We’ve confirmed that the long-running James Bond franchise is alive and well through at least the 25th installment. The current 007 leading man Daniel Craig will star in at least two more Eon Productions films. And Sony Pictures, which badly wanted back in the Bond business after backing Craig in Casino Royale (2006), Quantum Of Solace (2008) and the upcoming Sam Mendes-directed Skyfall (2012), is on board to co-finance those same 24th and 25th films in the series.
Craig has been a cranky Bond since his 
debut but at least he and his CAA reps are smart enough to recognize this is a gold mine of an opportunity. 
(Especially after his films Cowboys & Aliens and Dream House tanked and The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo underperformed.) Skyfall opens overseas on October 26th and in North America on November 9th. Now the question is whether Craig will continue on to become the longest-serving Bond in the franchise of all the actors who’ve played the part. These five 007 films already make him the 3rd-longest-serving Bond actor. The James Bond franchise is the longest continually running film series in history. Eon Productions has produced 22 films at an average of about one every two years. The series has grossed just over $5 billion to date, making it the second-highest-grossing film series of all time behind Harry Potter, and the single most successful adjusted for inflation.
No he should not do more than five that should be the maximum for any actor. Connery did five then he quit and they gave George Lazenby a chance in Her Majesty’s Secret Service and he was awful. Sean came back for a lot of money in Diamonds Are Forever and it was a mistake. Roger Moore did seven which was two too many. Brosnan only got to do four but that was enough for him. Hugh Jackman should be the next guy to step into 007’s shoes.
Lazenby was not awful. He was unpolished, but he was surprisingly good in the love scenes and outstanding in the fight/action scenes. He got awful advice to leave the series when they offered to bring him back.
Roger Moore only did 1 too many. Octopussy was one of the best Bond films, but he should have bowed out after that (Moore acknowledges that now).
Four was not enough for Brosnan. He would have gladly come back, but EON was ready to change direction after the absurdity of Die Another Day. He only started making public statements about not returning when it was clear that they were going with a new Bond.
Jackman will be 49 by the earliest time a new Bond actor can debut (2018 if Craig does them in 2014 and 2016 then leaves). Too old.
I agree that George Lazenby was not awful. His accent wasn’t right and he mumbled. But he could have been great. There were some myths about him upsetting Diana Rig but what I think is true, by his own admission, is that he went on a drinking binge and might have blown it as a result. He looked right and he moved well. I suspect it was just that the studio knew they could tempt Connery back and did so. I didn’t think Connery looked right for Bond in Diamonds. Much as I will always like him, I think that people wanted Roger Moore’s suave, debonaire Bond in the 70s.
You have to be an actor first. Lazemby was just awful and they wasted a great plot and villain in not having Connery or some real qualified actor. Loved Moore as Bond, but he played it too much for laughs after the Spy Who loved me and as a playboy instead of legalized contract killer. …Connery has an edge to him and element of danger, although the quips were an invention of his first director who molded Sean into being debenaire and also took him to his own taylor to be fitted for his suits…..underrated Timothy Dalton was a truer Bond to the books and got screwed out of more movies because of intra-studio mgt problems. Even the sound of his voice was magnificent….Moore is actually older than Connery so a great in shape Jackman could pull it off five years from now.
They wanted Roger Moore to replace Connery but in 1968 Moore was doing The Saint for British TV so he wasn’t available. They should have offered Connery much more money so they wouldn’t have needed to hire Lazenby he was a fashion model in Australia and he never had much acting background. Nobody could follow Connery and look good but Moore was the best alternative and they couldn’t get him then after he did Saint he did another show called The Persuaders with Tony Curtis so that’s when they decided to bribe Connery to come back one last time. I suppose Lazenby would have been better in Diamonds Are Forever than he was in Majesty’s Secret Service. Crazy that he turned it down a stupid mistake.
You had me until “Hugh Jackman should be the next guy to step into 007?s shoes.” Uh, no.
always wanted Jackman to be Bond. His acting chops are just as good as Craig
Lifetime Bond fanatic and I’ve always enjoyed Lazenby’s OHMSS.
