Sony offered actor Daniel Craig $150 million for playing the iconic spy James Bond in the next two movies of the billionaire franchise, while producers find a suitable replacement. If Craig accepts, it will be his fifth film as James Bond, and according to his declarations, he would rather to “slash his wrists” before playing the MI6 agent again.
After shooting Spectre, the 48-year-old actor said last year he would rather hurt himself than doing another movie and his message was very clear. Sony has insisted with a new millionaire contract. There has been much speculation about who will take over as 007, and several actors have gone up and down in what refers to odds, but after Sony’s significant offer, Craig would reconsider his decision.
A source told Radar the studio is desperate to have Craig while they find a younger long-term successor. But apparently, there are other reasons behind the $150 million. According to the source, Daniel is essential for a safe transaction for Sony and producers “and they are prepared to pay a king’s ransom to make it happen.”
Sony should be announcing soon that the studio is re-upping the distribution rights for the Bond series, meaning billion of dollars in revenue, but only if they can find the best person to play the spy, and it seems the other candidates are not good enough for the part.
The English actor earned about 48.76 million for Spectre and the $150 million, which are about £112 million, could benefit Craig after all. But we do not know yet if he thinks the money worths another eight-month-shooting.
Radar’s source claimed everyone knows how much executives love Craig, and the idea of losing him at such a crucial time in the franchise is not an option. Bond producer Barbara Broccoli is in charge of the next two projects, and her view includes rehiring Daniel Craig.
The two movies behind the $150 million will be made virtually back-to-back, where preferably Craig will be 007. After that, he would pass the role to someone else for a third movie “that will start a new era,” the source said. Sam Mendes, Skyfall and Spectre director, ruled himself out of returning.
The odds are in Craig’s favor, but he has the last word
If Daniel Craig accepts Sony’s offer, all the other candidates will be ruled out for the next two years. The question comes if Craig says no: Who will be the next Bond? And the answer is far from being a definitive one because there are more than five candidates, and none of them seems to fill Bond’s shoes.
According to Express U.K., the actors who were being favored by the odds were Poldark Aidan Turnes at 9/4 with James Norton and Paddy Power. But Sony’s interest in Craig pushed them back to 5/1. Behind them is Jack Huston at 6/1. Far behind are Idris Elba and Tom Hiddleston at 14/1.
Craig told Time Out last year that if he did another Bond movie, it would only be for the money, and those $150 million could pursue him. The actor has not given an official answer, but we already know Sony hopes he says “yes.”
Source: Radar Online