“MY NAME IS BOND, JAMES BOND…”

It’s been 60 years since James Bond 007 first appeared on screen in Dr. No in 1962, and as I commemorate that with selecting No Time To Die as the Featured Blog, we are also marking the end of an era. No Time To Die marked Daniel Craig‘s final performance as the British spy for Her Majesty’s Secret Service. After five films and 15 years, Craig is hanging up his suit and tie and handing in is Walther PPK. After much doubt was thrown his way for being able to be believable and carry the weight of a long existing franchise in 2005, Daniel proved them all wrong by being apart of the most successful run of James Bond films, setting box office records and then beating those box office records again and again. Daniel Craig will go down in Bond film history as the most successful actor in the most successful films to date in its 60 year history.

THE CRAIG EFFECT…

In commemorating the end of the Daniel Craig era and the success that he brought to the franchise, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer included for the U.S. digital streaming version on Apple TV, as well as on on the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray edition release of No Time To Die, the documentary Being James Bond: The Daniel Craig Story, directed by Baillie Walsh. In January 2022, the documentary was made available globally and for free online through YouTube. In the 45-minute documentary, Daniel Craig, in conversation with EON Productions and James Bond 007 producers, Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, candidly reflects on his 15 year tenure as James Bond. The documentary includes never-before-seen archival footage that spanned his five films, from Casino Royale to No Time To Die, as voice overs along with the footage from his conversation with the 007 producers, share his personal memories making each of the films. Craig relives what sold him on Broccoli’s idea to rebrand the Bond films and what line in-particular from the Casino Royale script she sent him to read solidified his decision to join the James Bond film legacy, as well as the bonds, pun intended, that Craig formed with the cast and crew that were apart of making all five films with him and the lasting impact it had on him in his film career.

“A lot of people here have worked on five pictures with me, I’ve loved every single second of these movies, and especially this one because I’ve got up every morning and I’ve had the chance to work with you guys, and that has been one of the greatest honors of my life.”

– Daniel Craig, Being James Bond: The Daniel Craig Story

THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES, AND CHEERS TO THE FUTURE…

So it is only fitting that the interview attached to the Featured Blog for No Time To Die, would be Being James Bond: The Daniel Craig Story. I have included the documentary at the end of this blog post for you viewing pleasure. If you enjoyed and loved Daniel Craig as James Bond 007 for five films and 15 years, then you will enjoy this documentary and all the never-before-seen footage as well as Craig, Wilson and Broccoli reflecting and remembering what it was like making each film. While we wait to see to who will carry the torch of 007 in the future, relive the most successful era in Bond Film history with Daniel Craig’s story and maybe be inclined to rewatch all of his films once more!

You can watch Being James Bond: The Daniel Craig Story below: