Daniel Craig Hints at Next James Bond's Presence at 2024 Governors Awards
Daniel Craig surprised fans at the 15th Governors Awards. The event took place on November 17, 2024, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. He hinted that the next James Bond "might be" among those present.
While introducing producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, Craig joked, "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."
Craig portrayed Bond in several films, including "Casino Royale" (2006) and "No Time to Die" (2021). Recently, he noted to Variety that he has no preference for the next actor assuming the role. The producers, meanwhile, continue to explore the future of this iconic character.
In speaking with the Associated Press, Broccoli and Wilson highlighted that casting a new Bond represents a significant decision. Wilson stated, "Every time we cast a new actor, the films change. It’s the excitement of a new Bond, a new direction. Every one of these people who took on the role offered something new and different."
The search for a new Bond actor is clearly vibrant. Colman Domingo humorously showcased his interest in the role. He told Broccoli and Wilson, "I know that there’s a list of phenomenal, handsome, athletic, suave, and debonair actors vying to be the next James Bond." Domingo even quipped, "Now if you’re thinking of me, I don’t know what to tell you: Bond or Bond villain? You decide...I will leave my headshots on your table."
On this occasion, Broccoli and Wilson, siblings who lead the production company behind the long-running British spy series, accepted the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award. This prestigious award is given to "creative producers whose body of work reflects a consistently high quality of motion picture production," according to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
The Thalberg Award has only been conferred 39 times since its inception in 1939. Broccoli is the second woman to receive it, following Lucasfilm's president Kathleen Kennedy in 2018. Reflecting on the honor, Broccoli remarked, "It’s very humbling... I think of so many people who have come before us, so many people I wish had been given the honor who aren’t with us anymore."
Broccoli also noted that her father, Albert "Cubby" Broccoli, received the same award during the 1982 Oscars. She stated that his Oscars statuette "was the most important physical possession he had."
The 2024 Governors Awards also honored other notable figures. The late Quincy Jones, who passed away at 91 on November 3, 2023, along with casting director Juliet Taylor and filmmaker Richard Curtis, received recognition.
Earlier, SSP wrote that Nicholas Hoult seemed to confirm a marriage to Bryana Holly.