Following the release of Spectre, the most recent James Bond film, it appeared that actor Daniel Craig was ready to leave the role, saying he’d rather “slit his wrists” than make another. The actor’s statement generated a lot of press and even more speculation over who would (or should) take over the role he had apparently vacated. Recently, however, a new report suggests that Craig may be on his way to coming back, thanks to producer Barbara Broccoli.
The role of Bond has been held by a number of individuals since the franchise began. The likes of Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, and Pierce Brosnan have all played the martini-swilling spy, but none have enjoyed box-office success like Craig’s entries have, making his return a high priority for producers.
As such, Page Six reports multiple sources have reached out to tell them Broccoli has “just about persuaded Daniel Craig to do one more Bond movie.” These same sources corroborated the previous report that Neal Purvis and Robert Wade will once again write the script, but also that a draft is finished and production will begin as soon as Craig officially joins.
Despite his comments – and regardless how seriously he meant them – the franchise’s producers have continued to say that Craig is their first choice to play MI6’s top man moving forward. Given his success in the role, it’s no surprise the powers that be are sticking with what they see as a sure bet.
Craig’s hesitation isn’t a financial one; he has reportedly been offered $150 million for two films, so even one appearance would be a lucrative final adventure in this franchise. Should the actor actually agree to join once and for all, the film would likely find a distributor rather quickly. While Sony has had distribution rights most recently, those rights expired after Spectre.
If Craig agrees to return, studios should begin the bidding war to distribute this movie and future Bond films as well. As for Bond 25, the next step will be finding a new director for Craig’s fifth and potentially final appearance. Sam Mendes won’t be returning for a third film, but with Craig in hand and potentially a new studio as well, this should become one of the biggest directing jobs available. Regardless of the studio and director, Craig coming back once more is a big step forward for the future of 007.
Next: Should Michael Fassbender Be the Next James Bond?
Source: Page Six (via IGN)
