Look at Scarfy Von Grumpy! What IS with that scarf? Daniel Craig’s style improved when he became James Bond, totally. All of a sudden, the man was wearing the hell out of every suit he came across. But very few men can pull off this kind of scarf, and I don’t think Daniel is one of them – maybe Jude Law? Jude could have worked this scarf. Totally. Anyway, these are photos of Daniel promoting The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo in NYC last week. This will likely be Daniel’s biggest film of the year, especially after Dream House and Cowboys & Aliens flopped earlier this year. Which brings me to a question – is Daniel Craig really a movie star without James Bond? Like, can he carry a movie? My answer is yes – but I was a fan of Craig before Bond, and his early films are littered with wonderful performances. But can Craig deliver a box office on a film in no way related to 007? That’s what GWTDT will show us. Until then, it sounds like Daniel is making plans to stay on as James Bond for many years to come:
Perhaps it was those swimming trunks in Casino Royale that did it? Or maybe it’s simply because Daniel Craig is the most convincing James Bond in nearly 50 years. Whatever the reason the 43-year-old actor could become the longest serving 007 of all time after being offered a multi-million pound deal.
In an interview with The People, Bond producer Michael G Wilson said he would love Craig to do five more films, taking his total to eight. That would put him ahead of current longest-running Bond Roger Moore by just one movie. It would also knock Sean Connery, who played the spy in six films, from second position.
Pierce Brosnan donned the tux for four films, Timothy Dalton for two and George Lazenby starred in just one – On her Majesty’s Secret Service from 1969. Craig is currently filming his third Bond film Skyfall, directed by Sam Mendes and due out next year.
Wilson told the paper: ‘Daniel’s been a terrific Bond, a superb actor and a terrific man. The fans love him and I don’t think there’s a better actor to play the part. I’d love Daniel to surpass Roger’s record and do eight pictures. A lot of people have said Daniel’s been their favourite Bond since Sean Connery and I can’t argue with them. He’s doing a great job.’
While Wilson did not confirm financial details, it is rumoured Craig will earn more than the £8million he is reportedly being paid for Skyfall.
Casino Royale was the most successful Bond film in the franchise’s history taking more than £300million at the box office. Fans can expect a hark back to the 1960s Bond style in Skyfall according to Wilson, whose stepfather Cubby Broccoli started the franchise in 1962.
[From The Mail]
OK, the producer isn’t saying that Daniel is definitely signing on for five more films, the guy is just saying that’s what he wants. Do you think Daniel would do it? I don’t know if he would – Bond has been a double-edged sword for Daniel. It’s definitely brought out the surly curmudgeon in him, and he doesn’t seem to enjoy his fame whatsoever. I suspect that when it comes down to it, Daniel will end up backing out of Bond after Skyfall, or maybe he’ll only make one more after that. Because God knows, if Daniel acts like he actually enjoys the 007 center stage, he might have to stop being so surly.
…. Besides all of that, don’t you want to see Idris Elba play Bond? Hm?
Photos courtesy of WENN.
Jude Law looks and acts like a too old hipster who doesn’t know he’s past his prime, and wears hats to hide the bald head. Daniel doesn’t pretend.
Considering the temporal spacing of the recent Bond movies, adding 5 more to the roster will make him quite old at the end of the deal. He’s been complaining about the rigors of being in shape for the work, so I don’t really see him signing up for that. That might save us the mad cow kind of faces Roger Moore threw in his last Bond movies.
Ah, but Roger Moore reasoned that a real spy is not the kind of man who is known to every barman across the globe or tells every one-night stand his identity, so he had to play him tongue-in-cheek.
Makes sense to me!
Totally agree! I can’t take Bond seriously (not as a spy, I mean) so I love Roger Moore’s take on the character. I know many will disagree with me, but he’s my favourite Bond.
Idris Elba as Bond…I’m game.
I can see him doing a couple more, it’s an assured payday. But I don’t see him doing 5 more. How interesting can they make it storyline wise to keep the people coming back.
I think the most Daniel has in him is one or two more then he’ll get too crabby.
I say Idris or Fassy next .
I love Daniel’s Craig Bond. He’s more like the rough gritty 007. Pierce Brosnan’s version is a little soft compare to Craig’s.
Craig plays Bond as Ian Fleming wrote him in his books. Connery just put his own persona as Bond and since he played him first everyone thought that’s how he is supposed to be.
Craig WANTED to be Bond. They asked him and he even discussed it with Brosnan himself and talked about the evolution of Bond and the impact it had on Connery’s career. He contemplated about it (knowing that it’s a big franchise that makes lots of money) and decided he wanted to join in the ranks of Connery, Lazenby, Dalton, Moore, Brosnan… As if he didn’t know what he was getting into. Bond is a very big deal and he wanted to be a part of that legacy.
