Next James Bond What Daniel Craig’s Replacement Can Learn From His Arc

Next James Bond: What Daniel Craig’s Replacement Can Learn From His Arc

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As Daniel Craig’s time as James Bond draws to a close, what lessons can his successor pick up from 007’s arc between Casino Royale and No Time To Die?

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Next James Bond What Daniel Craig’s Replacement Can Learn From His Arc

Whoever succeeds Daniel Craig as the star of James Bond can learn plenty from the outgoing 007 after No Time To Die. Ian Fleming’s James Bond has been ever-present on the silver screen for over half a century, but no previous era or actor has revolutionized the spy quite like Daniel Craig. Replacing Pierce Brosnan after the woefully dated Die Another Day (widely considered one of James Bond’s worst outings, if not the worst), Daniel Craig became 007 at a time when the need for change couldn’t be more obvious, and his debut, 2006’s Casino Royale, pulled no punches rewriting the James Bond rule book.

Finally released in late 2021 after more than a year of sitting on Barbara Broccoli’s bookshelf, No Time To Die brings Daniel Craig’s Bond experience to an end, closing a 5-movie arc that also includes 2008’s Quantum of Solace, 2012’s Skyfall and 2015’s Spectre. Though not without its low points, Daniel Craig’s James Bond has undeniably rejuvenated the character for a modern audience, and whichever actor takes his place has considerable shoes to fill.

Though Idris Elba and Henry Cavill remain among the favorites, the recruitment process is, allegedly, yet to begin. Whenever Eon and Amazon eventually get around to casting 007 number 7, the newbie will need to strike a balance between continuing Daniel Craig’s evolution, and adding brand new shades of their own. Here’s what the next James Bond can learn from Daniel Craig’s arc.

James Bond Should Still Stay Grounded…

Next James Bond What Daniel Craig’s Replacement Can Learn From His Arc

More than strolling across the beach in tight Speedos or upsetting fans with his hair color, Daniel Craig’s time as James Bond will be remembered most for the grounded realism his arc brought to the franchise. Taking cues from Timothy Dalton’s criminally short reign, Casino Royale marked a wholesale change in Eon’s James Bond approach, toning down the comedy and fantastical elements in favor of a sleek, modern spy thriller that could feasibly take place in a real-world setting. Daniel Craig’s performance deserves credit for helping to instigate that shift, crafting a persona that combined the suave coolness of a traditional 007 with the aura of a man who has No Time To D…eal with anyone’s nonsense.

Jaunty, good-time James Bond with a quip for any occasion outstayed his welcome, and though many remember Sean Connery and Roger Moore’s performances fondly, there’s a cartoon-ish silliness to both (in some films more than others, admittedly) that has no place in Bond’s future. Daniel Craig worked hard to transform 007 into a realistic entity after the sad caricature of Die Another Day and, if nothing else, that’s the element of Craig’s arc Bond needs to keep. Having said that…

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…But The Next 007 Should Be Lighter Than Daniel Craig

Next James Bond What Daniel Craig’s Replacement Can Learn From His Arc

For the reasons described above, gritty Bond is good Bond… but there’s a big difference between a little grit to temper the espionage craziness, and huge chunks of rock floating in our shaken vodka martini. Daniel Craig’s era did, occasionally, drift into the latter, when James Bond’s relentless desire to be taken seriously made for a tough trip to the cinema. Whomever picks up the Walther PPK next should continue the gravity of Craig’s performance. 007 should be affected by deaths, and the grisly side of MI6 shouldn’t be ignored. But Daniel Craig’s Bond so often came across as traumatized by the things he’d seen and done, and that specter (pun very much intended) lingered for the actor’s entire run.

While the haunted, miserable, vengeful James Bond was perhaps where the franchise needed to go after Die Another Day, it’s probably not worth revisiting right away. Where Eon gave Daniel Craig free reign to go as dark as he liked, his successor faces the daunting task of being serious and stirring, rather than shaken and sorrowful.

