Play James Bond Again? Daniel Craig Would Rather Kill Himself

It seems that there’s a lot of work involved in playing James Bond. Daniel Craig, in an interview ahead of the release of the 25th Bond film, Spectre, has said that he would rather kill himself than go through all that again. In an interview with Time Out, Craig talked candidly about what it was like to play James Bond.

Daniel Craig has a reputation for blunt candor, rarely mincing his words or exercising much diplomacy, and this interview was no exception. When asked if he would play James Bond again, Craig told the world exactly how he felt about it.

“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.”

Unlike his suave persona James Bond, Daniel Craig often speaks in blunt sound bites riddled with profanity. When asked about whether he was considering a permanent departure from James Bond, Daniel Craig answered with characteristic honesty.

“Who the f**k 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.”

Of course, none of this is as negative as it sounds. He’s proud of his work as James Bond – Daniel Craig obviously cares about the films. He spoke about his efforts to recruit Sam Mendes, who directed Skyfall, to the Spectre team, saying that he “begged him” to be a part of it. He refers to Mendes as “the truth police” when it comes to realism and according to the Time Out interviewer, showed a real anxiety about whether Spectre was going to be good enough.

Craig points out that he has been working out for six months to get up to scratch as Bond. Combine that with the sheer number of injuries – broken bones and teeth knocked out – that Bond shoots have given him in the past, and it’s easy to understand why he wouldn’t even want to contemplate rehashing the role at this point.

When addressing the rampant speculation about who would play the next James Bond, Daniel Craig is crystal clear on what he thinks about that.

“Look, I don’t give a f**k. Good luck to them!”

He went on to say that what he was really concerned with was that whoever took up the mantle would be able to “make it better.” When talking about James Bond, Daniel Craig is passionate about the quality and nature of the films. Craig’s advice to any new James Bond is simple. “Don’t be s**t.” He goes on to explain that it’s very important that any actor playing Bond be ready to “step up” because, as Craig says, “Nobody’s making films like this any more.”

In the interview, Craig spoke about a broad range of topics. When asked about whether, as an actor, he felt that he had been limited by playing James Bond, Daniel Craig became a bit more positive. He spoke about the sheer range of opportunities that had arisen for him since taking on the iconic role, his only complaint being how time consuming the preparation was. He said that the only real restriction was that it was “terribly time-consuming.” But there’s an upside for the ladies there.

“I’ve been working out for six months. Of course I’m getting my kit off!”

When it comes to being chosen for James Bond, Daniel Craig is characteristically humble.

“It’s ludicrous, it’s ridiculous. When I first got approached, I just thought: You’ve made a mistake.”

But don’t run away with the idea that Craig thinks ill of the franchise. When asked about what he’d say to the next actor to take on the role, he replied “It’s worth it. It’s James Bond.” Daniel Craig will be starring in Spectre, the 25th Bond film, which will be released November 6.

[Picture via Getty Images/Handout]