Earlier this year, multiple Emmy award-winnerPhoebe Waller-Bridgewas brought in to do a script polish on the upcoming James Bond filmNo Time to Die. During an interview this weekend withThe Sunday Times, Bond actorDaniel Craigbristled at the suggestion that Waller-Bridge’s hiring had anything to do with her gender.
“Look, we’re having a conversation about Phoebe’s gender here, which is fucking ridiculous,” Craig said. “She’s a great writer. Why shouldn’t we get Phoebe onto Bond?”
The question seemed designed to drum up more controversy around the film, which had received some criticism when producerBarbara Broccoliindicated that the film would address Bond’s misogynistic characteristics in light of the Me Too movement, and from the announcement that British actressLashana Lynchwould be playing Agent 007. (The fans upset with Lynch’s casting announcement seemed to be either willfully or deliberately ignoring the fact that the already-revealed details of the film’s plot have Bond leaving MI6 and vacating his secret agent status, with Lynch’s character coming in as his replacement.) Craig appeared to feel the same way about the line of questioning. “I know where you’re going, but I don’t actually want to have that conversation,” he said. “I know what you’re trying to do, but it’s wrong. It’s absolutely wrong. She’s a fucking great writer. One of the best English writers around. I said, ‘Can we get her on the film?’ That’s where I came from.”
“She’s just brilliant,” Craig added. “I had my eye on her ever since the firstFleabag, and then I sawKilling Eveand what she did with that and just wanted her voice. It is so unique — we are very privileged to have her on board.”
No Time To Die will be Craig’s fifth (and reportedly final) outing as the famous secret agent. The production has experienced some turmoil, with original directorDanny Boyleleaving the project over unspecified “creative differences,” Craig injuring himself during a stunt, and another crew member sustaining injuries during an explosion at Pinewood Studios. The film, directed byTrue Detective’sCary Joji Fukunagafrom a script by Fukunaga, Waller-Bridge, andScott Z. Burns, is slated for an April 2020 release.