James Bond Doesn’t Need To Be Invincible

Next James Bond What Daniel Craig’s Replacement Can Learn From His Arc

As part of James Bond’s 2006 update, the man himself suddenly become more human. Past iterations of 007 were nigh-on invulnerable – both in the professional and emotional sense. Whatever fight he entered, whichever baddie he came up against, and however high the stakes might be, Bond tradition dictated that our hero not only emerge victorious, but that he barely break a sweat while doing it. Audiences tired of this unrealistically unflappable Bond, and Casino Royale began with James taking an absolute battering from a routine thug. This ethos would resonate throughout Daniel Craig’s quintet of adventures, particularly in No Time To Die, and helped distinguish his Bond from the smartly-dressed pack.

More than just losing some HP, Daniel Craig’s Bond toiled emotionally too. He cracked under pressure, his age caught up to him, his emotions took control. Bond wasn’t perfect, and Craig’s arc was all the better for it. With audiences nowadays preferring flawed, relatable heroes to pristine, invincible ones, this quality should absolutely continue into the next run of James Bond releases.

James Bond Is Now An Ensemble Franchise

Next James Bond What Daniel Craig’s Replacement Can Learn From His Arc

James Bond has always been, and will always be, the undisputed star of the 007 franchise, but Daniel Craig proved that, no matter how often he repeats his own name, there’s more than one member of the cast. In past eras, the likes of Moneypenny, M, and Q were peripheral figures, with the focus kept squarely on Bond, the main villain and, if they’re lucky, the female lead. Though Daniel Craig’s tenure began in similar fashion, the format changed somewhere around Skyfall, which shone a well-deserved spotlight on Judi Dench’s M. Since then, Naomie Harris’ Moneypenny, Ben Whishaw’s Q, Ralph Fiennes’ M, Lashana Lynch’s Nomi, and Léa Seydoux’s Madeleine have developed into a more prominent supporting cast than James Bond ever toyed with previously. 007 remained the centerpiece, but he wasn’t the only character with an arc.

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Daniel Craig’s successor should expect to slot into a similar situation. Now James Bond has elevated characters such as M, Q and Moneypenny – not to mention dragging the “Bond Girl” concept into the 21st century – it’d be a terrible shame not to build upon that advancement with the next generation of actors. Craig’s successor will find themselves in the unique position of joining a more balanced ensemble, rather than being the lone attraction.

Being Bond Isn’t Just About Action Anymore

Next James Bond What Daniel Craig’s Replacement Can Learn From His Arc

What made for a fine James Bond in the 1960s is, predictably, not what the job description will say when Eon finally start seeking Daniel Craig’s replacement in 2022. The very definition of an action movie character, casting Bond was once about presence, style and demeanor more than it was acting ability – precisely why Cubby Broccoli cast the untested George Lazenby for On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. More than any other actor, Daniel Craig has dug into the man behind the hero. It’s not exactly Hamlet, admittedly, but James Bond is a more emotionally complex entity now, with layers of characterization that extend beyond just beating people up and having one-night stands. 007 experiences relationships, regrets, and dramatic nuances that don’t reset after each film. These additions give James a deeper motivation beyond patriotic love for Queen and country, and make for a character worth sticking by long-term.

Daniel Craig’s replacement can’t just look good pointing a gun and act tough in the face of danger (though they do definitely need those things). The lucky actor requires an emotional range and a versatility that other Bonds generally weren’t given the opportunity to show. Ironically, it was perhaps Lazenby who came closest.

The Next James Bond Should Be A 1960s Character (Not Modern Day)

Not something the next James Bond star will decide for themselves, but something they’ll be defined by nonetheless. Daniel Craig’s James Bond has done the “modern 007” narrative so successfully, it’s hard to imagine how the next era will avoid repetition, and more importantly, feel unique. One solution would be leaving an extended gap between films, but with No Time To Die already enduring a 6-year journey to theaters and Amazon surely looking to flex its muscles straight away, that seems unlikely. As an alternative, the next actor to shoulder James Bond’s considerable legacy could play the character as a British agent in the 1960s.

Every James Bond movie has taken place in a contemporary setting but, by design, Fleming’s creation was a product of the 1960s. It’d be fascinating to see a modern 007 performance in an older time period, embracing the classic aesthetic and quirks of the era, but with the updated sheen (and updated values) ushered in by Daniel Craig’s movies.

Link Source : https://screenrant.com/next-james-bond-daniel-craig-arc-lessons/

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