It turns out, not even Daniel Craig can tell us who the next James Bond is going to be.
One of the most beloved actors to take on the iconic role of 007, Craig starred in five Bond films over the past two decades including Casino Royale (2006), Quantum of Solace (2008), Skyfall (2012), Spectre (2015), and No Time To Die (2021).
After the actor announced that No Time To Die would be his last Bond flick, rumors on his replacement naturally arose with the likes of Idris Elba, Tom Hardy, and Aaron-Taylor Johnson being discussed.
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Although details on the new Bond (and film) have remained ambiguous, Craig recently weighed in on who he thinks should take on the role.
Whilst promoting his latest film Queer with co-star Drew Starkey, Craig was asked by Variety: "If you were to pass the James Bond torch, who would you love to see play him?"
His response? Well, it was a simple: "I don't care."
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Now before anyone gets all riled up, Craig was laughing when he said this so it's all jokes and love here, but the actor did previously express that he has no regrets on his decision to stop playing the role.
"I had an incredibly fortunate 17 years of my life making this," Craig told the BBC in 2022. "I literally want to spend the next 20 years of my life trying to unhook it all and try and put it into a place because it was incredible."
"I left it where I wanted it to be," he continued. "And that I was given the chance to do that with the last movie."
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Although the casting for the new Bond hasn't been confirmed yet, casting directors and producers tied to the franchise have hinted at what they're not looking for.
In a 2023 interview with the Radio Times, casting director Debbie McWilliams noted that while younger actors were briefly considered, they're now off the table. "We did look at a lot of younger actors, and I just don't think they had the gravitas," she told the outlet.
"They didn't have the experience, they didn't have the mental capacity to take it on, because it's not just the part they're taking on, it's a massive responsibility."
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Meanwhile, producer Barbara Broccoli similarly noted that while the new Bond can't be too young, he also can't be too old. "When we cast Bond, it's a 10-, 12-year commitment," Broccoli told Variety in 2022. "So he's probably thinking, 'Do I really want that thing?' Not everybody wants to do that. It was hard enough getting [Daniel Craig to do it]."
Topics: James Bond, Daniel Craig
Yasmeen Hamadeh