James Bond star Daniel Craig is set to step down from the role of 007 after the release of the upcoming No Time To Die. But his role in the iconic franchise goes deeper than just that of the leading man. In a new interview with the BBC, Billie Eilish and her brother and co-writer Finneas O’Connell revealed the extent of the actors sway when it comes to decisions on Bond.
Speaking about their new single, No Time To Die, which sees them join the lauded ranks of Bond theme song performers, O’Connell said Craig had to approve the track before they were officially given the job.
“He had to like it. If Daniel doesn’t like it, you don’t get the job,” he said.
“He’s got a big say in it,” Eilish chipped in. “We learned that from this.
“I didn’t think that would happen but he’s really involved.”
READ MORE: JAMES BOND – WHY WAS NO TIME TO DIE TOUR CANCELLED?
“He’s a producer on the film,” O’Connell noted, as Eilish continued: “We haven’t met him or anything, but he’s got to like it before they move on.”
Sharing a glimpse at the scope of Craig’s influence, O’Connell added: “He’s responsible for a lot of the great things in his series of films.”
Craig was previously credited as a producer on Spectre, which was released in 2015 and is back behind the camera as well as in front for No Time To Die.
There has been speculation Craig could return to Bond after making his exit as the star.
However, Craig has dismissed speculation he might come back to Bond as a director.
In an interview with German publication Express, he was asked if he fancied a turn calling the shots on the next film.
“For god’s sake, no,” he replied. “I want to come home, eat something and then go to bed.
“If you’re a director, then at night you’re still with the producers, screenwriters on the phone. And then, after two hours of sleep, you have to go back up to the set. No thanks.”
Elsewhere, Eilish and O’Connell’s Bond theme song, No Time To Die, looks set to debut at number one in the UK singles chart.
As the youngest artist ever to record the Bond theme, 18-year-old US star Eilish has pushed the current number one The Weeknd into the runner-up spot in the midweek chart.
Sam Smith is the only artist ever to get a number one single with a Bond theme to date with his release Writing’s On The Wall, which accompanied Spectre.
James Bond: No Time To Die is released in UK cinemas April 3.