Daniel Craig's James Bond twist we never saw coming after Casino Royale

Daniel Craig's journey as the iconic 007 has been nothing short of a roller-coaster ride. It's astonishing to remember that right after his smashing debut in 2006's Casino Royale, he had a game-changing idea - to end James Bond's on-screen life. Recalling those early moments, Craig revealed an intimate chat with producer Barbara Broccoli, "I was driving away from the Berlin premiere of 'Casino Royale'... I realized the enormity of it, so I said to Barbara, 'How many more? Three? Four?' She said, 'Four!' I said, 'OK. Then can I kill him off?' She said, 'Yes.'"

Bond's ultimate fate: The journey to No Time to Die

While Craig's first Bond outing set the tone for a revitalized series, it's the controversial ending of his final portrayal in No Time To Die that left fans divided. The challenge was: how does one convincingly finish off an icon like Bond?

Craig's solution? He reached out to writer Phoebe Waller-Bridge for that unique touch. She conjured up the poignant scene where Bond, contaminated with deadly nanobots, made the ultimate sacrifice for his loved ones. Reflecting on that fateful moment, Craig believed, "Real tragedy is when you have absolutely no choice... he was just looking for love."

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End of an era: Craig's Bond legacy

It wasn't always smooth sailing for Craig. Post-Casino Royale, the actor's relationship with the Bond franchise was tumultuous. He once infamously remarked after filming Spectre that he'd rather slash my wrists than reprise the role. Yet, in a candid revelation, he admitted how deeply he'd miss playing the legendary spy, hinting at the love-hate relationship many actors have with iconic roles.

Looking back at the years since Casino Royale, it's evident that Daniel Craig has given the world a Bond that's both vulnerable and fierce, adding layers to a character that's been part of our cinematic landscape for decades. As we move forward, it's moments like these that remind us of the ever-evolving legacy of James Bond, forever etched in history.

(Several parts of the text in this article, including the title, were generated with the help of an AI tool.)