He wasn’t polished, he was as intended, a young, less-experienced Bond.
Moore transcended into a foppish dandy too good to get dirty for the Queen, while Connery’s was more of an everyman with a one-liner approach.
In order.
1. Connery
2. Craig
3. Lazenby
4. Brosnan
5. Moore
6. Timothy Dalton
hugh jackman’s too old–he and clive owen would have been right for the role 10 years ago, maybe. the producers will have to keep bond the right age for this reboot, around 35 years old.
By the time Craig is done, Jackman will be way to old. His window passed back in 2006. If it ever really existed.
Love this! Craig is the best Bond ever, and I figured at max we’d get four Bond movies with him. So pleased that he is signed for two more!
Craig is great, but the next Bond should be Fassbender, who could be the greatest ever.
Totally agree! Michael Fassbender would be the perfect choice to succeed Daniel Craig.
Yes please!
Wouldn’t have thought of him in connection with this discussion — but you’re right: Fassbender would be absolutely perfect.
Thank you for the “adjusted for inflation” remark.
Bond is about 12 million when Harry Potter is “only” 7,0 million.
And Bond is also much less marketing…
Cillian Murphy should be bond.
Wonder if Clive Owen regrets not grabbing this golden ring? Thoughts?
Assuming they make the next ones in two yearly intervals, that would make Craig 48 by his fifth film. Nobody wants a 50 year old Bond, so he’ll be smart to pack it up then. Fassbender will also be 40 then, which will be the perfect age for him to start his run of films. I’m sure Eon have figured this out.
This is the worst Bond news I’ve heard since Craig was cast in CR. It’s like I got vision and the rest of the world needs bifocals (but still think they’re seeing 20/20.)
It’s not how old the guy is, it is how terrible he looks. Craig would be fine as 2nd villain from the left or Felix Leiter (after the shark ate at him), but having a guy who looks like he lost an acid fight play Bond is the pinnacle of wrongheadedness. I was so hoping he’d be out of the way so they could make Fassbender an offier, which would make up for them not vigorously wooing Clive Owen or realizing that Henry Cavil was actually the right age, given how juvenile Bond was written in CASINO, almost like a Maverick/TopGun jackass.
Connery had the magic and Dalton WAS Fleming’s Bond in large part; Moore was Bond’s gay uncle, Lazenby was a test drive in bad traffic, and Brosnan only showed how good he could have been as Bond in TAILOR OF PANAMA, which isn’t even a 007 flick. Craig, while a fine actor in some things, is no more the right ‘caliber’ for Bond than if Q kitted him out with an airgun before leaving on a mission.
You’re right about Dalton a lot of people overlook him because the two he did weren’t very successful. Then the series went on hiatus for six years due to financial chaos at MGM/UA and when it was ready to go again they realized Dalton was not nearly as good as Brosnan would be.
James Purefoy really should have gotten this role.
Daniel Craig has become my favorite Bond, and upon hearing he will only do 2 more I was bummed… Until someone mention Fassbender. Looking forward to the next decade now.
I agree with the Fassbender casting he’d be excellent. Clive Owen would have been very similar to Daniel Craig so not much of a difference. Also agree Jackman will be too old and I think he was offered the role and he turned it down does anyone know why? Did he think Wolverine was a better franchise part? If so he got lousy advice when the part was available.
Craig was marvelous in Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, which didn’t tank ($232 worldwide isn’t a fantastic hit, but not tanking status either).
I loved Casino Royal but Quantum of Solace was awful. Craig is a great Bond, but if the stories/direction aren’t good, it won’t matter how good Craig is. Hopefully Skyfall is a hit.
As for two more movies with Craig as Bond —- I kind of wish he called it a day after Skyfall and moved on to meatier roles. He has great acting chops (Laura Croft not withstanding) and would love to see him challenge himself more like on GWDT.
Exactly right about Casino vs Quantum. It also didn’t hurt that Casino had the incredibly talented Eva Green, the only believable leading lady in the entire franchise. The scenes with the two of them were also beautifully written. That dialogue, plus Craig’s and Green’s remarkable screen chemistry, combined to make one of the most believable love stories I’ve ever seen on screen.
