I spy... Daniel Craig could quit Bond for a TV series
JAMES Bond star Daniel Craig’s future as 007 could be in jeopardy as he enters into talks to appear in a new US TV series, it emerged yesterday.
Craig, 47, will take the lead in Purity, an adaptation of American writer Jonathan Franzen’s novel of the same name.
It is understood no firm decision has been made on whether he has starred in his last Bond movie – last year’s Spectre.
With 20 episodes to be shot for Purity, they are likely to leave him little time for more Bond.
Craig has enjoyed the 007 role for 10 years since Casino Royale and made no secret in the past of his desire to quit Bond.
He said in October that he would rather “slash my wrists” than play the character again.
Spectre, that also starred Monica Bellucci as the oldest Bond girl ever aged 51, became the secondhighest grossing film at the British box office in 2015 – after Star Wars. It earned £ 94.7million.
Spectre director Sam Mendes has already confirmed that he will not return to direct the next film, which will be the 25th in the series. Purity is set to be produced by Scott Rudin who worked with Craig on 2011’ s The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.
It is currently caught in a bidding war between Showtime, Netflix, Amazon and FX.
Craig is expected to play the German founder of a WikiLeaks-style website.
He is already pursuing other opportunities including an off- Broadway run in Othello this autumn.
Bookmaker Coral make English actor Tom Hardy the evens favourite to be the next James Bond.
Damien Lewis is second best in the betting at 4- 1 while Idris Elba, who would be the first black actor to feature as 007, is 5- 1. Meanwhile, Craig and Mendes are among a host of Bond celebrities who have donated memorabilia for a charity auction at Christie’s.
To celebrate the DVD release of Spectre, 10 items from the movie will go under the hammer this week with another 14 placed in an online auction.
Motoring enthusiasts can bid for the film’s iconic Aston Martin DB10. The skull mask, which Bond wears in the opening scene, is also up for grabs.