Daniel Craig is ready to say goodbye to the iconic James Bond role.
Daniel Craig is ready to say goodbye to the iconic James Bond role.
ET spoke exclusively with the 51-year-old actor on Thursday at late Bond author Ian Fleming's Jamaican villa -- aptly named Goldeneye, where he wrote all of his Bond novels -- as the cast of the 25th installment of the film franchise was announced. Although Craig is returning to play 007 for the fifth time, he tells ET this will most likely be his last turn as the iconic British Secret Service agent.
"This is going to be my last Bond I think," he tells ET's Kevin Frazier. "I think I've done enough, people are going to get sick of the sight of me. Someone else should have a go."
As for rumors that the next Bond could be a woman or an African American actor, Craig says that regardless, it should be "the right person for the job."
"I think that's what it should be," he says. "I think that everybody should be considered. For women and for African Americans, there should be great parts anyway, across the board. It shouldn't have to be Bond that takes ... it doesn't need to be Bond. It just needs to be written -- some good parts."
Bond 25 is being directed by True Detective season one director Cary Fukunaga. It was announced on Thursday that Oscar-winning actor Rami Malek will play the villain. The movie will also star Dali Benssalah, Billy Magnussen, Ana de Armas, David Dencik and Lashana Lynch.
It was previously announced that Léa Seydoux would reprise her role as Dr. Madeleine Swann, as would Ralph Fiennes as M, Ben Whishaw as Q and Naomie Harris as Eve Moneypenny. Jeffrey Wright is also returning as CIA operative Felix Leiter and Rory Kinnear will be back as Bond’s stalwart ally, Tanner.
As for the plot of the movie, it will follow 007 as he comes out of retirement to help a friend.
"Bond has left active service and is enjoying a tranquil life in Jamaica," reads a press release. "His peace is short-lived when his old friend, Felix Leiter, from the CIA turns up asking for help. The mission to rescue a kidnapped scientist turns out to be far more treacherous than expected, leading Bond onto the trail of a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology."
Filming on Bond 25 begins on Sunday in Jamaica, and the movie is set to hit theaters on April 8, 2020. Tune in to Entertainment Tonight on Thursday for more exclusive interviews with the Bond 25 cast, including Malek, and on Friday for ET's exclusive on the women of Bond.
Last December, Amber Heard put her name in the running to be the next Bond when ET spoke with her at the Aquaman premiere, and asked her if she had any interest in the role.
"I'd do a great Bond!” she responded emphatically. "Hell yeah… I think I could. It's about time."
Meanwhile, ET spoke to Idris Elba in January at the Golden Globe Awards, when he shut down persistent rumors that he will play the next Bond.
"I appreciate it," Elba said of the reports. "It’s a compliment, but I don’t think there’s any… it's not going to happen. Just putting it out there. It's not going to happen."
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