Since we’ve been spending so much time talking about politics of late this is a good opportunity to turn our attention back to something that matters. There is not a more enduring movie ‘franchise’ than the James Bond 007 films. Since the James Bond cannon began in 1962 with the release of Dr. No (though some consider the 1954 TV movie ‘Casino Royale’ as the ‘official’ beginning of the franchise) there have been movie adaptations of Ian Fleming’s iconic British secret service agent with 7 different actors playing 007. Some Bond actors have become legendary (Sean Connery), others inexplicably endured (Roger Moore) while others were somewhat unfairly maligned (George Lazenby). The most recent actors to play James Bond are Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and most recent Daniel Craig.

Craig has been considered a decent Bond but now producers are reportedly looking for a replacement (or are they?). The Roger Craig-as-Bond soap opera has had plenty of twists and turns this year though the events were set in motion immediately following the release of the most recent 007 installment ‘Spectre’ in 2015. At that point, the producers of the Bond franchise began negotiations with Craig to return as Bond for at least one more film. In May 2016, media reports suggested that Craig had turned down $100 million and had no interest in playing Bond ever again. One UK magazine quoted Craig in an interview giving this response when asked if he’d ever want to reprise the role of 007:



‘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.’

asked if he had any interest in his replacement he gave an emphatic ‘No’:

‘Look, I don’t give a f*ck. Good luck to them! All I care about is that if I stop doing these things we’ve left it in a good place and people pick it up and make it better. Make it better, that’s all.’

That, it seemed, was that. Producers kept in touch with Craig but at the same time began searching for a replacement James Bond. The media started to speculate on possible replacements and where the series would go post Craig. Most significantly, UK sportsbooks started to set odds on the next James Bond:

NEXT JAMES BOND



Who Will Be The Next James Bond?



James Norton: +400

Aidan Turner: +300

Tom Hiddleston: +800

Idris Elba: +800

Tom Hardy: +275

Damian Lewis: +1600

Michael Fassbender: +2000

Rupert Friend: +5000

Henry Cavill: +2000

Oliver Jackson-Cohen: +4000

Sam Riley: +5000

Cillian Murphy: +5000

Richard Armitage: +5000

Jamie Bell: +1600

Theo James: +3300

Orlando Bloom: +5000

Richard Madden: +5000

Kit Harington: +6600

Christian Bale: +8000

Jeremy Renner: +8000

Gerard Butler: +8000

THE PLOT THICKENS!

The media has kicked around several possible replacements with Tom Hardy getting most of the support (and thus his status as favorite). The rules on the bet stipulated that the actors named ‘must replace Daniel Craig’ or else the bet would be ‘no action’. And now the fun really begins–Craig has reportedly had a change of heart saying that he’s got ‘the best job in the world’ playing James Bond:

“I’ve got the best job in the world doing Bond. The things I get to do on a Bond movie and the type of work it is, there’s no other job like it. If I were to stop doing it – just say – I’d miss it terribly. It’s one of the most thrilling things as an actor you can do. 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.”

Why the change of heart? No doubt reports that he’s being offered in the neighborhood of $150 to $200 million to sign on for a couple more 007 films played a large part in his 180 degree reversal of opinion. Generally speaking, it’s tough to turn down a nine figure payday to do anything. As of earlier today no deal had been finalized but the ‘courtship’ appears to be heating up. Most sportsbooks still have their ‘Next James Bond’ markets on the board, likely pending an official announcement.

Obviously, these type of things can ‘turn on a dime’ but it sure sounds like Craig is now the favorite to be the next James Bond. And since the ‘Next James Bond’ futures market all stipulate that the actor must ‘replace Craig’ that presents a problem that necessitates a new proposition:



Daniel Craig to do another James Bond Film?



Yes: -175

No: +125

Once Craig (or a replacement) is locked up the question will turn to the identity of the next ‘Bond Girl’. We’ll offer some odds on that in the very near future.