Even after all the controversy he dealt with following his selection as the new James Bond in "Casino Royale," don't expect to hear any complaints or I-told-you-sos from Daniel Craig. The opportunity to play the world's greatest secret agent has been one big dream come true.
"I love the fact we are doing James Bond," Craig says. "I could deny it all my life that I wasn't a huge fan. I have grown up with the franchise. Some of my favorite movies are Bond movies, and, as an actor, it's a huge challenge, but also a huge honor."
Craig also says that, while the critical success of "Royale" wasn't a surprise, he wasn't expecting almost $600 million worldwide at the box office. Now, after an extended period of celebrating, Craig is hard at work on a new 007 thriller, "Quantum of Solace." Speaking from a stunning locale in the Atacama Desert in Chile, Craig makes it clear he's happy the character's emotional arc will be developed even more this time around, but wants fans to know that those beloved action set pieces are still key to making a good Bond film.
"They keep saying it's twice the action. I just think that's producer speak," Craig says, taking a dig at his producer, Barbara Broccoli, who just happens to be sitting right next to him. "Certainly, we've upped the rate. I've been involved with it as much as I physically can. But we also have the best stuntmen in the world here who are doing the real thing."
Seemingly more buff than he was in "Royale," the somewhat embarrassed 40-year-old Brit admits he trains almost every day of the week to keep up with it all. He says, "I'd like to train here, because of the altitude. It's not easy, but apparently it's really good to do."
Surprisingly, one drawback to his newfound notoriety has been the increased attention of the paparazzi. During shooting for "Quantum" in Panama, Craig had to change hotels a number of times after the press discovered his whereabouts, and he hasn't gotten a break during the production's current stay in the remote city of Antofagasta, Chile. Just the night before, producer Michael G. Wilson says Craig and director Marc Forster were "attacked by the press and almost driven off the road."
Wilson says, "You go from a person who can relatively walk the streets with relative ease to someone who needs to have people around him. Like any of us, he doesn't like that type of notoriety."
When asked to comment, Craig quickly brushes it aside, certainly not wanting to fan the flames with the tabloids. That gives your columnist the perfect opportunity to change the subject for a moment and ask about his participation in "The Golden Compass" franchise. In the United States, the first film was a financial disaster, but overseas it was a major gold mine. That's led to speculation that the series will continue in some form, but that's news to Craig.
"I haven't heard anything. I would discuss it openly if I had," Craig says. "I did the film because I'm a huge fan of the books and they are tricky books. I don't know what happened in the states. It didn't bite and that's not my department. But it did rather well in the rest of the world, and I think New Line is something else now. I don't think they exist as a company now, so who knows what the situation is."
Obviously, Craig is more focused on his day job, but how long he'll last is already being asked. Sean Connery made seven (counting "Never Say Never Again"), George Lazenby had one shot, Roger Moore also made seven, Timothy Dalton lasted for two, and Pierce Brosnan for four. Before the entire question is even asked, Craig bursts out, "Twelve!"
"He's doing 100 more," Broccoli interjects.
"The simple answer is I'll do them until she tells me to stop," Craig says.
And don't expect that to happen anytime soon.
"Quantum of Solace" opens nationwide Nov. 7.
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