“The name’s Bond, James Bond… I think.” It’s no secret that Daniel Craig is tired of talking about his tenure as Britain’s most famous fictional spy, but his exhaustion over the franchise has left the actor to forget how many movies he’s actually made. Craig first got his license to kill in Casino Royale, in 2006. Co-starring Judi Dench, Mads Mikkelsen, and Eva Green, Marc Forster’s James Bond reboot brought the commonly misogynistic spy into the 21st century. After much deliberation about retirement, Daniel Craig gave his final performance as Bond in the ironically named No Time to Die in 2021. Just don’t ask him how many films he’s made in the years between.
Speaking to Variety to promote his new film Queer with Drew Starkey, the pair played a game of how well you know your co-star. When Starkey was asked how many James Bond movies Daniel Craig has made, his co-star’s face went as blank as his own. Momentarily confused about how the game worked, Craig responded, “Are you asking me that? “Do I have to write the answer? I’m gonna get it wrong,” he said, only half-joking.
Craig looked over at Drew Starkey who’d written the answer he wished he’d said: “Too many.” Craig quickly agreed, proclaiming “Exactly.” Not content with the answer, he then had to count through his long career as Bond. “I don’t know either. I’d have to count them. One, two, three… five? Five,” he said after a moment. Luckily, he got it right. Following Casino Royale, Daniel Craig returned four more times, starring in Quantum of Solace (2008), Skyfall (2012), Spectre (2015), and rounding out his time with No Time to Die (2021).
Does Daniel Craig Hate James Bond?
All the PR training in the world can’t mask Daniel Craig’s mental exhaustion about being asked “Who do you think will be the next James Bond?” or the infamous, “Do you think there will ever be a gay James Bond?” His disinterest in Bond-related questions comes from two places. Firstly, and most prominently, playing James Bond for 15 years took a serious mental and physical toll on the now 56-year-old actor. As well as having to get into the physical shape befitting a member of the 00 service, the demanding stunt work left him with various injuries.
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Craig’s exhaustion appears to have grown over the years for one simple reason: it’s been three years since he played James Bond, and he’s already confirmed he won’t return. While playing the spy was the opportunity of a lifetime, Daniel Craig has moved on from the character. He now has a long starring role in Rian Johnson’s Knives Out franchise, and is earning Oscar buzz for his performance in Luca Guadagnino’s Queer. It’s obvious that he’s trying to distance himself from a role that is so quickly leaves an actor typecast. While he’s doing a very successful job of it so far, often repetitious questions about the franchise likely hurt more than Le Chiffre’s bottomless chair in Casino Royale.
An American expat in 1950s Mexico City, struggling with isolation and the remnants of his past, becomes infatuated with a younger man, sparking an intense and obsessive relationship.
- Release Date
- October 6, 2024
- Runtime
- 135 Minutes