Over the past couple of years there’s been intense speculation over the future of the Bond franchise, with Daniel Craig’s status as the super spy seemingly up in the air as we wait to hear whether or not he’ll be extending his time as 007 (having recently become the second-longest serving actor in the role).
Producer Callum McDougall has previously stated that Craig is still “absolutely the first choice” of Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson should he decide to continue, and now that sentiment has been echoed by Naomie Harris, who portrayed Miss Moneypenny in both Skyfall and Spectre.
“I really don’t think that they’ve moved on from Daniel,” Harris told the BBC. “I think there’s a very good chance that Daniel will come back. I think it’s way too early to be thinking about other people at this stage. “I think the fact that the last two Bonds – Spectre and Skyfall – have been the highest-grossing Bond movies of all time shows that people love him as Bond, and they desperately want him to return. And I don’t think Daniel is immune to that… I think he’s very aware, so I think that adds an extra level of pressure. But he has to ultimately do what feels right to him. But I know that we, as a cast, collectively want him back. I know that Barbara and Michael – our producers – desperately want him back, so I think the only person that needs persuading is Daniel.”
As yet, there’s no word on a planned release date for Bond 25, so it would seem the producers have plenty of time to convince Craig to return – or to appoint his successor, should he opt against it.
Originally published February 26, 2017. Updated April 16, 2018.
