Daniel Craig as James Bond inSkyfall(2012).Photo:Francois Duhamel/Columbia Pictures/courtesy Everett Collection
Francois Duhamel/Columbia Pictures/courtesy Everett Collection
James Bondfans will have to wait a bit longer to see the franchise’s next evolution.
In an interview withThe Guardianpublished Saturday, Bond producerBarbara Broccoligave an update on where they are in the process of continuing the action-spy saga following the conclusion ofDaniel Craig’s 15-year tenure as 007, which began with 2006’sCasino Royaleand concluded with 2021’sNo Time to Die.
“Daniel gave us the ability to mine the emotional life of the character … and also the world was ready for it,” said Broccoli, 63. “I think these movies reflect the time they are in, and there’s a big, big road ahead reinventing it for the next chapter and we haven’t even begun with that.”
She also told the outlet that in casting Craig, now 55, they “wanted to focus on what a 21st-century hero would look like.”
“I go back toGoldenEyewhen everyone was saying, ‘The cold war is over, the wall is over, Bond is dead, no need for Bond, the whole world’s at peace and now there’s no villains’ – and boy was that wrong!” Broccoli also said, referencing the 1995 Bond film starring Craig’s immediate predecessor,Pierce Brosnan, as the famous fictional spy.
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From L: Sean Connery, Daniel Craig and Pierce Brosnan as James Bond.Courtesy Everett Collection; Karwai Tang/WireImage; United Artists/courtesy Everett Collection
Courtesy Everett Collection; Karwai Tang/WireImage; United Artists/courtesy Everett Collection
Little has been announced about future Bond movies, though the series' longtime producer Michael G. Wilson said back in October 2022 that"trying to visualize" younger actorsin the role has never worked out.
“Remember, Bond’s already a veteran. He’s had some experience. … He’s a person who has been through the wars, so to speak,” said Wilson, 81, in part. “He isn’t some kid out of high school that you can bring in and start off. That’s why it works for a 30-something.”
Actors likeIdris ElbaandTaron Egertonhave said that they do not expect to play Bond, while back in August,Aaron Taylor-Johnsondodgedreports that he’s a prime candidateto play the next 007.
“He can be of any color, but he is male,” Broccoli toldVarietyin 2020. “I believe we should be creating new characters for women — strong female characters. I’m not particularly interested in taking a male character and having a woman play it. I think women are far more interesting than that.”
Daniel Craig as James Bond inNo Time to Die(2021).Nicola Dove/MGM/THA/Shutterstock
Nicola Dove/MGM/THA/Shutterstock
As for Craig, theKnives Outstar admitted in an interview with theLos Angeles Timespublished last fall that he bowed out from continuing on as Bond for multiple reasons.
“Two things, one for myself and one for the franchise,” the actor said. “One, for the franchise, was that resets start again, which [the franchise] did with me. And I was like, ‘Well, you need to reset again.’ So let’s kill my character off and go find another Bond and go find another story. Start at [age] 23, start at 25, start at 30.”
He continued, “The other was so that I could move on. Idon’t want to go back. I suppose I should be so lucky if they were to ask me back, but the fact is I need to move on from it. The sacrifice that he makes in the movie was for love and there’s no greater sacrifice. So it seemed like a good thing to end on.”
Craig also spoke toRadio Timesabout his time as Bond in September 2021, when he was asked about his thoughts on a female 007 possibly following in his footsteps.
“There should simplybe better parts for women and actors of color,” he said, in part. “Why should a woman play James Bond when there should be a part just as good as James Bond, but for a woman?”
source: people.com
