If you were to only read the headlines that have followed Daniel Craig’s candid new interview with Time Out London, you might think he’s downright suicidal. And, to be fair, he did say he’d “rather break this glass and slash my wrists” than do another Bond movie. But there’s a touch more context to be considered before leaping to “Daniel Craig Prefers Suicide To Another Bond ”— namely, that he preceded the statement with the question, “Now?”
Can you imagine doing another Bond movie?
‘Now? I’d rather break this glass and slash my wrists. No, not at the moment. Not at all. That’s fine. I’m over it at the moment. We’re done. All I want to do is move on.’
You want to move on from Bond for good?
‘I haven’t given it any thought. For at least a year or two, I just don’t want to think about it. I don’t know what the next step is. I’ve no idea. Not because I’m trying to be cagey. Who the fuck knows? At the moment, we’ve done it. I’m not in discussion with anybody about anything. If I did another Bond movie, it would only be for the money.’
And all of this comes after a long discussion of how grueling these Bond movies are to make. So, in other words, he’s burned out; having just finished his fourth go-round in the role, Mr. Craig can’t imagine doing it again, and if he does, well, it’ll be for the money. That’s not the kind of thing you’re supposed to admit in the airless atmosphere of a publicity interview, so Craig’s comments have predictably blown up. And maybe it’s a little spirited, but what the hell, better than another rote round of “Oh, they’re just much fun to make as they are to watch” sound bytes.
Craig expressed a similarly refreshing lack of bullshit when the conversation inevitably turned to who will step into the Bond tux next:
Do you care who plays Bond after you?
‘Look, I don’t give a fuck. 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.’
If an actor was offered Bond and came to you looking for advice, what would you say to him – or her?
‘Literally I’d say two things. Firstly, it’s your decision. Don’t listen to anybody else. Well, do listen to everybody, but you have to make the choice at the end of the day. It’s your bed to lie on. And don’t be shit! Don’t be shit. You’ve got to step up. People do not make movies like this any more. This is really rare now. So don’t be shit.’
For the record, “don’t be shit” is pretty good advice for people who aren’t playing James Bond, too.