Looking At Every James Bond Actor's Run As 007, There's A Trap Daniel Craig's Replacement Must Avoid

The next James Bond star might finally break a tradition that’s affected all of his predecessors – leaving at the right time. When the first entry, Dr No, debuted in 1962, nobody could have foreseen that the James Bond movie franchise would still be running decades later.

In fact, when original star Sean Connery quit following his fifth outing, You Only Live Twice, it appeared the franchise was cooked. Of course, the Roger Moore Bond movie era proved new actors could take over and while the series has been declared ᴅᴇᴀᴅ many times in the past, it’s still going strong.

Following Daniel Craig’s exit and creative control of the property being handed to Amazon, there’s curiosity as to what the forthcoming James Bond 26 will even look like. Denis Villeneuve will direct, though there is no word on who will pick up the Walter PPK. It feels like a safe bet they’ll stick around for at least three films, though.

The Next James Bond Actor Must Break The Tradition Of Staying Too Long

Bond and Plenty O'Toole in Diamonds Are Forever — Bond and Plenty O’Toole in Diamonds Are Forever.

It’s generally accepted that the third Bond movie for any of its leads tends to be their best, e.g., Goldfinger or Skyfall. That’s because the star in question has had a couple of tries to get comfortable with their take on 007, and the filmmakers know how to play to their talents.

It’s also true that the quality of their run usually dips after three movies. No one is going to stand up and proclaim A View to a Kill or Die Another Day as perfect send-offs for their stars; in fact, the last outing tends to be their worst.

In most cases, Bond stars have stuck around too long, yanking the lottery chain one time too many in hopes of scoring another hit. By the end of their tenure, they’ve usually grown tired of the part too, which can play into their performances.

Amazon’s next 007 can be the first to break this trend, committing themselves to a fixed number of films before moving on. A neat ten-year commitment would give them time to properly explore the spy, while giving them the chance to walk away and build a career outside the Bond saga.

The Only Thing Worse Than Staying Too Long Is Not Getting Enough Time

Timothy Dalton as James Bond with a gun in The Living Daylights. — Timothy Dalton as James Bond with a Gun in The Living Daylights.

George Lazenby was a former car salesman with zero acting experience who, through sheer charm and creativity, managed to succeed Connery with On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. This sixth outing is considered a classic now, but critics weren’t kind at the time, and Lazenby unwisely decided to quit the role.

Lazenby is indeed the weakest actor out of 007’s performers – but he’s still shockingly good for a newbie. His charisma and naivety work perfectly, and it would have been fascinating to see him grow into the role. Lazenby should have at least stuck around for Diamonds Are Forever.

Timothy Dalton’s run as Bond was interrupted by legal issues following his second adventure, Licence to Kill. When legal proceedings had cleared up, Dalton wanted to come back for one more. GoldenEye was thus developed for him, but when producers told Dalton he must commit to at least three more, he walked.

In Dalton and Lazenby’s cases, they left too early. They both had more to give, and particularly in Dalton’s case, there’s so much wasted potential. So long as the next star sticks around for at least three installments, they can avoid this fate.

Why It’s So Hard For Actors To Leave Bond At The Right Time

Daniel Craig as James Bond smiling at someone in No Time to Die

It’s often said that if Craig had left following Skyfall, he would have quit 007 at the perfect time. While Spectre and No Time to Die both have merits, they’re also lesser films, and it’s hard to argue that Skyfall wouldn’t have been an incredible film for Craig to exit on.

Of course, there are many reasons Bond stars stick around. In the case of Roger Moore, there was a reluctance to replace a star who was a known enтιтy. On Moore’s side, his paydays became bigger each time out – even though he also felt he was getting too old for the role.

Connery was originally contracted for six, but left after five due to feeling ripped off by producers; the two movies he later returned for both involved large cheques. Craig could have exited after Skyfall, but producers convinced him to stick around with a combination of creative control and the money involved.

Sean Connery’s final time playing James Bond came with voicing the role in the 2005 video game, From Russia With Love.

Plus, Craig is the only star who got to craft a finale for his 007. Pierce Brosnan sadly never got a say in his exit, having been replaced following Die Another Day when producers decided to reboot. This also means Brosnan’s last outing was the risible Die Another Day.

Three Movies Feel Like An Ideal Length For The Next James Bond Actor’s Tenure

Jaws fights Bond in The Spy Who Loved Me

If the first three movies of any Bond performer are their best, perhaps the next in line should aim for a trilogy. They get to nail their take, work on three (hopefully) solid 007 adventures and move on. That would also be a first for the franchise, where a star decided to step off at just the right moment.

Even if the next James Bond star enters with that plan in mind, they could still be talked into sticking around longer – or dropped by Amazon if audiences don’t take to them. It would be cool to see the next actor know when the moment is right to walk, which is something that has eluded six stars thus far.