Daniel Craig ‘may return for a sixth James Bond film’


Daniel Craig is reportedly reconsidering his previous claim that No Time To Die would be his last James Bond film and may return for a sixth installment. 

The actor, 52, has reportedly told his PR team not to market the film as his last outing as 007, despite previously claiming he was done with the action franchise.

A source told The Sun: ‘I don’t think Daniel is finished with James Bond, despite his previous claims. He was in this same position four years ago after Spectre came out, where he said publicly and loudly that he was done and then, as time passed, he just wasn’t.

Change of heart: Daniel Craig, 52, is reportedly reconsidering his previous claim that No Time To Die would be his last James Bond film (pictured in March 2020) 

Other actors such as Richard Madden, James Norton and Sam Heughan have all been thought to be in the running for the part but Daniel reportedly isn’t ready to see someone else inhabit the role just yet.  

The source said: ‘There is something about this part that scratches an itch and he’s not prepared to see it go to another actor yet. It’s all going to come down to how No Time To Die is received by the public and if it can become the highest-grossing film in the series.

‘If it does, I think Daniel will be good for one more movie. He’s hedging that bet by asking for it not be marketed as a “finale” ‘. 

It marks a change of heart for the actor who previously said he would ‘rather slash [his] wrists] than do another Bond filmafter Spectre in 2015.  

Marketing: The actor has reportedly told his PR team not to market the film as his last outing as 007, despite previously claiming he was done with the action franchise

Marketing: The actor has reportedly told his PR team not to market the film as his last outing as 007, despite previously claiming he was done with the action franchise

The Layer Cake star added at the time that if he were to sign up again, it would only be for the money.

But Daniel did agree to star in the much-anticipated No Time To Die, for a reported fee of £18.4 million ($25million). 

MailOnline has contacted a representative for Daniel for comment,.  

Daniel’s first Bond film was Casino Royale in 2006 when he took over the role from Pierce Brosnan who starred in four 007 films from 1995 to 2002.  

It comes after the actor was seen greeting fans in New York on Wednesday, hours after it was revealed that the release of his James Bond film has been delayed by seven months.

The star, who celebrated his 52nd birthday on Monday, was bombarded with autograph requests from fans – many of whom were armed with 007-themed promo shots and memorabilia – as he made his way to the Big Apple’s Restaurant Row.

Greeting: Daniel was seen greeting fans in New York City on Wednesday, hours after it was revealed that the release of his James Bond film has been delayed by seven months

Greeting: Daniel was seen greeting fans in New York City on Wednesday, hours after it was revealed that the release of his James Bond film has been delayed by seven months

Cutting a dapper figure in a black suit, the star gamely greeted the sizeable crowd, hot on the heels of the announcement that the release of No Tome To Die has been postponed from April until November amid fears surrounding coronavirus.

The film was due to be released on April 2, but Bond producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli have said that ‘after careful consideration and thorough evaluation of the global theatrical marketplace’ it must be delayed.

A new release date has been set for November 12 in the UK with worldwide release dates to follow, including the US launch on November 25. 

News of the delay was announced via the film’s official Twitter account. 

It comes amid growing concerns over the threat of deadly coronavirus which has infected more than 92,000 worldwide and killed 3,110 globally, according to the World Health Organisation.

Pushed back: No Time To Die will now be released in the UK on November 12 with worldwide release dates to follow, including the US launch on November 25

Pushed back: No Time To Die will now be released in the UK on November 12 with worldwide release dates to follow, including the US launch on November 25

Earlier this week, die-hard 007 fans begged MGM and Universal to delay the release of the sequel in an open letter after an Asian promotional tour for the 25th instalment was cancelled. 

Fan website MI6-HQ posted an open letter in which it said it was time for MGM and Universal ‘to put public health above marketing release schedules and the cost of cancelling publicity events’. 

The situation in China has already prompted the studios to move the release of the film in Hong Kong to April 30 and to cancel the film’s publicity tours in China, South Korea and Japan. 

The world premiere for No Time To Die was scheduled to take place on March 31 at the Royal Albert Hall in London. 

007: The actor was bombarded with autograph requests from fans ¿ many of whom were armed with 007-themed promo shots and memorabilia ¿at the Big Apple's Restaurant Row

007: The actor was bombarded with autograph requests from fans – many of whom were armed with 007-themed promo shots and memorabilia –at the Big Apple’s Restaurant Row

The 25th film in the franchise will mark Daniel Craig’s fifth and final time as the spy. It also stars Lea Seydoux, Rami Malek, Lashana Lynch and Ana De Armas.

Directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, the film also saw Fleabag creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge drafted in to improve its script.

