The Search for the Next James Bond Will Start in 2022
James Bond producer Barbara Broccoli has said the search for Daniel Craig’s successor will begin next year.
Broccoli and her half-brother and fellow producer Michael G. Wilson said they would not be giving any thought to Daniel Craig’s James Bond replacement until 2022, according to Deadline.
“We’re not thinking about it at all,” Broccoli admitted after being asked whether a decision had been made about who would take over the role of t007 following Craig’s fifth and final outing. “We want Daniel [Craig] to have his time of celebration. Next year we’ll start thinking about the future.”
Broccoli credited Craig for bringing different facets of the character to the surface in a way that allowed them to “really explore the emotional life of Bond and go into the person and complexity and conflicts that happen within the Bond character.” Wilson shared praise of Craig’s performance, as he acknowledged that he was leaving behind some “big shoes to fill.”
Craig first portrayed Bond in the 2006 film Casino Royale. He reprised the role in 2008’s Quantum of Solace, 2012’s Skyfall and 2015’s Spectre, all of which have collectively grossed more than $3.1 billion at the worldwide box office. Craig is officially bidding farewell to the spy franchise with No Time To Die, which is the longest James Bond movie to date at two hours and forty-three minutes.
Watch the trailer for No Time To Die below:
Craig previously shared his views that studios should go further than simply casting a female James Bond, being a disservice to female actors.
“There should simply be better parts for women and actors of color,” Craig said when asked about a female Bond. “Why should a woman play James Bond when there should be a part just as good as James Bond, but for a woman?”
Broccoli said last year, “James Bond can be of any color, but he is male,” adding, “I believe we should be creating new characters for women — strong female characters… I’m not particularly interested in taking a male character and having a woman play it. I think women are far more interesting than that.”
Craig’s final outing as Bond debuts today, September 28, at the world premiere of No Time To Die at the Royal Albert Hall in London. The film will then feature its theatrical release first in the UK on September 30, then on October 8 in the US.
