Daniel Craig Will Return As James Bond

Showtime network boss David Nevins accidentally let slip that Daniel Craig would be returning as James Bond for the fifth time in the franchise.

DANIEL CRAIG TO RETURN AS JAMES BOND

The actor, 49, will begin working on TV drama Purity very soon, but the series was recently been put on hold. When asked why, Nevins said, “He’s doing Bond first,” before adding, “I can’t say anything about what I know or don’t know about Bond. That’s not my area. It’s possible [Purity] may not shoot until 2019.”

The drama, based on the Jonathan Franzen novel of the same name, was slated to go into production this year. Craig is expected to appear in most of the two 10-episode seasons as a German provocateur. It was unclear if Craig would return as 007 after 2015’s Spectre, as he said he would rather “slash his wrists” than play the international spy again. Bond 25, with the working title Shutterhand, is due for release in Nov. 2019.

While the uncertainty around Craig’s return continued, producer Barbara Broccoli interviewed multiple actors to take on the role. Among them, Idris Elba, Tom Hardy, and James Norton. “I think [Craig] and his team are very clever,” Elba jokes. “‘No I won’t do it. $150 million? Yes, I will do it.”

Ben Whishaw and Naomie Harris are signed on to reprise their roles of Q and Moneypenny, and Broccoli is allegedly trying to convince Adele to return with another theme song.