Summary
Martin Campbell, director of GoldenEye and Casino Royale, doesn't think killing off Daniel Craig's James Bond is a big deal.
Campbell is of the opinion that the upcoming Bond movie will disregard Bond's demise and proceed with a fresh face assuming the role of the legendary undercover agent. Taking into consideration the hypothetical demise of Craig's Bond and introducing the concept that each actor embodies a distinct character with the Bond codename would indeed be an incredibly groundbreaking decision.
Director Martin Campbell, known for GoldenEye and Casino Royale, has shared his thoughts on the controversial decision to kill off Daniel Craig's James Bond in No Time To Die. Campbell, who directed both Brosnan and Craig in their first Bond films, acknowledges that this departure from franchise tradition was shocking but believes it is not a significant issue. He explains to The Daily Express that Bond will inevitably come back to life in the next movie, regardless of his fate in the previous installment. Read his full statement below.
Addressing Bond’s Death In Bond 26 Would Be A Truly Radical Move
Honestly, it was alright for me. He's killed off, which is fine because when they introduce the next Bond, they will completely overlook the fact that he was killed off, and Bond will carry on. It's that simple. No explanation is necessary, right? Daniel Craig was Bond, and now the next person is alive. They won't have a problem with that.
Throughout its history, the Bond franchise has undergone several transitions in lead actors. In each instance, the series seamlessly carried on without acknowledging the casting changes. This nonchalant approach has now become a longstanding tradition within the franchise, which is expected to persist when Bond 26 arrives, featuring a fresh face assuming the iconic role of Bond.
Killing off Bond in No Time To Die may have appeared as a drastic decision, considering Bond's consistent survival in previous movies. However, if the next Bond film proceeds without addressing Craig's Bond's death, then nothing substantial will have changed. The real game-changer would involve acknowledging Craig's Bond's demise and establishing that the name "James Bond" is simply an alias, with each new actor representing a different character assuming the Bond codename.
Craig's tenure in the Bond franchise did introduce some innovative elements, such as multi-movie story arcs. Nonetheless, officially recognizing the existence of multiple agents embodying the name James Bond would be the most groundbreaking development. Although the conservative nature of Bond's producers suggests that such a significant shift in the franchise is unlikely to happen after No Time to Die, Campbell's prediction of the next film proceeding without acknowledging past events seems plausible.
Source: The Daily Express