Daniel Craig has made four James Bond films, but only two of them were good. If he wanted to leave on a high note, he should have stuck to his guns and left after Skyfall. But he didn’t. He signed a contract for at least one more film (allegedly), and the first film of his new contract was Spectre, which was… completely awful. Like, I know producers love Sam Mendes and everything but Mendes needs to learn to not even start a set up until the script is ready. Mendes also needs to learn how to properly light a g—damn film. Anyway, considering the end of Spectre, many thought Craig had finally had enough. The Spectre promotional tour was painful, as Daniel repeatedly bad-mouthed the process of making these films and the Bond character.
Still, Spectre was considered a financial success at the end of the day. Allegedly, Sony went back to Craig and offered him tens of millions of dollars for one final Bond film, and he reportedly turned it down. As I said, considering his interviews last year, it really did sound like Craig was over it. Which is why there’s been so much gossip about who will “replace” Daniel Craig as the new Bond. But a new report says that Sony is still stuck on Daniel, and they’re offering him even more money to return:
A new day generally brings a fresh frontrunner to inherit 007’s tuxedo, with Victoria star Tom Hughes the most recent to join the likes of Idris Elba, Tom Hiddleston and Aidan Turner. But according to a source reported by Radar, the most likely candidate to star as James Bond is Daniel Craig. Craig, 48, has already starred in four films, and despite a rumoured $65m (£48.66m) payday for 2015’s Spectre, was apparently skeptical about returning for more instalments. But pre-release qualms (“I’d rather slash my wrists”) were felt to have been overstated and, in the absence of an obvious replacement, Sony are said to be keen to sign him on for at least two further films. The actor added that he reserved “the right to change my mind” about quitting the series.
According to Radar, Craig’s public reluctance may even have helped his cause. “[He] has played a genius hand,” said the source. “Everyone knows how much executives adore him, and the idea of losing him at such a crucial time in the franchise isn’t an option as far as all the studio honchos are concerned.”
The $150m would apparently involve two more films, shot “virtually back-to-back” – but neither would be shot by Sam Mendes who, despite the critical and commercial success of Spectre and its predecessor, Skyfall, has ruled himself out of returning. The final decision rests with Bond producer Barbara Broccoli, who in July was reported to be focusing on the next two films, with a view to potentially rehiring Craig. A spokesperson from Sony Pictures said the company had no comment.
While it wouldn’t surprise me to learn that some people at Sony want Craig to stay in the role, I just don’t believe that the studio executives are co-dependent to this extreme. Daniel Craig is such a grumpy bugger and he spent the last promotional tour bad-mouthing everything and everyone. He’s literally not worth it. Even if Daniel gets the credit for bringing in the box office, no one believes that he’s worth $150 million for two films. Even before Spectre came out, Sony president (now Sony ex-president) Amy Pascal was already dream-casting Idris Elba in the role. And reportedly Barbara Broccoli is dream-casting the role too. While I know this means the speculation continues, I just don’t think this report means anything.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
See what happens when you stay off giant water slides?
Teehee.
He should just go away. Worst Bond ever!!! If not for the non-campy stories with advanced special affects and great directing these would have been awful.
Ready for a new Bond. All the new names being thrown around are better than Craig, more gracious.
His prissy expression is a real turn off for me. Ugh. Get over yourself.
Tee hee hee
*snort*
I don’t believe they offered him that much. The last one may have been a success at the end; but it didn’t help in the long run. I think after Daniel has talked the way he has it would be a good idea to recast and change the character up a bit. Make it more fun and not so serious. Everything seems to be too serious. Which is why movies like Guardians of the Galaxy and Deadpool did so well. People want more fun in these kinds of movies. But again I doubt he was offered that kind of money. Especially so late in the franchise.
Craig is under contract for one more film any way. These would be two films in addition to that one for three more Craig as Bond films total. Broccoli has shown no inclination to release him from the current contract to do one more, only the inclination to have him continue beyond that.
Hasn’t this report about 150 million been debunked? Idris for Bond. Young Mr. Hiddleston for Shakespeare.
Tom Hiddleston must be kicking himself right now-all that thirsty sucking up and they would STILL rather offer more money to the guy who said he’d rather slash his wrists than appear in another Bond movie.
^^^This and LOL too!
As much as he seems to be over the role, he is one of the best Bonds. His Bond is just like how Fleming wrote him. TBH, I’d rather see a new Bond – Craig is a great actor but he does tend to come across as a bit of an twit.
The only other Bond is Connery & I prefer Craig to him. I really want him to stay. He has this Steve McQueen thing going on which is why both men & women like him. Most of my male friends detested Pierce as Bond. I read an article recently where Ralph Fienes stated really he wants him to stay & the thought of him leaving was awful.
