Daniel Craig still bonded to 007

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

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 said: “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.”

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 film after Spectre in 2015.

The Layer Cake star said 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 (R375m).