had a hit on our hands,” he explained.
Realizing the potential for a continued run as Bond, Craig asked Broccoli, “How many more? Three? Four?” Broccoli’s response was, “Four!” Craig then inquired, “OK. Then can I kill him off?” to which she agreed, ultimately setting the course for Craig’s dramatic farewell in 'No Time to Die'.
Speculation surrounds James Bond's casting with stars rumored for the role
Since Daniel Craig’s departure from the James Bond franchise, speculation has swirled around who will be the next actor to play Agent 007.
According to People, several actors are rumored to be in the running, including 'Saltburn' star Jacob Elordi, 27, 'The Fall Guy' actor Aaron Taylor Johnson, 34, and 'The Boys in the Boat' actor Callum Turner, 34.
Johnson reportedly tested for the role, and in May, The Sun reported that he had been formally offered the part.
Interestingly, Craig himself faced initial resistance when he was chosen as Bond in 2005.
Many fans protested the decision, as they felt he didn’t fit their image of the suave secret agent. Craig even tried to persuade Broccoli to reconsider casting him, as he told GQ.
