James Bond Producers Say Series Is At Critical Juncture After Craig

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The longtime producers of the James Bond franchise say the series is at a “critical juncture” following Daniel Craig's departure. From the mind of Ian Fleming, 007 was birthed into the literary world in 1953 with the novel, Casino Royale, as the author went on to write a total of twelve Bond novels and short stories. With plenty of source material to work with, the film franchise based around the British secret agent began with 1962’s Dr. No, with Sean Connery taking on the titular role.

Throughout the decades, the highly coveted role was passed around between a few other actors before landing on Daniel Craig for 2006’s Casino Royale, who reprised the role for 2008’s Quantum of Solace, 2012’s Skyfall, and 2015's Spectre. Craig’s final portrayal of Bond will be the long-delayed No Time To Die, which is set for a release date this Fall. As the franchise prepares to gain a new face, there has been much debate about the direction the series should take, such as whether it should continue Craig’s self-serious take on Bond or return to the goofy action of the franchise's glory days. Amazon’s recent acquisition of MGM, which gives them control of the 007 brand, also threw the franchise into a minor tizzy.

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Now, the franchise’s longtime producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson say it is at a “critical juncture” as Craig prepares to take his final bow. As the role will soon be up for grabs, the producing duo says that finding the perfect replacement will be essential to the future success of the franchise, according to RadioTimes. While the two don’t speak publicly very often, they did recently release a statement addressing the state of MGM following its acquisition by Amazon. Read their statement below:

[MGM bosses] Mike and Pam understand that we are at a critical juncture and that the continuing success of the James Bond series is dependent on us getting the next iteration right and will give us the support we need to do this.

Since Amazon’s acquisition of the legendary Hollywood studio MGM in May, there has been plenty of concern regarding the theatrical future of Bond. However, Broccoli and Wilson did offer some consolation in their statement. They said that “Amazon has assured” them the 007 franchise will continue to see theatrical releases in the future, rather than being released exclusively on their streaming service, Amazon Prime.

With Craig announcing his departure, the biggest question that remains is who will take the next turn as the super suave secret agent. Idris Elba is a popular name that has been floated for years, who would also make history as the first Black actor to portray the role. Tom Hardy has also been a fan-favorite and Bridgerton‘s Regé-Jean Page has recently gained some momentum as well. The franchise is absolutely at a “critical juncture” as this casting will be the first major decision in the Amazon-era of James Bond.

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