Daniel Craig’s Bond Is In A Strange Position After Spectre
Spectre was a well-intentioned mess of a film that left the Bond franchise teetering on uncertainty. Mendes rushed to meet a November 2015 release date (October 26th in the UK), with his four screenwriters, including Purvis and Wade, John Logan, and Jez Butterworth unable to solve the issues of the script before cameras started rolling. He attempted to double down on the success of Skyfall by again dissecting the relevance of its main character by weaving together the continuity of all of Daniel Craig’s Bond films, retconning his adventures so that his heretofore-unknown arch-enemy Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Christoph Waltz) was pulling the strings all along as the leader of the evil global network, Spectre. Further, because Skyfall made effective use of Bond’s childhood iconography (007 made his last stand at his family’s ancestral home in Scotland), Mendes went back to that well and revealed the orphaned Bond grew up with a resentful Blofeld (then known as Franz Oberhauser) as his adopted brother.
Though it began with a spectacular opening sequence in Mexico City, Spectre was bloated with tonal inconsistencies, confusing plot turns, and otherwise awkward moments. Mendes peppered Spectre with homages to previous Bond films, specifically Roger Moore’s cheeky era of 007, but Craig was ill-suited to provide witty banter during breakneck car chases. It was especially cringe-worthy to watch Craig attempt to seduce a widowed Monica Bellucci as he pumped her for information about Spectre’s meeting place in Rome.
Spectre concluded with Bond making the bewildering choice to not exercise his license to kill the villain. Instead, he quit MI6 to ride off into the sunset with the newest Bond Girl, Madeleine Swann. It was an obvious plot: the writers transparently had Bond leave Blofeld alive so he could return to put a bullet in James’ happy ending.
Fans (including former Bond Pierce Brosnan) were unhappy with Spectre, feeling let down by the muddled follow up to Skyfall and a general malaise at the thought of a continuation of the plot threads Spectre left behind. Most famously, Daniel Craig was unhappy, period, and he evaded the very idea he would back as James Bond. However, Danny Boyle offers a new life and potential for the franchise.
What Makes Danny Boyle’s Bond 25 Different?
The arduous experience of making Spectre took a toll on Daniel Craig physically (he tore his meniscus during filming) and emotionally. The actor strongly indicated he was sick of the role and made several surly comments to the press, citing that “I’d rather slit my wrists” then return as Bond for the fifth time. With the star saying he wanted out, the usual round of “Who Will Play James Bond” questions surfaced, with everyone from Idris Elba, to Hugh Jackman, to Luke Evans turning the rumors down. Paired with the reaction to Spectre and bidding wars for the Bond distribution rights, the franchise was in a state of uncertain chaos for the last couple of years.
Eventually, Mendes opted not to return for Bond 25, with MGM and EON Productions’ subsequent search for a new director positing huge names like Christopher Nolan and Denis Villeneuve, neither of whom seemed keen for the job. Waltz also announced he would not return as Blofeld. However, with the news that Danny Boyle has accepted the job as Bond 25’s director, the franchise now has an excellent chance to return to greatness.
Boyle brings with him a new creative team, and thus a fresh perspective on 007. The studio had a different Bond 25 screenplay in development by the usual suspects, Purvis and Wade, but that will be shuttered. John Hodges’ script, with story beats Hodge and Boyle concocted, will now be Bond 25’s bible. It’s impossible to know what “idea” Boyle and Hodge have for the film at this point, but it will be fascinating to see Boyle apply his considerable filmmaking and storytelling talents to a global action adventure like Bond 25. The director has proven he is adept at romantic drama (Slumdog Millionaire, which won him the Oscar for Best Director), trippy science fiction (Sunshine), a true-life tale of heroic survival against nature (127 Hours), zombie horror (28 Days Later), and lifelong friends on a crime-ridden drug-trip (Trainspotting). A Bond movie is a new challenge for Boyle, but it’s one he is well-suited for.
Indeed, this isn’t the first time Boyle has directed Daniel Craig as James Bond: he helmed the Opening Ceremonies of the London 2012 Olympic Games, which featured Craig’s 007 providing security for Queen Elizabeth, who “parachuted” into the games. Now that he has a chance to make an entire Bond film, Boyle can put all his talents on show. After all, Bond offers a mix of action, intrigue, spy games, glamorous locations, sex, malevolent villains, and a charming, indomitable hero. But, crucially, Boyle has a clean slate do tell his own unique Bond tale.
What Boyle Can Do For 007
It’s safe to assume Danny Boyle didn’t come onboard to continue the narrative of the Sam Mendes-era of 007. Mendes tied not only his two films but the prior two Bonds, Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace, together as one macro-story, which fit with the shared universe trend but is already tired. Boyle must unshackle James Bond from all of that continuity entirely and take the character in a singular direction. The series worked because of its good single adventures, and that’s what it needs again.
Of course, even with no knowledge of the story to speculate on, fans can still expect a newfound energy. Boyle’s films showcase a mastery of the language of cinema, characters, music, and genuine emotion. He is hopefully less interested in deconstructing Bond’s past and MI6’s place in the world, as Mendes did, and will instead favor telling a gripping adventure story about Bond facing an insurmountable enemy threatening the world.
All that said, it’s hoped Boyle retains the services of Bond’s supporting cast. Mendes provided Craig’s Bond with a new M (Ralph Fiennes), Q (Ben Whishaw), and Moneypenny (Naomie Harris), all of whom have excelled in the roles to the point they exist apart from the films. Considering Harris has worked with the director before in his stage production of Frankenstein (which led to Mendes casting her in Skyfall), and how integral the characters are to the Bond formula, they feel safe.
Ultimately, though, this is about Daniel Craig as much as his character. It’s been suggested the actor championed Boyle’s appointment, so at the very least he’s got the jaded star interested again. The actor may feel, as the fans do, that Spectre wasn’t the proper sendoff his tenure as 007 deserved. Everyone wants to see Daniel Craig go out on a high note, and with this confirmed as his last go-around (barring a mammoth offer from the studio), a one-and-done adventure is the best way to send Craig into retirement. Dropping Spectre’s convoluted elements and going for a purer Bond is the key. Danny Boyle directing Bond 25 is the cherry.
Next: Actors We’d Like To See Become The Next James Bond
- Bond 25 Release Date: 2021-10-08
