Daniel Craig has spent well over a decade playing the world’s most popular fictional British Secret Service agent, but that journey is finally over.
In a new behind-the-scenes video that surfaced on Twitter yesterday, Craig can be seen giving an emotional and tear-filled speech after wrapping No Time to Die, his final James Bond film. While it’s unclear when the video is dated (the movie was supposed to be released what feels like eons ago), Craig talks about how much he enjoyed making the films and playing 007, calling it one of the greatest honors of his life.
Daniel Craig’s farewell speech after wrapping No Time To Die, his last 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 James Bond film. 🍸 @007 pic.twitter.com/xCqab3JK3z
— Filmthusiast (@itsfilmthusiast) September 17, 2021
“[…] a lot of people here worked on five pictures with me, and I know there’s a lot of things said about what I think about these films, or all of those whatever,” Craig said in front of a large crew.
“But I’ve loved every single second of these movies, and especially this one, because I’ve got up every morning and I’ve had the chance to work with you guys, and that has been one of the greatest honors of my life.”
Craig’s speech is highly amusing in that the actor told Time Out magazine back in 2015 about how he’d rather “slash his wrists” than do another Bond movie following Spectre.
“I’d rather break this glass and slash my wrists,” Craig said at the time. “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.”
Craig later addressed those comments during the New Yorker Festival in 2016, explaining that it had a lot to do with the physical exhaustion that came with playing Bond.
“They say that shit sticks, and that definitely stuck,” he said with a laugh. “It was the day after filming [stopped on Spectre]. I’d been away from home for a year.” The physical strains of the role combined with the distance from his family take a toll, he said. Craig was careful, though, about not seeming to complain too much: “Boo-hoo. It’s a good gig. I enjoy it.”
No Time to Die is scheduled for release exclusively in theaters on October 8, 2021, although it’s unclear whether it will actually maintain that date. The movie has already been delayed a handful of times due to the global pandemic, and MGM has never been shy of pushing it further and further back despite the amount of money that’s already been spent on its marketing and production. No Time to Die reportedly needs to earn $900 million to break even.
Source: Filmthusiast