Daniel Craig Hints At 007 Exit, While Javier Bardem Turned Down Bond
Ahead of Skyfall's theatrical roll out last month in the U.K. and this week's release in the U.S., Bond star Daniel Craig has said he's committed to two more 007 movies. But in a recent interview, Craig let on that he is holding out the possibility of departing the role as the debonair British operative. The film screened last night to packed crowds in NYC and L.A. The "Secret Screening" of the latest Bond packed Grauman's Chinese Theater Wednesday night at AFI Fest.
Is Daniel Craig Leaving Bond Behind?
"I've been trying to get out of this from the very moment I got into it," Craig told Rolling Stone. "But they won't let me go, and I've agreed to do a couple more, but let's see how this one does, because business is business and if the shit goes down, I've got a contract that somebody will happily wipe their ass with."
[Related: 'Skyfall' Premiere Gallery - 007 Mingles With Royalty On The Red Carpet]
It is not quite clear whether his descriptives were said ahead of Skyfall's theatrical release in the U.K. and other territories. The latest installment is one of the most successful in the 50 year-old franchise. The Sam Mendes-directed film also starring Judi Dench and Javier Bardem is expected to pass the $400 million mark internationally, and that does not include the U.S. where it's tracking to have a robust debut.
Javier Bardem Turned Down 007 Role
Javier Bardem, who is winning accolades for his role in the latest Bond film, playing villain Raoul Silva, told Cinema Blend that he was once offered to play 007, telling the publication, "Years ago, I was. I don't remember what movie it was for. But yeah, it was just not that time. I didn't feel it was the time for me to do something like that. And also, I was doing something else, so I passed. This time, when I read it, I felt that it was very powerful material, and I wanted to join."
Bardem said that he doesn't regret the pass because it gave him a chance to pursue other things, even if some of them weren't always "beautifully executed."
After Daniel Craig, Who Will Be the Next James Bond?
Given the success of Skyfall, it is highly unlikely anyone will - err - foul Craig's contract as 007 for at least two more features. But speculation, nevertheless, ratcheted up a couple weeks ago that Bond's next manifestation may possibly take an ethnic change.
Bond girl Naomie Harris recently hinted at the possible news, saying that the next 007 may be Idris Elba. If so, the star of The Wire and films Prometheus and Thor would become the first non-Caucasian James Bond in his 50 years. Harris hinted that Elba met with Bond producer Barbara Broccoli about the possibility.
Skyfall's Advanced Screenings in New York & L.A.
Skyfall had advanced screenings in L.A. and New York Wednesday night. The film packed in a full-house as AFI Fest's "Secret Screening" at Grauman's Chinese Theater. Rumors swirled that perhaps some of the cast would make an appearance at the screening since they were in town doing press. The red carpet was seen getting a good vacuuming hours ahead of the screening and the AFI Fest Step and Repeat was in place, but as the 9:15 start-time neared, the photo backdrop was covered up and star-watchers were not gathering behind barricades as they've done nightly at the festival ahead of nightly Galas.
They will likely return, however, for Thursday night's Closing Night Gala, Lincoln
[Sources: Rolling Stone, Cinema Blend]
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Comments
Bond should stay cacasion somethings should not change. I have been a bond fan from its inception and I will be 59 this year. Bond has to be handsome well bread and physical. A man of any other race will not be as popular. Channing Tatum, John Barrowman, Tony from NCIS, The guy who is playing on the new show Arrow. Who ever plays the next Bond and very handsome and clean cut no facial hair and their hair has to be short. If you can find a handsome six foot malato that would work.
Well, Betty, some things should not change and others as a matter of time, culture, and demographics do. Your comments about Bond being handsome, well bred (fixed your spelling for you) and physical and therefore as you say "cacasion" are so blatantly racist. I suppose it's impossible for a person of color to fit your criterion. Your comments reveal your ignorance and your racist mind set. Change is a natural and organic consequence. M was tradionally male until Judy Dench. Bond girls were always white until Hally Berry. Times change, sweetheart, so maybe you should realize this isn't the 1950's anymore. Our president by the way is a wait for it...African-American...shocker. Could never happen ...yeah right...oh and did you graduate from grade school? Your spelling is atrocious...just saying
Not that I entirely disagree with you, Denise, but there is some difference between M changing and James Bond changing. M is a title, and so it makes more sense that a new person would be filling the position, including a woman on occasion. James Bond is a person, so such changes are less likely to fly.
A black Bond would annoy me just as much as a blond Bond does now. They've invented hair dye, Craig can use it. I don't see the need to change his skin colour or his hair colour just to be different. He's Bond. He's not supposed to change. That said, I watch Craig's Bond, and I'd watch Elbas' Bond too. Just so long as he is a suave, witty, violent horn-dog.
Betty, apart from being illiterate and well-past borderline racist, you seem to be incredibly ignorant about actors. You think "a man of any other race will not be as popular'? How popular do you think an American Bond would be? You do realize you just suggested four American actors to play a member of Her Majesty's Secret Service? And where the hell do you get well-bred? Sean Connery was about as far from well-bred as you can get.
There has been speculation that James Bond/007 is a title as well JF 😉
007 definitely is a title, just like 003 and 004, who die and then come back with a new names. The fact that their name changes suggests that 003 is the title, and the name is real. It also makes it unlikely that the name would change for other agents, but remain the same for Bond. Also, in both the books and the movies, it is shown that James Bond is the son of Andrew Bond, which suggests it's his real name, unless every Bond shares the exact same background.
Unless you believe that the Bond background is also part of a cover, which brings up inconsistencies in time and place, as each new Bond would get farther and farther away from the time and date of the original background. Unless the background is constantly updated for each new Bond, which would likely be suspicious and would undermine the whole point of sharing the name, making it far more effort and dangerous to use a shared name than just creating a new name like they do with every other 00 agent.
TL;DR: 007 is a codename. James Bond being a codename is too inefficient and too ineffective to be plausible.
No black bond please. Stick to the source material. He was never black in the books. I understand changes but this just seems a little left field. Why do it? It's like having a white guy play the Blade character that Snipes play - it just doesn't (or wouldn't work) as well. I guess this will happen, but I am thinking it won't do as well as it should at the box office and will be two films at the very most most before another white Bond is hired.