Last night (24 July), Eon Productions and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer - the companies behind the James Bond franchise - announced their next 007 thriller would reach cinemas 8 November 2019. However, there was no announcement over who would be playing the iconic character.
The New York Times has since confirmed recent reports that Daniel Craig will return, despite having previously said he would rather "slash his wrists" than play the character again.
Two sources told the publication Craig's contract was a done deal; separate sources told The Mirror earlier this year that Craig had "changed his mind" about playing Bond and that franchise producer Barbara Broccoli has "secured" the actor.
It was previously reported that Craig was offered up to £120 million to return as the spy for two more films despite attention surrounding fellow candidates Tom Hiddleston, Idris Elba, James Norton and Poldark star Aidan Turner.
Dunkirk's Christopher Nolan has been one director in talks regarding the upcoming film following Sam Mendes departure, saying in a recent interview: "I've spoken to the producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson over the years. I deeply love the character, and I'm always excited to see what they do with it.
"Maybe one day that would work out. You'd have to be needed, if you know what I mean. It has to need reinvention; it has to need you. And they're getting along very well."

 Necros wrote:
I like Daniel Craig as bond, but I heard he got all douchey and didn't ever want to be bond again, and my like for him waned fast after that. I think Idris Elba would have made a great bond though, would have been a cool twist.

 Azreal13 wrote:
He subsequently justified those comments, explaining that he was asked the question very soon after wrapping on Spectre, and that filming a Bond requires extended periods away from family and a great deal of physical effort and he was simply exhausted with the whole thing and gave a slightly too honest answer in the heat of the moment.

Whether that's post hoc squirming or genuine is up for debate, but I've no trouble believing it.

DAN'S BOND U-TURN

Daniel Craig changed his mind about reprising James Bond role after director Sam Mendes quit
Work with Mendes again? He'd rather Die Another Day

DANIEL CRAIG turned his back on Bond after creative tensions with director SAM MENDES left him shaken and stirred.

But it emerged this week the actor is returning for the 25th 007 movie, despite famously declaring he would “rather slash his wrists” than play the spy for a fifth time.

Daniel Craig has reportedly had a chance of heart after claiming he'd rather slash his wrists than play James Bond again

A source tells us the actor had 'creative differences' with director Sam Mendes
The U-turn came shortly after Sam quit the franchise.

And now I can reveal creative differences threatened to ruin their friendship during filming of 2015 outing Spectre.

My sources tell me that as tensions built up, the atmosphere on set got chilly.

And they claim Daniel will be delighted that Sam is no longer in the director’s chair.

One source said: “Daniel and Sam were best buddies when they first started working together and you would constantly see them laughing and joking.

"But after filming had been going on for a while, things started to change.

“There were a few areas in which they had very different creative opinions and their friendship did become strained.

“There were jokes that you could cut the atmosphere between them with one of Bond’s knives.

“Both are hugely respected and were never unprofessional. They played their parts brilliantly and produced one of the best Bond films.

“But it wasn’t the easiest of times for them.”

 Tannhauser42 wrote:

 Azreal13 wrote:
He subsequently justified those comments, explaining that he was asked the question very soon after wrapping on Spectre, and that filming a Bond requires extended periods away from family and a great deal of physical effort and he was simply exhausted with the whole thing and gave a slightly too honest answer in the heat of the moment.

Whether that's post hoc squirming or genuine is up for debate, but I've no trouble believing it.

I've noticed that it's a rather common sentiment among actors that play such physically demanding roles. After they finish, they're like "never again, that was too much work", but then they have time to recover and forget how much physical work it was and are like "yeah, I'll do it again."

120 million pounds will also help most people forget the hard work.