‘No Time to Die’ star Daniel Craig has revealed that Hugh Jackman helped him handle his struggles with fame when he was first cast as ‘James Bond’. ‘No Time to Die’ is the 25th film in the ‘007’ franchise, and the fifth to star Craig as the suave spy. This latest installment will follow Bond in his efforts to rescue a kidnapped scientist and take down a mysterious villain harnessing a dangerous new tech development.
Returning characters include Ralph Fiennes as M, Naomi Harris as Moneypenny, Léa Seydoux as Madeleine, Ben Whishaw as Q, Jeffrey Wright as Felix Leiter, and Christoph Waltz as Blofeld. Rami Malek, Ana de Armas, and Lashana Lynch are joining, with Malek playing the central villain. The release of ‘No Time To Die’ may be delayed again, but it is currently set to debut in theaters in October.
Craig first stepped into the role of ‘Bond’ in 2006's ‘Casino Royale’, just four years after the final Pierce Brosnan-led ‘Bond’ film, ‘Die Another Day’. Craig is now the actor who has played Bond for the longest continuous stint. Formerly, that title belonged to ‘Roger Moore’, who played the role for 13 years. Rumors have been swirling for years around Craig's replacement when he retires from the role, but producers say they are still unsure who will be the next ‘James Bond’.
In Apple TV+'s Being ‘James Bond’ documentary (via The Independent), Craig explained how his James Bond fame was a mental health challenge, describing himself as "physically and mentally under siege." Indeed, in one darker interview moment in 2015, Craig said he would rather "slash [his] wrists" than play ‘James Bond’ again.
The actor explained that, luckily, help came from an unexpected place during this difficult time. He said fellow star Hugh Jackman, who has never appeared onscreen with Craig (though they co-starred in the play Steady Rain in 2006), "helped [him] to come to terms" with the challenge of fame.
"My personal life was affected by being that famous all of a sudden. I used to lock myself in and close the curtains, I was in cloud cuckoo land. I was physically and mentally under siege... [Hugh Jackman] helped me to come to terms with it and appreciate it." —Screen Rant