Love his Bond and as an actor. Other than his being married to Rachel Weisz (another actor I think is great), I know nothing about him personally. I hope he takes the deal, because I can’t see anyone else as Bond. The first movie was my absolute favorite and I still think of it as one of the best Bond movies.
I agree that Craig has been the best Bond. I have enjoyed Craig as Bond in all four films, even Spectre which was awful, but Craig delivers. I would not blame Sony execs for wanting him to stay, but he isn’t worth $150 million. If Craig’s contract includes one more film, by the time that one is released, I would hope most people would find Aidan Turner to be the perfect replacement. By then he will be in his mid-to-late 30s and perfect to fill Craig’s shoes. I know so many women want Idris, and I do find him attractive, but he really doesn’t do much for me. Aidan to me is much sexier and much better suited for the role as Bond than either Idris or Tom Hiddleston.
I don’t think they offered him this much if anything at all. The last Bond movie came and went without much fanfare. To the point where my circle didn’t even know the movie came out at all. He does have one movie left so I think they will most likely make that his last. I doubt he wants to sign on for more anyways
It was the sixth highest grossing film of 2015 so it did get some fanfare.
Ugh. Why? He’s over it, we’re over him as Bond. Bring on Idris! Now!
Those numbers are bonkers. I just … I’m a little woozy just looking at them. Aside from one Sean Connery Bond and one Roger Moore Bond, Specter is the only one I’ve seen. It was so terrible. They kept talking about the “new” Bond, i.e. Daniel Craig but it was the old Bond. Come on. It’s such a dated character, they should re-vamp the entire franchise. Do NOT cast Idris Elba if this is what he’ll have to work with. I much prefer the Bourne movies to this stuff even though the plot of the new one isn’t exactly complicated either. But it’s so well made and entertaining and Bourne is a great character. Sony needs to do something.
He doesn’t bring the box office, the role of James Bond does. And he annoys me to no end. Hundreds of actors would sell their kidney to have a role like this and he goes around and badmouths it like a petulent child. Ungrateful moron. I hope we get a new Bond.
Having said that, if I was in his shoes I’d take the 150 million.
If this story is true, he will take the 150 millions as well.
And I believe the story. Craig’s attitude was unprofessional but most are calling it ‘grumpy’, which means people still love him. Grumpy is different from unprofessional, in that it is a much softer word. being ‘grumpy’ is cute, being unprofessional loses him jobs.
There is no evidence that the producers don’t find his ‘grumpy’ attitude cute as well.
Well, I don’t know about the studio, but I find his grumpy behaviour unprofessional. He’s in such a privileged position, he shoule smile for the masses until his teeth hurt. If you have problems, bitch to your wife at home, not to the press
I wanted to ask one question and I hope it doesn’t appear like racism, but if they cast Idris will they cast more African American actors, because one of the main character of Bond is him hooking up with various women. Will there be some gorgeous African American women or wouldn’t it be strange if Idris was the only AA actor?
Ummm, the Bond franchise is quite global, so they could cast from the global black community rather than just the African American community. Moneypenny is played by Naomie Harris, an awesome British actress of Jamaican origin. I’d love to see her role fleshed out even more though.
Idris is NOT African American. He is English, Black British if you must bring his race into it, Sierra Leone/Ghanian parentage if you want to bring in his heritage, which we can break down into ethnic tribal heritage to be pedantic.
Further, clearly you haven’t watched enough Bonds if you think there are few non white actors cast in it and Idris Elba and Noami Harris are the first non white actors to be cast in major roles.
The very first Bond had one Margarita (sp) Lewars playing a villian. She’s Jamaican FYI.
There is Harold Sakata (oddjob) playing a villain in GOLDFINGER
And lots more.
Very few Bonds have been cast completely white.
The only role that hasn’t been cast racially differently is that of Bond himself. Daniel Craig’s casting faced major backlash for making bond a blonde, and that’s as diverse as the fanbase want that particular role.
That is not to say Bond can’t do better, but it’s the only mainstream franchise that has been OK with multi-racial casting across the variety of roles. Right from the start in the 60s.
Im sorry, I didn’t explain me properly because English is not my first language, I know that Idris is British, what I meant was that won’t there be some backlash black community if they cast Idris as a Bond and the rest of the cast is white?
IE: i understood what you mean, and i am saying that Bond has rarely been set in an all-white world with no other visible races involved.
We’ve had Bonds ( white actors) set in Japan, in the Caribbean, in India, in Europe where the majority of the cast was non white. Bond (a white actor) has been cast opposite Bond girls from races other than his own, as love interests, Villains or Agents.
