Why Daniel Craig Doesn't Believe A Woman Should Be Cast As James Bond

Daniel Craig will be leaving the iconic role of James Bond behind him after upcoming movie "No Time To Die," having been 007 since 2005. However, he's got some clear opinions on who should or shouldn't take over the role after him. Per New York Post, he thinks the role of Bond should not go to a woman, asking "Why should a woman play James Bond when there should be a part just as good as James Bond, but for a woman?"

It's something that James Bond producer Barbara Broccoli agrees with him on, herself saying to Variety back in 2020 that "James Bond can be of any color, but he is male," and that she'd prefer to write new female characters rather than make Bond himself a woman: "I believe we should be creating new characters for women — strong female characters ... I'm not particularly interested in taking a male character and having a woman play it. I think women are far more interesting than that."

Per Esquire, the list of actors tipped to become the next James Bond include Lashana Lynch and Dev Patel. In "No Time To Die," Lynch takes over as the new 007, but this doesn't make her the next James Bond as such — she remains in her role as agent Nomi. Of course, with Barbara Broccoli agreeing with Daniel Craig that James Bond shouldn't be a women, it looks as if Lynch won't be the next Bond at all.

Another potential new Bond, and one that Craig would presumably be much more content with, is Dev Patel. The British actor is 31 — the same age as the iconic Sean Connery was when he was cast as Bond — and has plenty of wide-ranging experience under his belt. Then there's the likes of "Bridgerton" star Regé-Jean Page, Cillian Murphy of "Peaky Blinders," and Tom Hardy too. Who will be there to fill Craig's shoes?