Daniel Craig’s James Bond backflip: British actor to reprise iconic role

DANIEL Craig once said he’d rather ‘slit his wrists’ than reprise his role as James Bond, but it seems he’s had a change of mind.

Well, well, well, he’s back.

The man who claimed he would rather “slash his wrists” than reprise the role of James Bond has had a change of heart and will do just that: Daniel Craig will play the MI6 agent again in the next 007 film.

Bond producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli confirmed Craig’s return, as well as announcing that Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire) is on board to direct the 25th instalment of the franchise.

This will be Craig’s fifth time as MI6 agent, having starred in Casino Royale (2006), Quantum of Solace (2008), Skyfall (2012) and Spectre (2015).

Filming will begin in December, with an October 2019 release date. The movie will have a screenplay written by John Hodge, who Boyle worked with on Trainspotting.

Daniel Craig has previously said he was “done” with playing James Bond. Apparently not! Picture: Getty Images

In a statement, Wilson and Broccoli said, “We are delighted to announce that the exceptionally talented Danny Boyle will be directing Daniel Craig in his fifth outing as James Bond in the 25th instalment of the franchise. We will begin shooting Bond 25 at Pinewood Studios [in London] in December..”

This is all very exciting and all, but it’s rather curious considering Craig’s attitude to playing Bond in recent years.

He told Time Out magazine in 2015: “I’d rather break this glass and slash my wrists.”

When asked if he would reprise the role, he said: “No, not at the moment. Not at all. That’s fine. I’m ‘I’d ratherover it at the moment. We’re done. All I want to do is move on.”

Of course, when he realised his irrelevance outside of playing James Bond, he softened his tone a little bit and told The Late Show With Stephan Colbert last year, saying, “I think this is it. I just want to go out on a high note.”

Craig married fellow actor Rachel Weisz in 2011 and the couple are expecting a child later this year.

Craig with Rachel Weisz at the Academy Awards in 2015. Picture: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Originally published as Daniel Craig’s James Bond backflip: British actor to reprise iconic role