Summary
The nextJames Bondactor is being sought to replace Daniel Craig, who gave a surprising response when asked who he would choose to play the next 007.
Craig’sJames Bondtenure ended withNo Time to Die,his fifth film playing the iconic character. Naturally, people immediately speculated onwho should play the new James Bond, with actors like Idris Elba or Dev Patel being top fan choices. However, Craig is seemingly less concerned with who his successor will be.
During an interview withVariety, Craig and hisQueerco-star Drew Starkey were tasked with finding out how well they knew each other. Craig and Starkey were asked a series of questions about each other and asked to reveal the answers they wrote on a whiteboard. When asked how manyJames Bond films Craig had made, even the former 007 didn’t know the answer. When Starkey humorously wrote, “Too many,” Craig laughed and agreed. Both actors eventually figured out Craig made 5 James Bond films.When asked who he would choose to play the next James Bond, Craig laughed and said, “I don’t care.”
Craig’s lack of interest in theJames Bond franchise’s futurelikely isn’t surprising. AfterSpectre–his fourth 007 movie–was released, there was speculation that it may be Craig’s final outing as James Bond. Those feelings were seemingly well-founded, as Craig had complained about how difficult it was to play the role and said he’d rather “slit his wrists” than return as James Bond afterSpectrewas released. He later reversed his stance and agreed to return forNo Time to Die, which brought his version of the character’s story to a definitive end.
Still, it seems Craig has been ready to say goodbye to James Bond for a while. AlthoughCraig is proud of his time playing James Bond, it’s understandable why he would be ready to move on from such a physically demanding role. Not being bound to a franchise and free to pursue other opportunities probably helps as well.
Now the search for a new James Bond actor is underway. A recent story onSteve McQueen reportedly being eyed to direct James Bond26 also claimed casting for the new 007 has restarted. While Aaron Taylor-Johnson was reportedly offered the role earlier in 2024, that rumor may have been false, or perhaps a deal simply didn’t work out. Regardless of who is chosen, fans will likely have strong feelings about the next James Bond, but Craig evidently won’t be among them.
TheJames Bondmovies are available on Prime Video.
No Time to Die
The famed agent James Bond has left active service and is enjoying a tranquil life in Jamaica. However, his peace is short-lived when his old friend Felix Leiter from the CIA turns up asking for help. The mission to rescue a kidnapped scientist turns out to be more treacherous than expected, leading Bond onto the trail of a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology.
