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| ▲ This photo, provided by Universal Pictures, shows actor Daniel Craig. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
SEOUL, Sept. 29 (Yonhap) -- Daniel Craig, who will be making his final outings as James Bond in "No Time to Die," which starts its world premiere in Korea on Wednesday, expressed his feelings about working in the final film of the 007 franchise.
"It's very mixed as everything, I feel very emotional but proud," Craig said in a question-and-answer video released on Wednesday. "I'm going out feeling like we did our absolute best in this movie. There is no better way to top off my tenure as James Bond."
Craig, who continued the 60-year action series as the sixth James Bond began with "Casino Royale" in 2006, which brought him international fame. Since then, the actor has starred in "Quantum of Solace" (2008), "Skyfall" (2012), and "Spectre" (2015). "No Time to Die" will be Craig's fifth and last appearance as the British secret agent.
"By the end of 'Spectre,' I think I was ready to sort of pack it in and give up. I was sort of done with it and then there's this sort of very long process where you just have to like try and figure out a story and thankfully Cary came on board and just put his magic into it. We had a couple of really good ideas, I think, which is a good place to start and you just have to keep adding and adding," Craig said.
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| ▲ This photo, provided by Universal Pictures, shows Daniel Craig as James Bond in the final chapter of the 007 franchise "No Time To Die." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
Asked to pick the most memorable installment of the 007 series, Craig said, "All of it with fondness. I would have to go back to 'Casino Royale,' but that was because I was very naive and green. But I promise you the thrill I got walking on the set in 'Casino Royale' didn't diminish at all. I still got just as big of a thrill walking onto the set of "No Time to Die."
He added that the high-intensity action sequences, which is an iconic part of the 007 series, is also attractive in that it melts into the story.
"We have some great storytelling in this. ("No Time To Die") is an emotional and very complex story we're telling but it's a Bond movie and therefore we have to have those action sequences. What I love about action sequences in this film is that they're not obvious," Craig said. "The action sequences can't stop the narrative; they must continue the narrative and (the director) Cary does it beautifully in the movie."
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| ▲ This photo, provided by Universal Pictures, shows Daniel Craig as James Bond in the final chapter of the 007 franchise "No Time To Die." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
The director of "No Time To Die," Cary Joji Fukunaga, also mentioned the significance in wrapping up Craig's journey as James Bond but also unraveling the character's story.
"The job was to complete the story and it made me look back at the first film, 'Casino Royale.' If that's sort of the starting chapter, how does the final chapter relate to that and close the arcs that are set up in that story?" Fukunaga said. "It was just an exploration of someone who has been through so many missions and has done so much killing; what does that do to you by this point of your life? What makes that heart beat still?"
Rami Malek, who appears as the Bond's worst enemy, Lyutsifer Safin, also talked about how he tried not to follow behaviors and characteristics of the previous villains.
"I felt like I would be doing a disservice to Daniel, his legacy, and to 'No Time To Die' if I just started to grab one element from every other Bond villain and making some sort of an amalgamation. For me, I just wanted to make sure it resonated with what was going to be the most offensive and disturbing and trying thing that (Bond) would have to deal with. What obstacle could I put in his way that could systematically break down this Bond."
In addition, the 007 series has gradually changed the status of female characters like Bond Girl Madeleine Swann, played by Lea Seydoux, and new agent Nomi (Lashana Lynch). Seydoux mentioned how the female characters exist to not only please Bond but have also evolved into actual characters in the movie.
"No Time To Die" topped the real-time reservation list with 75.7% in the morning.
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