The quandary doesn’t revolve around the prospect of a new James Bond; rather, it squarely rests upon the timing of this transition. Daniel Craig’s rendition of the character has essentially reached its conclusion, but does that dictate the finality of appearances by all actors who shared the screen with him? Ben Whishaw, noted for portraying Q in three of Daniel Craig’s Bond ventures, isn’t harboring any expectations of reprisal, and his level of enthusiasm appears to be rather subdued.
Daniel Craig’s portrayal of James Bond diverged from its predecessors by virtue of its distinct commencement and even more pronounced culmination. Nonetheless, this distinctive trajectory doesn’t preclude the likelihood of characters such as Q or M continuing to be brought to life by the very actors who essayed those roles in preceding Bond installments.
Ben Whishaw Is Unsure About His Casting Future Films
According to Ben Whishaw’s statements to Radio Times, he remains unbound by contractual obligations for forthcoming James Bond productions. In fact, he expresses a yearning to witness the franchise rejuvenate itself, hinting at a marked readiness, if not an actual aspiration, to hand over the reins. In his own words, Ben Whishaw said,
“I was only contracted to do three films, and they’re done. How many films have they made – 25 or something? I think they have to keep renewing it if they want to keep going!”
Undoubtedly, a tradition exists within the franchise wherein actors who assumed secondary roles persisted even as the mantle of the lead actor shifted. A prime illustration is Desmond Llewelyn, who commenced his portrayal of Q in the second James Bond film, From Russia With Love, and sustained this character portrayal until the penultimate entry of Pierce Brosnan’s tenure, The World is Not Enough.
Supporting Actors Have Continued Despite New Bond Casting
When you embark on a sequential viewing of the James Bond films, Desmond Llewelyn’s presence becomes more prominent than that of any other character. Naturally, a contention can be formulated suggesting that this prevalence stems from the fact that, despite the passage of decades, the James Bond persona portrayed by both Sean Connery and Pierce Brosnan is intended to embody the same individual.
However, even within the context of a resolute reimagining of the franchise, we’ve witnessed the persistence of certain characters. Take, for instance, Judi Dench, who assumed the role of M in Pierce Brosnan’s final foray within the series, then resumed this portrayal in Casino Royale alongside Daniel Craig, persisting beyond the character’s demise with a cameo appearance in Spectre.
Dench’s presence remained unwavering, even though it was unmistakable that the two actors were embodying distinct iterations of James Bond. The film chose to sidestep this incongruity, and everyone simply carried on without dwelling on it.
Source: Cinemablend
