Danielcraig

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became a huge hit. It created a new kind of spy movie which was mostly action and was set in a gritty, realistic, violent world.

Such was the impact of the film and the series it spawned that the studios demanded that the James Bond movies change their formula to adapt to the new style of spy picture. Though Pierce Brosnan was willing to star in another film, the producers found a new James Bond in Daniel Craig, who had serious talent.

The first Craig movie, Casino Royale (Eon had finally acquired the rights to Fleming’s first book) unveiled a hero who was more Jason Bourne than James Bond. To make it clear that this was a new kind of Bond, they even added a scene where a bartender asks Bond if he wants his martini shaken or stirred. “Do I look like I give a damn?” Bond replies.

It wasn’t all as rough as that, of course, but the character was different enough for the film to be a complete reboot. We were asked to believe that there had been no Bond films before and that Casino Royale marked the beginning of Bond’s career. (Well, it was Fleming’s first book, after all).

The film was a huge success and though it was followed by the inferior Quantum of Solace, everyone agreed that Craig had breathed new life into the character. The super-successful Skyfall followed and then, the producers had a windfall. They reached a settlement with Mcclory’s estate (he had died by then) and won the rights to use Blofeld and SPECTRE. So the next film was called SPECTRE and brought Blofeld back.

As far as Craig was concerned, he had done his bit and opted out of doing the next Bond. Only millions of dollars would lure him back. His problem, he said, was that he saw no place for the character to develop further.

Now, Phoebe Waller-bridge (of TV’S Fleabag and Killing Eve) has been roped in to help create a new kind of Bond. It’s not clear what he will be like; the plot summaries from the studio have been minimal.

Wewill knowmore later this year when No Time To Die is released worldwide. Apparently, the movie begins with a Bond in retirement, called upon to return to action. And unlike the actors who have playedhim, they did not needto offer James Bond millions of dollars to come back! He knew his duty to his audience.