Everything to Know About Daniel Craig’s Final James Bond Movie ‘No Time to Die’

Credit: MGM/Eon/Danjaq/UPI/Kobal/Shutterstock

Everything to Know About Daniel Craig’s Final James Bond Movie ‘No Time to Die’

After 15 years, Daniel Craig is saying goodbye to Bond, James Bond, with the long-awaited film No Time to Die. The follow-up to 2015’s Spectre was significantly delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic and marks the Brit’s fifth and final performance as 007. It’s also the 25th film in the Bond franchise, which made its debut with Dr. No in 1962. American actor Barry Nelson was the first to portray Bond in the 1954 TV adaptation of Casino Royale, but Sean Connery originated the film role of the iconic spy who likes his martinis shaken, not stirred. After Connery’s death in October 2020, Craig praised the Scottish actor for the way he “defined an era and a style” with his portrayal of Bond. [jwplayer J9qA6wN7-zhNYySv2] “The wit and charm he portrayed onscreen could be measured in megawatts; he helped create the modern blockbuster,” the Logan Lucky actor said in a statement on the official 007 website. “He will continue to influence actors and filmmakers alike for years to come.” Following Connery’s final Bond film, 1967’s You Only Live Twice, six actors went on to play the super spy: David Niven, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and Craig. The Knives Out star has played the role created by author Ian Fleming the longest, narrowly beating out Moore’s 12-year tenure. However, Moore still holds the record of starring in the most Bond films with seven, which is two more than Craig. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo star hasn’t always seemed all that excited to play the MI-6 agent, but it’s clear he will miss working with his Bond family. In a 2021 AppleTV+ documentary titled Being James Bond, which looks back at Craig’s time in the role, the Road to Perdition actor shared a touching moment with the crew and thanked them for always having his back. “A lot of people here worked on five pictures with me, and I know there’s a lot of things said about what I think about these films,” he said tearfully. “But I’ve loved every single second of these movies, and especially this one because I’ve got up every morning and I’ve had the chance to work with you guys. And that has been one of the greatest honors of my life.” There has been no official announcement regarding who will play the next Bond, but that hasn’t stopped speculation about possible replacements from spreading. Idris Elba and Regé-Jean Page are among some of the names being thrown into the ring — and even Harry Styles has been rumored to want the role. Others wonder whether Lashana Lynch, who makes her debut in No Time to Die as the next 007, could be the one to fill Craig's shoes. However, the Casino Royale star doesn’t think a woman should play Bond. “Why should a woman play James Bond when there should be a part just as good as James Bond, but for a woman?” he told the Radio Times in September 2021. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about the latest Bond film, No Time to Die: [podcast_block]

Credit: MGM/Eon/Danjaq/UPI/Kobal/Shutterstock

Everything to Know About Daniel Craig’s Final James Bond Movie ‘No Time to Die’

After 15 years, Daniel Craig is saying goodbye to Bond, James Bond, with the long-awaited film No Time to Die. The follow-up to 2015’s Spectre was significantly delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic and marks the Brit’s fifth and final performance as 007. It’s also the 25th film in the Bond franchise, which made its debut with Dr. No in 1962. American actor Barry Nelson was the first to portray Bond in the 1954 TV adaptation of Casino Royale, but Sean Connery originated the film role of the iconic spy who likes his martinis shaken, not stirred. After Connery’s death in October 2020, Craig praised the Scottish actor for the way he “defined an era and a style” with his portrayal of Bond. [jwplayer J9qA6wN7-zhNYySv2] “The wit and charm he portrayed onscreen could be measured in megawatts; he helped create the modern blockbuster,” the Logan Lucky actor said in a statement on the official 007 website. “He will continue to influence actors and filmmakers alike for years to come.” Following Connery’s final Bond film, 1967’s You Only Live Twice, six actors went on to play the super spy: David Niven, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and Craig. The Knives Out star has played the role created by author Ian Fleming the longest, narrowly beating out Moore’s 12-year tenure. However, Moore still holds the record of starring in the most Bond films with seven, which is two more than Craig. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo star hasn’t always seemed all that excited to play the MI-6 agent, but it’s clear he will miss working with his Bond family. In a 2021 AppleTV+ documentary titled Being James Bond, which looks back at Craig’s time in the role, the Road to Perdition actor shared a touching moment with the crew and thanked them for always having his back. “A lot of people here worked on five pictures with me, and I know there’s a lot of things said about what I think about these films,” he said tearfully. “But I’ve loved every single second of these movies, and especially this one because I’ve got up every morning and I’ve had the chance to work with you guys. And that has been one of the greatest honors of my life.” There has been no official announcement regarding who will play the next Bond, but that hasn’t stopped speculation about possible replacements from spreading. Idris Elba and Regé-Jean Page are among some of the names being thrown into the ring — and even Harry Styles has been rumored to want the role. Others wonder whether Lashana Lynch, who makes her debut in No Time to Die as the next 007, could be the one to fill Craig's shoes. However, the Casino Royale star doesn’t think a woman should play Bond. “Why should a woman play James Bond when there should be a part just as good as James Bond, but for a woman?” he told the Radio Times in September 2021. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about the latest Bond film, No Time to Die: [podcast_block]

Credit: MGM/Eon/Danjaq/UPI/Kobal/Shutterstock

The Release Date

No Time to Die was originally slated to hit theaters in March 2020. After being delayed by the coronavirus pandemic three times, it will finally premiere in U.S. cinemas on October 8, 2021.

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The Cast

Craig is back as Bond, but he’s joined by a few other familiar faces from the franchise, including Judi Dench, Léa Seydoux, Ralph Fiennes, Jeffrey Wright, Ben Whishaw and Naomie Harris.

Rami Malek, Ana de Armas and Lynch will make their Bond debuts in No Time to Die.

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The Plot

Bond has been recruited to rescue a kidnapped scientist, but he’s being followed by a mysterious villain from his past who’s armed with dangerous new technology.

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The Villain

Malek plays Safin, a terrorist leader who is out for revenge and willing to do anything to get it. He believes that whatever destruction he causes is all in the name of creating a better world.

“What I really wanted from Safin was to make him unsettling, thinking of himself as being heroic,” the Bohemian Rhapsody actor said in a September 2020 featurette promoting the film.

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Not Your Typical Bond Girl

De Armas plays Paloma, a Bond woman for the 21st century, who is “actually a really complete character,” she told Harper’s Bazaar in July 2021. The Blade Runner 2049 star added, “She's definitely something else that I don't think we've seen in other Bond girls in previous movies. She's a lot of fun — very active, very badass!"

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A Different Kind Of Bond Movie

No Time to Die director Cary Joji Fukunaga is the first American to helm a film in the famous franchise. With that honor came responsibility, as he told The Hollywood Reporter in a September 2021 interview.

"You can’t change Bond overnight, but you can change the world around him,” he said of ushering the character into the #MeToo era.

For the Jane Eyre director, that meant bringing in Fleabag creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge to help make the script more feminist. “It’s a story about a white man as a spy in this world,” he told THR. “But you have to be willing to lean in and do the work to make the female characters more than just contrivances.”

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The New 007

Craig’s Bond has some competition in Nomi, a new agent played by Lynch, who inherits his 007 code name after he retires.

While the Captain Marvel actress may not be the official Bond successor, she’s the first Black 007 in the franchise. She is also only the fifth Black actress to have a major role in a Bond film.