Perhaps people focus on the race of Bond himself, seeing no changes there and do not notice the other races cast with him.
If I’m remembering correctly there has always been a lot of diversity to Bond casting throughout the years. Not Bond but supporting cast. Perhaps I’m wrong but I feel like though not great ,they were better than most at casting diversity
You are correct. Bond himself has not veered away from white, privileged (materially), upper class type of character even where he is depicted by a working class actor, but in terms of diversity of cast in all the roles, not just backgroubd artists, Bond has been better than many franchises. The non white casts are given proper speaking roles and parts as opposed to just being silent eye candy that no one remembers.
Wouldn’t that be fabulous!! Idris with some fabulous women of ethnicity. I think Idris is beautiful and for them to showcase women of ethnicity would be a great boost to the franchise.
Wouldn’t that be fabulous!! Idris with some fabulous women of ethnicity. I think Idris is beautiful and for them to showcase women of ethnicity would be a great boost to the franchise.
I loved Spectre! Mostly because Christoph Waltz and Monica Belucci were in it, but also because parts of it were filmed in my beautiful Austria. 🙂 Also, Naomie Harris should have a more prominent role in the next one. And it would be epic if Tom Hiddleston was the villain. One can dream…
Why would they want him. Grumpy cat is a happy cat compared to Daniel Craig acting as and promoting Bond. I think they made him do the last few by holding his balls ransom
I’m pretty over Bond, the should just do a spin off called Ms Moneypenny and make it as glamorous but with a sexy vampy buttoned up super heroine.
That said Grumpy Daniel (as in The Girl w Dragon Tattoo) can still get a HONK from me!
I think I’m in the minority on this site, but I love Daniel Craig as James Bond. James Bond is an attitude, and he has it. He has the swagger, the broodiness, the darkness, the half-grin. And man can he wear a suit. While I could definitely enjoy Idris Elba in the role as well, I don’t mind seeing Daniel hang around for another film or two. And I think the idea that he bad-mouthed the production is quite overblown. He has also highly praised the role and all that it brought him, and I think his very dark and dry sense of humor gets lost in print press.
ITA on everything you said. I love me some grumpy-witty Daniel Craig.
ITA
I love Craig as Bond but I personally only enjoyed the first two Craig 007 films (Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace). I know everyone loved Skyfall but I thought it just went on and on and on, packed three decent movies into one bloated one, and I hated the way that Dench’s M went out. And Spectre…zomg. Not the worst Bond film ever but it was TERRIBLE.
God knows why at this point (and I LIKE him!), because at this point, if you take away the expensive suit, he looks like an aging rugby star. He’s way too old for the role now. Come on, Broccoli – move on and put that Biretta into Aidan Turner’s hand.
Aidan Turner is too young. Turner & Craig do share the “dour” trait. Connery had a tiny hint of wry humor about himself, which made him the best Bond, in my view.
I wrote this above, but if it is true that Craig does one more movie, by the time that is released, Aidan Turner would be at the perfect age (mid-to-late 30s) to play Bond. Also, I think Aidan is not nearly as dour as Craig. He seems very down to earth and friendly in real life. In his movie roles he brings the sexy without ego/narcissism. He’d make a great Bond.
I will say this again(!) Aidan Turner is Irish. From Ireland. This automatically makes him ineligible for Bond. If he were Irish from Northern Ireland, which would make him British, then he would be in the running.
What about Pierce Brosnan? He is Irish.
And here we have the greatest beneficiary of The Great Tiddleswift Fiasco of 2016.
Um, sorry but maybe not everyone thought that movie was awful and would enjoy seeing Craig another time as Bond? Fruit for thought
me too
Thank you. Love Craig, loved Spectre.
Craig was great in Skyfall, but I didn’t even see Spectre. I’m dying for Idris to become Bond.
I don’t buy it either. He’s a good Bond, but I don’t think people are showing up for him rather than the character. If they were smart, they’d start looking for someone younger land lower profile, who’d be happy with a smaller paycheck. The series could use a bit of refreshing for a new direction anyway. That sort of change is part of why it’s stayed relevant over the years.
If he signs this deal, I don’t watch to hear any b*tching and moaning from him about how much he hates this role. None.
Please take it, Daniel!
He is my favourite Bond and the rumours about a new one are grating.
They are not offering him $150 Million for the role, and from my understanding he is under contract for one more movie.
Please noooooooo!!!! I couldn’t even get through Casino Royale with him…
I Like Craig as Bond. Dont know if he’s worth 150 million but he’s a great Bond, imo.