Skip to main content

Craig out as Bond after refusing mammoth offer, but a likely successor has emerged

After four films in service of queen and country, it seems that Craig, Daniel Craig will no longer play Bond, James Bond. According to The Daily Mail, the 48-year-old actor has turned down a monstrous, two-film deal to reprise his role as the super spy and intends to hang up his tux for good.

OK, so maybe this isn’t a huge surprise after Craig suggested that a particularly grisly form of suicide might be preferable to returning as Bond, but he has offered contradictory statements on his interest in continuing with the franchise, and actions speak louder than words. The offer he turned down would reportedly have netted him 68 million pounds, which, in terms of buying power, translates to about $100 million. Gotta love that exchange rate.

Related Videos

As if that weren’t confirmation enough, a film industry source told The Daily Mail “Daniel is done — pure and simple — he told top brass at MGM after Spectre. They threw huge amounts of money at him, but it just wasn’t what he wanted.” He went on to add that Craig “had told people after shooting that this would be his final outing, but the film company still felt he could come around after Spectre if he was offered a money deal.”

While the body of this 007 is scarcely even cold yet, folks have wasted no time in shifting their focus to speculating on Craig’s potential successors. At this point, however, it seems like a one-horse race, as bookies have already stopped taking bets on Tom Hiddleston (The Avengers, Midnight in Paris).

That news will surely disappoint those who’ve been clamoring for Idris Elba to take over the role, but Hiddleston is a very popular young actor, who has the looks and charm to pull off the role. While the character took on a grittier, more aggressive persona under Craig’s stewardship, if Hiddleston is indeed the next Bond, you can expect him to play up the spy’s slick and suave side.

If you’re wondering what Craig might do next, it looks like the only project officially on his slate is an upcoming TV series called Purity, but you can be sure his schedule will fill up fairly quickly now that the James Bond franchise is off his plate.

Stay tuned.

Editors' Recommendations

Daniel Craig’s James Bond will be back on the big screen in 2019
Daniel Craig confirms he will be returning for one last 007 outing
james bond

After months of rumors, speculation, and plenty of playing coy, Daniel Craig officially confirmed he will return for a fifth turn as the British super spy.

Craig appeared as a guest on Stephen Colbert's The Late Show, where he was asked point-blank by Colbert about reprising his iconic role as James Bond. The actor responded, "Yes," to which a pleased Colbert stood and shook his hand. He indicated that the decision had been made months ago but that he was not ready to confirm anything due to finalizing the deal.

Read more
Daniel Craig reportedly offered $150 million for two more appearances as 007
sony daniel craig james bond offer

All signs seemed to point towards 2015's Spectre being Daniel Craig's last outing as James Bond, but now there's word that Sony Pictures is doing everything in its power to retain the actor's services. The studio has apparently offered Craig $150 million to remain in the role for two additional movies.

In May 2016, it was reported that Craig had turned down an offer of $100 million for two more movies as 007. Tom Hiddleston emerged as the frontrunner to inherit the role in the immediate aftermath, but it seems that Sony would rather stick with their established star.

Read more
Showtime CEO: ‘Purity’ won’t keep Daniel Craig from playing Bond if he wants to
james bond

There has been endless speculation on whether Daniel Craig will reprise his James Bond role again, with signs seeming to point to "unlikely" after the actor reportedly turned down a massive offer. His fate as the famed 007 also looked dubious when the actor took on a starring role in Showtime's upcoming series Purity. The role will not, however, prevent Craig from donning his Bond tux again, according to Showtime CEO David Nevins.

While speaking at the premium network's Television Critics Association summer press tour Thursday, the CEO clarified that Craig would be able to do both the 20-episode TV series and the next Bond movie -- if he wants to, reports Deadline.

Read more