No Time To Die finds Bond after he has left active service and is enjoying a tranquil life in Jamaica when his old friend Felix Leiter, played by Jeffrey Wright, from the CIA turns up asking for help.

The Bond films make a significant portion of their profits from international markets. 

The situation in the Far East has prompted estimates that box office takings could be hit by up to tens of millions of pounds globally. China was the highest grossing foreign country for the previous Bond film, Spectre. 

Last time: The 25th film in the franchise will mark Daniel Craig's fifth and final time as the spy. The film also stars Lea Seydoux, Rami Malek, Lashana Lynch and Ana De Armas

Last time: The 25th film in the franchise will mark Daniel Craig’s fifth and final time as the spy. The film also stars Lea Seydoux, Rami Malek, Lashana Lynch and Ana De Armas

The fan website had suggested the release be pushed back to the summer amid fears that the spread of coronavirus might lead to the closure of cinemas or keep people from wanting to go to see the film at movie theatres.

‘With a month to go before ‘No Time To Die’ opens worldwide, community spread of the virus is likely to be peaking in the United States,’ the open letter said.  

‘There is a significant chance that cinemas will be closed, or their attendance severely reduced, by early April. Even if there are no legal restrictions on cinemas being open, to quote M in Skyfall, “how safe do you feel?”‘

The world premiere screening was set for London’s Royal Albert Hall which has a capacity of more than 5,000, the limit affected countries are now banning for public gatherings. 

Moved: The situation in China has already prompted the studios to move the release of the film in Hong Kong to April 30 and to cancel the film's publicity tours in China, South Korea and Japan (pictured, walks past a No Time To Die poster in Bangkok last week)

Moved: The situation in China has already prompted the studios to move the release of the film in Hong Kong to April 30 and to cancel the film’s publicity tours in China, South Korea and Japan (pictured, walks past a No Time To Die poster in Bangkok last week)

Open letter: The fan website MI6-HQ posted an open letter in which it said it was time for MGM and Universal 'to put public health above marketing release schedules'

Open letter: The fan website MI6-HQ posted an open letter in which it said it was time for MGM and Universal ‘to put public health above marketing release schedules’

‘Just one person, who may not even show symptoms, could infect the rest of the audience. This is not the type of publicity anyone wants,’ the MI6-HQ letter stated. 

‘The UK and US outbreaks are in their early stages, but if they follow the predictable pattern of other developed countries, the situation by late March and early April will not be conducive to the box-office.’

The letter concluded: ‘It’s just a movie. The health and well-being of fans around the world, and their families, is more important.’

‘We have all waited over four years for this film. Another few months will not damage the quality of the film and only help the box-office for Daniel Craig’s final hurrah.’

Want release pushed to summer: The letter concluded, 'It's just a movie. The health and well-being of fans around the world, and their families, is more important'

Want release pushed to summer: The letter concluded, ‘It’s just a movie. The health and well-being of fans around the world, and their families, is more important’

Across the globe the the international Coronavirus outbreak could lose the film industry as much as £4billion ($5billion), according to The Hollywood Reporter. 

Box offices have been taking a hit since Chinese theaters shuttered for the past weeks and now cases throughout the Italy, South Korea, and Japan are only intensifying bottom-line worries.

While £4billion ($5billion) is the current estimate, the number could grow even bigger if the outbreak continues to intensify in the US, where there have been 100 confirmed cases so far.

The outbreak has left over 70,000 Chinese theaters closed for the past several weeks, devastating the world’s second largest movie market.

Sneak peek: Daniel and Lashana Lynch looked stoic as they watched an action-packed scene with director Cary Fukunaga in BTS snap from No Time To Die, that was shared on Friday

Sneak peek: Daniel and Lashana Lynch looked stoic as they watched an action-packed scene with director Cary Fukunaga in BTS snap from No Time To Die, that was shared on Friday

Over the Chinese New Year holiday from January 24 to February 23, movie ticket sales plunged from 2019’s whopping £1.37billion ($1.76billion) to a paltry £3.2million ($4.2million), according to consultancy group Artisan Gateway. 

And theaters are unsure if they will get to open soon, expecting weeks – if not months – more closures. 

Countries like Italy, South Korea, and Japan – the world’s fourth largest box office market – are also facing significant numbers of cases, further suppressing film profits.

Disney has also postponed the Chinese premiere of their live-action Mulan adaptation from its March schedule, quite significant as the £155million ($200million) film with all-Asian cast was almost tailor-made for the Chinese market. 

On the back-burner: Disney has postponed the Chinese premiere of their live-action Mulan adaptation from its March schedule

On the back-burner: Disney has postponed the Chinese premiere of their live-action Mulan adaptation from its March schedule