Daniel Craig admits he ended up ‘writing a lot of lines’ in heavily criticised Bond movie which ‘lacked storytelling’ and branded it a ‘f***ing nightmare’
Daniel Craig revealed he ended up ‘writing a lot of lines’ in Bond’s 2008 movie Quantum Of Solace – admitting the film ‘just didn’t quite work’.
The Hollywood legend, 56, reminisced his time on set but bluntly admitted it was a ‘f***ing nightmare’ – as they were short of writers and production started without a script.
Speaking on The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter Podcast, the Knives Out star said: ‘Difficult second album — f***ing nightmare.
‘Paul Haggis did a pass on the script.
‘Then he went off and joined the picket line and we didn’t have writers.
‘We should never have started production.
Daniel Craig, 56, revealed he ended up ‘writing a lot of lines’ in Bond’s 2008 movie Quantum Of Solace – admitting the film ‘just didn’t quite work’ (pictured at Governors Awards on Sunday)
The Hollywood legend reminisced his time on set but bluntly admitted it was a ‘f***ing nightmare’ – as they were short of writers and production started without a script (pictured with Gemma Arterton in the film)
‘I ended up writing a lot of that film, which I probably shouldn’t say.’
The English actor continued adding: ‘There are some amazing stunt sequences in it but it just didn’t quite work.
‘The storytelling wasn’t there.
‘That’s a lesson — starting a movie without a script is not a good idea.’
Daniel is set to hit screens very soon again as leading star in Luca Guadagnino’s Queer – where he will be starring next to Outer Banks heartthrob Drew Starkey.
The actor hung up his bowtie and tux three years ago and has been leaning into more experimental roles since, ranging from a fun camp gentleman sleuth with a Southern drawl to a man who falls in love with a drug addict in Mexico City, in the 1940s.
Queer is an adaptation of a novella by American writer William Burroughs and Daniel plays as American William Lee, living in Mexico City who becomes sexually obsessed with a former sailor, Eugene Allerton (Drew).
During the same interview, the actor also revealed he initially rejected the chance to play James Bond as he was fearful it could limit other opportunities for him in the movie industry.
‘I ended up writing a lot of that film, which I probably shouldn’t say,’ he told The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter Podcast (pictured in the movie)
Admitting ‘production should have never started’, Daniel added: ‘There are some amazing stunt sequences in it but it just didn’t quite work. The storytelling wasn’t there’ (pictured in the movie)
He portrayed 007 in five movies spanning from 2006’s Casino Royale to 2021’s No Time To Die, but admits he had reservations about taking the part of the legendary spy.
When asked if he was nervous about accepting the Bond role, Daniel told: ‘Yes, for sure. That’s why I turned it down – I mean, I said, “No”.
‘There wasn’t a script at the time, so again, my arrogance was unbelievable, but I was just like, ‘Well, until I see a script, I couldn’t possibly make a decision.’
‘And it was fear, exactly what you’re talking about, of that thing and many others, how it would flip my life.
‘I was making a pretty good living at the time, so if I spent my life doing what I was doing at the time, I would’ve been more than happy.
‘But it was really one of those things where – I mean to be typecast as James Bond? Boo-hoo.’
Daniel took on other film roles between Bond movies – such as Defiance and Cowboys and Aliens – but explained that his attempts to showcase his versatility as an actor left him burnt out.
He said: ‘I think I felt that I had to prove myself. And after a while I just realised that I didn’t have the energy to do that.
The actor portrayed 007 in five movies spanning from 2006’s Casino Royale to 2021’s No Time To Die , but admits he had reservations about taking the part of the legendary spy
Daniel is set to hit screens very soon again as leading star in Luca Guadagnino’s Queer – where he will be starring next to Outer Banks heartthrob Drew Starkey (pictured in the film)
‘It’s not knocking movies like ‘Defiance’, because I’m very proud of them.
But Bond is your life when you’re doing it – each movie is about two years out of your life; you’re away from home for over six months; and the idea of fitting someone else in because of the need to prove to the world that I’ve got range, it’s kind of ridiculous, so I stopped doing that.
‘There’s some movies I did do that I was incredibly proud of. But I was exhausted while doing those films. It was better just to concentrate on the Bonds.’
It comes after Daniel teased who the next James Bond could be when he made a cryptic joke at 2024 Governors Awards on Sunday.
The actor, 56, who played 007 for five films from 2006 until 2021, weighed in on the ongoing debate while presenting an award on stage at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles .
The Knives Out star recently teased who the next James Bond could be when he made a cryptic joke at 2024 Governors Awards on Sunday (pictured)
As he honoured producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson with the Irving G Thalberg Memorial Award he said ‘the next James Bond could be in the room.’
Previous reports suggested Aaron-Taylor Johnson and Theo James could be next in line to take on the iconic role.
‘Let’s just get something out of the way,’ Daniel began.
‘If you came here this evening to find out who the next James Bond is, don’t look at me, but he might be in the room. I’m just joking. Maybe I’m not,’ PEOPLE report.
