Daniel Craig has served as one of the best James Bond’s of all-time, but could he be about to put down the gun following the released of the 25th Bond flick titled ‘No Time To Die’ in 2020.
The rumours have been ripe that it will be Craig’s last, but there has been no other Bond in the history of the franchise that can claim to have had as much box office success at the Layer Cake star.
Craig’s Bond Films
‘No Time To Die’ will be the fifth film that Craig has played Bond, and the success that the previous four have had will highlight that next year’s release is going to be an overwhelming success. His tenure at Bond started in 2006 with the release of Casino Royale, and 14-years is the longest that anybody has ever played Bond. Of course, the record of playing 007 the most still falls on the lap of Roger Moore, but the argument over who was the best will continue forever.
But, the box office figures certainly don’t lie. The 2012 release of Skyfall is by far and away the most successful Bond film of all-time in terms of the box office, as it earned over $943 million, which was almost double what the pre-Craig best was. The second most successful of all-time was the most recent release of Spectre in 2015 which brought in just over $725 million.
What It Takes To Be A Great Bond
Bond is one of the most beloved characters in the world of film, and any British actor would love to play the part. However, since the first film, only seven actors have been able to utter many of the countless Bond catchphrases that have become a common part of pop culture. But, should Craig leave his role, then that void will open up for a new opportunity. However, not all actors have the desired traits about them to deliver.
The secret service agent oozes cool, and the next actor must excel at being able to walk into a casino and look like the most confident man in there. Craig has excelled at this, as who could forget his scene in Casino Royale when he is in a battle of poker against the villain in the film- Le Chiffre. The films famously feature poker and casino scenes but the battle between the two in Casino Royale was possibly one of the best Bond scenes of the Craig era.
However, it wasn’t the only impressive casino scene as the Skyfall sequence when Bond walks into a Macau casino. He looks a million dollars and looks like he is about to get down to business as he tries to track down Patrice. The scene eventually ends when Bond has overcome two strong adversaries before he tells Moneypenny to put a briefcase full of cash on a game of roulette.
Who Are The Front Runners?
The betting markets for the next Bond are one of the most competitive around online, and there is a host of big-name actors being spoken about. Tom Hiddleston has been one of the favourites since the talk surrounding the long-term future of Craig has been in the air, while Sam Heughan is one of the big market movers.
Heughan rose to fame in ‘A Very British Scandal’, before becoming a household name in ‘Outlander’. His move to the favourite in the betting would be a shock to most, but he is likely to have a significant breakout moment in 2020 when ‘Bloodshot’ hits the cinemas. Other popular selections include James Norton, Idris Elba and Tom Hardy.
Cillian Murphy was also a front runner earlier in the summer, but his price has drifted after he admitted that he wouldn’t fit the role of Bond. Murphy would have been a popular pick among fans after his portrayal of Tommy Shelby in ‘Peaky Blinders’ has seen the show go on to become one of the most beloved dramas across the world.
However, whichever actors picks up the baton after Craig will have big shoes to fill. But, regardless, the Bond franchise will live on forever and will continue to produce box office smashes consistently.