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Craig's Legacy: Killing Bond & M
4 Nov
Summary
- Daniel Craig reportedly suggested killing off M.
- Craig also insisted his own James Bond character die.
- The next Bond actor faces a high bar after these deaths.
The era of Daniel Craig as James Bond is crystallizing, with new revelations highlighting his decisive role in shaping the character's narrative arc. Beyond the on-screen death of Bond himself in 'No Time to Die', it has come to light that Craig also advocated for the demise of M, played by Judi Dench.
According to Judi Dench's memoir, 'Is It Too Late to Make a Run for It?', she learned of M's death in 'Skyfall' during a meeting with producers. While she did not cry upon hearing the news after a 20-year association with the franchise, she noted that the suggestion to kill her character reportedly originated from Daniel Craig. This contrasts with the typical portrayal of Bond, who is an assassin, suggesting Craig's willingness to imbue the character with a darker, more self-destructive edge.
Craig's influence extended to his own character's conclusion. He reportedly asked producers as early as 2006 about the possibility of killing Bond off in his fourth film. This desire to conclude the character's story definitively has created a significant challenge for whoever succeeds him as 007.
The next actor to don the iconic tux will need to devise a way to surpass the dramatic impact of killing off both Bond and M. This sets a formidable precedent, leaving audiences and filmmakers to ponder how the franchise can escalate its stakes in future installments.
