James Bond Producer Confirms Sad News For Fans

It may not be surprising news, but that doesn't mean it's easy to say goodbye. During an interview with No Time To Die: The Official James Bond Podcast, franchise producer Barbara Broccoli confirmed that the latest 007 movie will be the last time Daniel Craig plays the iconic super-spy. Craig slipped on the tux beginning with 2006's Casino Royale. His more modern, vulnerable, and rugged take on the traditionally suave MI6 agent earned rave reviews.

Speaking to podcast host James King, Broccoli said that bringing the classic-meets-contemporary flair that Craig's Bond era has been marked by was paramount for the new film, "because it is the fifth and final one that Daniel Craig is going to be doing. So, it's a culmination of everything his portrayal of the character has been through and it ties up all the storylines."

Craig himself has previously said that No Time To Die would be the end. He told GQ in March, "This is my last Bond movie." That sounds pretty definitive, but it's not the first time the actor has declared that he was done with the franchise. After Spectre, he famously told Time Out, "I'm over it at the moment. We're done. All I want to do is move on." While the producers managed to rope him into another one more after that, it now looks like there is a unanimous agreement that the latest movie will officially be Craig's last.

Now that Craig's departure is official, where does Bond go from here?

The question of who will step into the role of James Bond when Craig leaves has long been a topic of conjecture. In 2019, there was speculation that a character called Nomi, played by British actress Lashana Lynch, was going to emerge from No Time To Die as the new 007. As of right now, no information has emerged as to whether that's actually going to be the case, or not.

In September, there was a flurry of dubious reports that Tom Hardy had already been cast in the role. As Esquire pointed out, however, because of several factors, including his age, it's very unlikely that Hardy will be taking over.

Alien: Covenant actor Michael Fassbender was at the center of Bond rumors in 2019 after professional bookie sites noted a significant uptick in bets that he was up next for the role (via Irish Post). But there hasn't been any word since then, and the actor previously told GQ, "I will never be James Bond."

Other commonly cited contenders include Idris Elba, Tom Hiddleston, Richard Madden, Gillian Anderson, and Henry Cavill (who has said he's interested in the role). Thus far, none of the rumored or wished-for Bonds have been confirmed.

Make sure you wear a black armband in honor of Daniel Craig's James Bond when you see No Time To Die, which is currently scheduled to hit theaters November 20.