Daniel Craig Still Hasn’t Decided Whether To Return As James Bond, Worried Producers Want Film Out In 2018

Daniel Craig is beginning to make James Bond producers rather nervous. Ever since the release of Spectre back in November 2015, which pushed Daniel Craig to the limits, producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli have given the actor plenty of time to consider his future as 007.

But now they need an answer. Because their plan is to release the 25th installment of the blockbuster in October 2018, which means that they need to start shooting it at some point in 2017. The earlier the better, though. However, they still haven’t heard back from Daniel Craig, despite the fact that they’ve offered the 48-year-old actor a rather lucrative deal to return.

According to The Mirror, via The Sun, Daniel Craig still hasn’t responded to the offer, though. They’ve even asked his representatives whether he is actually free to film a new James Bond blockbuster in 2017, but they’ve reportedly not spoken to Daniel Craig about his schedule for the next 12 months.

An insider close to the film revealed the following.

“Daniel and MGM are currently at a stalemate with him having not spoken to them about Bond. They have offered a bigger wage deal, and asked about his filming availability to his reps in 2017, but as yet they have not spoken to Daniel. They want Bond 25 out in October 2018, but currently they have no Bond, film dates or knowledge of when that will change.”

Daniel Craig’s decision is set to have huge repercussions, too. That’s because the source insisted that Sony Pictures are only going to co-finance the next James Bond film if Daniel Craig decides to return as 007. They continued and said this.

“Daniel’s commitment is also a key part of whether Sony Pictures will come in to co-finance the film. So much is hanging in the air – and no-one knows.”

Over the last 12 months, Daniel Craig has changed his mind quite a few times about whether he would like to return as James Bond. Most recently the English thespian, who has previously portrayed the spy in Casino Royale, Quantum Of Solace, Skyfall, and Spectre, boasted to the audience at a Q&A for the New Yorker Festival back in October, via The Guardian, that he had the greatest “job in the world doing Bond.” Daniel Craig added the following.

“The things I get to do on a Bond movie and the type of work it is, there’s no other job like it… I love this job. I get a massive kick out of it. And if I can keep getting a kick out of it, I will.”

However, Daniel Craig wasn’t quite as positive about the job when he was out promoting Spectre 14 months ago. Following a rather tumultuous shoot for Craig, who had to undergo minor surgery to fix a knee injury at one point during production, he told Time Out London the following when asked whether he’d be returning as Bond.

“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.”

At the same time, though, later on in the interview, Daniel Craig did insist that he’d need at least 12 months to clear his head before he decided on his future as James Bond. Before declaring that if he did return it would “only be for the money.”

Daniel Craig remarked.

“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 f*** 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.”

Clearly, the time for Daniel Craig’s decision is nigh. Otherwise, James Bond‘s producers will have to turn to the likes of Tom Hiddleston, Damien Lewis, Idris Elba, and the long list of other actors, each of whom has been linked to the role ever since Daniel Craig made the above comments.

[Featured Image by Columbia Pictures]