The passing of a torch is always a bittersweet moment, and that's no different when it comes to movies and TV. Whether it involves the traditional new face in the lead role on Doctor Who or yet another stab at rebooting the original cast of Star Trek, even those who aren't spending their days spewing vitriol about the entire concept of change can feel a bit wistful about seeing someone new take over in their favorite franchise. So perhaps outgoing James Bond star Daniel Craig wishes to make that transition a bit more palatable by breaking the ice early.
The James Bond actor just ended his 15-year run as the character with his final appearance as 007 in No Time To Die, and it seems he's all set for someone else to take the mantle. But rather than making a quick exit and washing his hands of the whole thing as some might expect, he's graciously decided to offer some sage advice for his successor, whomever that may be. Or perhaps "blunt" advice is more apt.
During Craig's recent appearance on Kevin Hart's podcast Straight From the Hart, the English actor had some choice words for the next actor to take up the 007 designation. "There's a couple of things I'd say," he began, "but I mean, one is don't be sh*t." Clearly, he isn't one to mince words, at least compared to the last time he gave advice on James Bond. But fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on one's comedic priorities), he didn't stop there, continuing on with some more practical and slightly less peppery advice.
"I would say you've got to grab it and make it your own," Craig went on. "I think that's the way to go forward. I mean, I just committed myself to it as much as I possibly could and tried to sort of elevate it as much as I could. I hope I've left it in a good place and I hope the next person can just make it fly. It's an amazing franchise, I still think there's a lot of stories to tell." Well, he's not wrong. The James Bond franchise as a whole has nearly limitless potential when it comes to what kinds of stories can be told. Plus, considering the vast array of potential actors who could take over as James Bond, it's pretty clear that the character has a ton of possible paths to take that would instantly (and refreshingly) separate new iterations from classic ones.
James Bond is a classic character, of that there's no doubt. But maybe breaking free of tradition and really going in some completely new directions are exactly what the seasoned secret agent needs to stay relevant. Bond has always been a white man, which isn't a bad thing in and of itself. It's how the character was originally written, after all. But remember, the same can be said for Marvel's Nick Fury, and nowadays one would scarcely be able to find someone who doesn't immediately associate that character with Samuel L. Jackson.
The point is, while tradition is important, it's not infallible. Doctor Who made history during its current run by introducing 2 women in the role of The Doctor by way of Jodie Whittaker and Jo Martin, and surprise, the franchise is still standing. So maybe one of the U.K.'s other premiere properties can afford to take similar chances. Look, it would just be really cool to see Thandie Newton order a very specific kind of martini.
James Bond's No Time To Die is now playing exclusively in theaters.
Source: SiriusXM/YouTube