Is there anyone in the history of the James Bond franchise who has grown more weary of playing 007 than Daniel Craig? The British star has played the spy four times, first stepping into the role in 2006’s Casino Royale. But the expertly tailored tux seems to get tighter and tighter with each passing film. During the last press tour for Spectre, Craig shared his utter distress at the thought of doing another Bond project, saying he’d “rather slash my wrists.” Oh dear.
Unfortunately for Craig, everyone involved in the Bond films loves him, including chief producers Barbara Broccoli (the final decision-maker when it comes to casting Bond) and Michael G. Wilson, as well as longtime producer Callum McDougall, who’s worked on the last five Bond films. McDougall confirmed Craig’s popularity in a recent interview with BBC, saying he doesn't know who'll play 007 next, but the actor is still their “first choice.”
“We would love Daniel to return as Bond, without any question . . . I know they're [Broccoli and Wilson] hoping for him to come back,” McDougall said.
Incredible! Imagine having a job, going out and saying you would rather violently die then do it anymore, and still being a hot commodity around the office. Try it out! (Disclaimer: Unless you are literally Daniel Craig—not just some random bloke who happens to be named Daniel Craig, but like the Daniel Craig who wakes up next to Rachel Weisz every day—don’t actually try this out.) Plus, Craig’s third Bond film, Skyfall, is the highest-grossing film in the franchise’s history, making $1.1 billion worldwide, with Spectre coming in at a close second. Naturally, the studio likely views Craig as an essential part of this record-breaking formula.
Earlier this month, there were also wild rumors that Craig had been offered $150 million to reprise his role. However, that was thoroughly debunked by a previous Vanity Fair report, which also notes that Craig’s wrist-slashing comments infuriated MGM’s chief executive and chairman Gary Barber.
So what will happen now? Craig has made it amply clear he’s not terribly excited about the thought of making another one. It’s hard to say who’ll be next with new front-runners popping up all the time. Sources say the latest favorite, Tom Hiddleston, is out of the running, and chances of Idris Elba, winner of the Internet's Choice Awards (just kidding, I made that up, but that awards show should exist!), taking the role seem to be slipping further and further away, until one day we all collectively realize it was but a beautiful mirage in the distance.
Time is also catching up with the franchise. A new film typically comes out every two to three years or so, and making a movie of such epic proportions takes months and months of work. Must they keep us waiting? Well, history shows that they actually might. Last time around, Craig was announced as the new Bond in 2005, then Casino Royale came out in November 2006. But for the love of Bond fans and poor, rich, tormented Daniel Craig, please make a decision soon, Broccoli.