Kaiser’s right. He’s done wonderful performances at the beginning of his career.
I think he decided he wanted to lead more and get paid so if he keeps on doing the Bond-films he better grin and bear and sell that shit and stop complaining about privacy or the downsides of fame. He can always go back to films like Layer Cake.
He didn’t seem worried about what Bond will do to his career when he signed on for four Bond movies in 2006. He’s got one more to go after Skyfall so it will be interesting to see what he does with his career after that. Paycheck or Integrity?
You know who would LOVE to play Bond too? The Coop! It would finally give him the status he so much covets: movie star. Ain’t never going to happen though, but it’s funny to imagine…
I agree. I think he will do maybe one more and then be done with the franchise. He stated during the promotion of the TGWTDT that he wanted to go back to theater in the next 3 years. I say quit while you are ahead. I’m Team Idris.
love Daniel Criag but that scarf is heinious.
I like him as Bond.. Agree with Leyla- he plays Bond as Fleming wrote Bond.
With the casting of Casino Royale, I remember that it was between Daniel and Henry Cavill… I definitely want to see Henry as the next Bond, he’s perfect for the role. Check out his Dunhill ads.
no way. it doesnt work after casino royal. the worst bond ever.
Idris Elba as BOND. ZOMG!
I think GWDT with do well at the box office, but not solely because of Craig. The books have sold like a zillion copies, and most Americans aren’t going to watch the original (Swedish) films.
I think Craig is fantastic as Bond, but really only as the angry-frustrated-reckless-newbie 007. I don’t think that, if the producers work their way back to the Bond films being like they were with Brosnan (i.e., popcorn movies without much in the way of an exploration of the dark side of being a spy), that Craig will be as good.
so is there talk of elba next or are we fantasizing because i just wanted to say how great it would be to have him as the next bond and then i read these comments. that must be a good sign
Idris Elba, what a gorgeous man! Stringer Bell forever 🙂
5 more Bond films I will be skipping.
no no no that will make, what, 8 films? I’m not a Craig fan so this would really disappoint me
Fassbender or Idris next please!
Just take it one film at a time. Let someone have a whack at it. I did like him and Eva Green in Casino Royale.
MORE “hearkening back to the 60’s?”
Jezus I’m sick to death of the Sixties. And I’m sick of old remakes, sequels and franchises. Five more Bond films, ugh.
Love Craig but this is like hearing there will be five more Clooney Pitt Ocean movies.
Can’t pretend it’s not a waste of 100 million dollars and a cool actor X 5.
well…personally the early Bond movies of the sixties were absolutely the best written, better looking actor, more femme fatale beautiful leading ladies and musical scores. The classic movies are better than what they dish out now in Hollywood. In addition, I can’t stand the modern version of the Bond song..enough with all these hip hop infusions.
I love Craig as bond. He is Ian Fleming’s Bobd & he has this sexy Steve McQueen thing going which is why men like him as Bond. Brosnan was too effeminate & Moore to campy.
The more Bond’s with Craig the better
He has a nice body in the movies. But his face is really old and unattractive.
i doubt it… no great actor wants to be remembered for these kind of roles. they make a couple of james bonds, a couple of dr. who seasons and then they want off
I can’t see him doing Bond for 5 or even 3 more films. I guess he’ll do another if already contracted to but then he’ll say he’s done.
I don’t see it being a paycheck v integrity argument for him. Forgetting Quantum (most of us have) and think about how well Casino Royale was done. There’s work to be proud of in there. If Skyfall can be more of Craig/Bond #1 instead of #2, then I’ll be in.
Craig doesn’t give the impression of doing it for the money. Sure a bigger payday is always nice but if he’s thinking theatre, $$ is not his biggest priority and he can be pretty mesmerizing on stage.
I think the question should be: Will people want to see him in a nother 5 films?
I’d prefer him to do other, more varied roles than Bond. I doubt he would commit himself to that many more films anyway.
I hope so. I love him as Bond.
My favorite Bond to this day remains Timothy Dalton. Dalton was doing what Craig is doing now, but 20 years earlier. Craig is a good Bond in the toughness category, but not in the looks or mystery category. I prefer my Bond less Bourne and buff, and more regal and tall. I’m surprised EON hasn’t called Fassbender yet. He would be perfect.
Craig is absolutely sexily masculine, a man’s man. He is my fav Bond ever after Connery. If he’s gonna do five more Bond movies, they better get ’em moving… he will be into his fifties by the time they are done.