Daniel Craig's silence on whether or not he would return for another "James Bond" movie has baffled many, so much that even bosses at MGM are reportedly panicking as the British actor has been "off grid" for a whole year with regards the film.
It was previously rumored that Craig is ready to retire from the role, although no official confirmation from the actor and the "James Bond" team has been released so far. However, The Daily Mail reported that there has been no movement on the negotiations between MGM Studios and Craig as to the next "James Bond" movie.
A source said that MGM has reached the actor and offered him a huge sum, as well as inquired about his filming availability for 2017. There were past rumors that Sony Pictures were willing to offer as much as $150 million for Craig to reprise his role as 007. No response from Craig has been received. MGM is reportedly planning to release the 25th "James Bond" movie in October 2018.
Craig's previous statements have also fueled speculations about his return as James Bond. In an interview with TimeOut in 2015, Craig said he'd rather "break this glass and slash my wrist" instead of doing another "Bond" movie.
"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," the actor added.
However, his more recent statement took a complete u-turn as he seemed to express interest at giving the role another go. "I've got the best job in the world doing Bond," Craig told fans at the New York Festival's Beyond Bond panel, The Independent reported. "If I were to stop doing it, I would miss it terribly. I love this job. I get a massive kick out of if and if I can keep getting a kick out of it, I will."
At this point, there clearly is nothing holding back Craig from returning as bond and MGM doesn't seem to be so keen at replacing him as of yet. There are rumblings that Craig's age may be holding him back from returning as Bond, but age has never been quite an issue for the character. In 1985's "A View to a Kill," Roger Moore was 57 years old when he played the suave spy.