Daniel Craig Reportedly Set To Return As James Bond

While many have speculated over the future of the James Bond franchise and who will take the helm as the iconic character, few thought Daniel Craig would return to the role. But now, it is been reported that Craig will return to play 007 in the newest James Bond film expected to be released in 2019.

According to the Daily Mirror, James Bond producer Barbara Broccoli has convinced Craig to return for his fifth Bond movie. The exhaustive search for a new Bond included exploring Idris Elba, Tom Hardy, and James Norton as potential replacements.

“It’s taken time but Daniel has come round and the strong consensus in the Bond offices is that Mr. Craig is 007 again,” an anonymous source told the Mirror.

In addition to Craig’s return, the source revealed that Broccoli is heavily pursuing another theme song from British singer Adele. The singer famously recorded the opening track for 2012’s Skyfall for which she won an Oscar, a Golden Globe, a Grammy, and a Brit Award.

Skyfall was far and away the most successful of all the Bond films, grossing over $1 billion at the box office. It was Craig’s third go at a Bond film.

Craig’s return comes as a particular surprise because the 49-year-old actor has spoken harshly about coming back to the role in the past.

“I’d rather break this glass and slash my wrists,” he told Time Out London in 2015 after being asked if he’d want to do a fifth Bond. “No, not at the moment. Not at all. That’s fine. I’m over it at the moment. We’re done. All I want to do is move on.”

Nonetheless, his return seems fairly likely at present moment.

At this point, it is unclear which studio will be behind the newest film, the 25th in the Bond franchise. It’s director is also up in the air, although Inception director Christopher Nolan has expressed interest in giving the franchise his touch.

“A Bond movie, definitely,” the Dark Knight director told Playboy recently. “I’ve spoken to the producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. WIlson over the years. I deeply love the character, and I’m always excited to see what they do with it. Maybe one day that would work out. You’d have to be needed, you know what I mean. It has to need reinvention; it has to need you. And they’re getting along very well.”

Craig’s more recent Bond films were the most successful in franchise history. With Sean Connery‘s six Bond appearances and Roger Moore‘s seven, if Craig appears in Bond 25, he will rank third all time in Bond appearances with five.