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Daniel Craig Will Almost Certainly Be Back For Bond 25

There’s been rampant speculation about who will take over for Daniel Craig for the next Bond film after SPECTRE. Idris Elba and Damian Lewis are names that have been thrown around as possible contenders.

Most of this speculation is based on quotes from Craig in Esquire and Entertainment Weekly, where he seemed unsure of coming back for a fifth go as the agent with a license to kill. Here’s what he told both of those publications:

"At this moment, no. I have a life and I’ve got to get on with it a bit. But we’ll see. "I can’t give you an honest answer at this point. It’s not that I’m trying to play hard to get. I’ve just given it no thought whatsoever.
"This movie has taken up two years of my life. And I just need a break. I need to get back to normal life. I need to reintroduce myself to my family who are not best pleased with me. The idea of planning ahead — I’m not trying to be coy. People want an answer and I don’t have one."

We know that the producers wanted director Sam Mendes to direct Bond 25, but he declined. It’s possible that both director and star would make a clean break together, but anyone who follows the behind-the-scenes of the Bond films could point out why Craig is likely to return for a fifth go around as 007.

The actor himself pointed out why he’s likely to come back for the next one: He’s contractually obliged to return. Here’s what he told The Daily Mail:

"It’s getting harder. But such is life. I’ll keep going as long as I’m physically able. I’m contracted for one more – but I’m not going to make predictions. These movies don’t get made very often. It’s just the fourth time for me, a spit in the ocean. If you don’t get excited about making a movie of this size with this cast, with Sam Mendes… then go home."

There’s only one possible way that Daniel Craig wouldn’t come back for Bond 25 and that’s if SPECTREbombs at the box office, and the studio decides to retool the entire series, much as they did with Casino Royale. Considering Craig is one of the best Bond actors ever, and Sam Mendes delivered one of the best Bond film ever with Skyfall, I think SPECTRE failing is a bit unlikely. So who does Craig hope will carry on after he leaves the franchise? Here’s what he said to Time Out:

Look, I don’t give a f***. Good luck to them! All I care about is that if I stop doing these things we’ve left it in a good place and people pick it up and make it better. Make it better, that’s all.

Fair enough, Mr. Bond. Fair enough.

SPECTRE will premiere in North American theaters on November 6, 2015.

Image: Sony