Does anyone know if the Bond films going forward will eventually air on Epix/Netflix/Amazon or on Starz? Just curious if Sony or MGM controls it for the domestic pay window.
The Bond films will probably go to Epix. If Casino Royale and Quantum Of Solace can be used as reference, since those went to Showtime in the pay-tv window when that network had its output deal with MGM. EON/Danjaq has a long standing deal with United Artists and I suspect as long as MGM remains as solvent as possible I do not expect that to change in regards to rights.
Bond series was on Netflix streaming until late last year.
Ian Fleming would love seeing Craig as Bond because when Fleming created the character Bond was a rough bruiser he was a thug and a killer. The first actor who they wanted was Cary Grant. They got very lucky finding Connery and nobody will ever be as good as he was. I wish Fleming had lived 10 or 15 more years he died in 1964 before Goldfinger was completed Ian smoked 3 or 4 packs of cigarettes a day he killed himself with his terrible habit he also drank a lot he was only 55 when he died.
you obviously have not read the books. Bond was not a bruiser. He was ian Fleming’s alter ego. He smoked and dranked excessively, was quite human and not a superhero. But yes he was a killer.
Clive Owen would be a great choice for Bond!
Excellent call on Fassbender as the next Bond. However we should not in indulge in too speculation and just enjoy Daniel Craig as the best 007 since Connery.
Danielle Transvesta should be canned as soon as Bond 23 has run it’s course. A soured lemon faced tortured soul is not what Bond is all about. Befriending a young boy as Q is also ludicrous. If Cr-egg continues, the franchise is done. The green vegetable heading Eon has sunk to new lows with her daddy’s franchise.
Roger Moore was born in 1927 so when he first did Bond in 1973 he was 46. He was 50 in Spy Who Loved Me, 52 in Moonraker in ’79 then he did three more in ’81, ’83 and ’85 he was 58 when he finally retired.
Hugh Jackman would not be too old to play Bond look at Liam Neeson he’s old but Taken 2 is similar to the Bourne films. Age doesn’t really mean that much and Jackman might look fantastic 6 years from now.
They should let Tarantino direct the final Craig Bond film. Quentin deserves a chance to do one he wanted to do Casino Royale but they were afraid to hire him because they didn’t want to give him so much creative control.
Am I the only one who misses the lighter take on these films? Craig is ok, but it’s the tone that’s gotten so dark and radically violent I can’t tell it apart from the other heavy action films now. I’m not talking Roger Moore light, but the first ones with Connery.
Daniel Craig IMO is the worst Bond. I find him unattractive and hope another actor will replace him. Mr. Craig is at his best in quirky films. Bond is old and tired and very staid.
Quick and dirty breakdown here: Connery was Perfect 1960s Bond, Lazenby was Stupid Bond, Connery returned as Eff It Bond, Roger Moore was Wussy Bond, Timothy Dalton was Weird, Bird-Face Bond, and Remington Steele — what’s his name — Brosnan was Roger Moore (Wussy) II. Daniel Craig is the return to what makes Bond great and believable; he should look beat up after what the character goes through. He’s highly trained and should move sharply, easily, be highly athletic and worn, have a thousand yard stare. And Hugh Jackman?! Really?! Listen to this guy in interviews and you’ll see why some people should just fake an accent for life; he sounds cool doing his American accent, but he sounds goofy like Steve Irwin when he’s just being him. I will, however, have to agree with those who brought up Fassbender (if he bulks up a bit). He has the face Ian Fleming originally intended. Ike has spoken.
Clive Owen never had an opportunity. He himself says that he was never approached by the producers about the role, and the producers admit that they’ve never approached him. Owen admitted that he used the rumors of him possibly being James Bond to get film parts.
Really? Clive Owen a good bond? He is so boring and monotoned – I think he’d make an awful Bond, he has no emotion and he seems bored in most of his roles. Craig is a much better actor with a much wider emotional range.
Clive Owen? No, nooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!
At least I know EON/MGM/SONY won´t be that stupid!!!