¿Who will be the next actor to play 007?after Daniel Craig’s departure from the ‘James Bond’ franchise? This It is the great unknown that has brought fans of the saga to their heads since the premiere of ‘No time to die’, in 2021.
Throughout these two years, there have been numerous speculations that pointed to various interpreters to take on the role of the secret agent. However, none ended up being true. The most recent was that of Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who received the support of many (and rejection of many others) on social networks.
However, Barbara Broccoli, the person in charge of the franchise, spoke out publicly and denied any claim that linked new faces to the role of Bond.
“No, we haven’t even started casting yet“, affirmed the producer before LadBible on the red carpet at the BAFTAs on February 19.
Now, after Broccoli’s comments and the uproar generated by uncertainty, The films’ casting director, Debbie McWilliams, has recounted the complex experience involved in the Bond casting process.recalling what happened when Craig was chosen for the role.
Talking with Radio TimesMcWilliams commented: “When we started, there was a slightly different feeling“, referring to the time when Craig was selected for the role. “We looked for a lot of young actors, but I think they did not have the necessary gravity or solemnity. They had no experience They didn’t have the mental toughness to face it, because they weren’t just going to get a role, it was a huge responsibility.”
“We scrapped that idea and started from scratch,” he continued.
Sony Pictures
The team opted for Craig, who had turned 30 at the time. This decision was tremendously crushed. McWilliams herself stated, in 2021 for Entertainment Weekly, that he “felt sorry” for Craig, after all the rejection he received getting the part.
“It was incredibly negative, I must say,” he commented. “The response from the press was horrible and I felt sorry for him. But, somehow, it served him to want to show everyone that he was wrong.“
“News kept coming out saying that he couldn’t walk, that he couldn’t run, that he couldn’t drive a car properly… Completely false statements,” he continued. “He put his head down and kept working until the movie came out and everyone was like, ‘Oh my, I think we like it after all.’”
Sony Pictures
Craig, who has been regarded as one of the best James Bond in the franchise, he managed to win over the public after all. In fact, his replacement seems to be one of the most complex to date.
This is what Broccoli stated: “It’s not just looking for an actor for a movie, it’s about reinventing yourself,” the executive told Variety, last year. “Where are we going to take him? What do we want the character to do? Then, when we know that, who will be the right person for this determined reinvention?”
On the other hand, McWilliams also added that the actors who were usually cast for the role were “relatively” unknown in commercial cinema.
“Timothy Dalton was known, but more for being a Shakespearean actor, actually,he asserted.Pierce Brosnan was known, but mainly on television. Roger Moore also came from television… Sean Connery was not known at all. Some had heard of Daniel Craig, but mostly from independent movies. He hadn’t done any commercial movies, actually. He wasn’t a reputable actor yet.”
Universal
The doubt is still there. The questions remain unanswered… What will happen to the future of the saga? Is ‘James Bond’ lost? Will there be someone capable of occupying the great place that Craig has left? And, more importantly, will the same happen to his successor?
