Daniel Craig Unbothered By Who Will Be The Next James Bond: “I Don’t Care”

While fans and Hollywood insiders speculate endlessly about who will be the next James Bond, Daniel Craig, who portrayed the iconic spy from 2006 to 2021, seems utterly unfazed. In a recent interview with Variety, Daniel made it clear that he’s ready to leave his Bond days behind — and is more than happy to leave the guessing game to everyone else.

When asked, “If you were to pass the James Bond torch, who would you love to see play him?” Daniel’s response was quick and straightforward. “I don’t care,” he laughed, shrugging off any curiosity about the franchise’s future.

Daniel’s laid-back attitude isn’t surprising. After all, his five-movie journey as James Bond was never supposed to last so long. Reminiscing about the Berlin premiere of Casino Royale in 2006, he recalled asking producer Barbara Broccoli how many Bond films he’d be doing. He originally expected to make only one film, but when Casino Royale became a global hit, the conversation shifted. “I said to Barbara, ‘How many more? Three? Four?’ She said, ‘Four!’” he shared, laughing as he added, “She said, ‘Four!’ I said, ‘OK. Then can I kill him off?’ She said, ‘Yes.'” 

Daniel’s iconic run ended with No Time to Die in 2021, where his Bond finally took his last bow. Since then, speculation over his successor has heated up. Contenders like Jacob Elordi, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Callum Turner have all been rumored to be in the running, although none have been confirmed.

Callum himself recently joked with PEOPLE that his own mother might be behind some of the rumors, saying, “I think that’s my mum. She just puts that out there. So when my odds get higher, it’s all her putting the money on.” And as for his interest in joining the franchise, Callum praised Barbara, saying he’d love to work with her “in any capacity.”

Though many names have been floated, the new Bond remains a mystery. Daniel is joining the likes of past 007 legends like Sean Connery, Roger Moore, and Pierce Brosnan in leaving the role behind — but, as his carefree reaction shows, he’s more than ready to let someone else take the mantle.