After almost 15 years in the role, Daniel Craig is finally hanging up his Walther PPK and tuxedo. The 51-year-old is the longest-serving James Bond actor, even though Sir Roger Moore made two more movies than him in less time. As the 007 star returns for his swansong in No Time To Die, franchise boss Barbara Broccoli has admitted she’s struggling with Craig’s decision to quit.
Speaking with Variety, Broccoli said: “I’m in total denial.
“I’ve accepted what Daniel has said, but I’m still in denial. It’s too traumatic for me.”
Having been roped in for No Time To Die after saying he’d rather slash his wrists than make another Bond movie after 2015’s Spectre, Craig has put his return down to her persuasiveness.
He said: “Barbara doesn’t take no for an answer.”
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Craig continued: “It’s not in her wheelhouse. I had a nice long break, which I really needed.
“And then she was just persistent and came to me with some ideas, which we started formulating, and I got excited again.”
Indeed Broccoli promises No Time To Die is “an emotionally satisfying conclusion” for Craig’s incarnation.
Perhaps, this means they will actually go the whole hog and kill off Bond?
That’s what Bond expert and author of Catching Bullets – Memoirs of a Bond Fan, Mark O’Connell told Express.co.uk in an exclusive interview.
He said: “The history of Bond, particularly with Connery and Moore is – they had about three final Bond films in them.
“And yes the cheque book at the time slightly sugared the pill and they returned.”
“[No Time To Die] could end on a cool cliffhanger – Jason Bourne falling into the sea – moment; a question mark.”
He added: “But Bond’s a little like Doctor Who, we can sort of all move on a bit, cast it again.”
Of course, fans are always speculating on who the next Bond will be.
However, Broccoli has made it clear in her most recent interviews that she’s only focusing on No Time To Die right now.
No Time To Die is released in UK cinemas on April 2, 2020.