James Bond fans burst with excitement for Daniel Craig's last 007 film

No Time to Delay! Fans burst with excitement as Daniel Craig’s last James Bond film FINALLY hits the big screen after 18 months of delays and three postponements due to Covid and bad luck

Latest James Bond film was originally due to premiere in April 2020 but had to be delayed three times
Fans are now elated Daniel Craig’s final time as 007 will be released in cinemas on September 30
Tonight the new Bond outing enjoyed a star-studded world premiere at the Royal Albert Hall in London

James Bond fans burst with excitement tonight as Daniel Craig’s final film as 007 finally hit the big screen following 18 months of delays and three postponements because of coronavirus and bad luck.

The latest Bond film was originally due to premiere in April 2020 but had to be delayed because Craig’s ankle ‘exploded’ during the early days of filming when he slipped while running along a wet dock in Jamaica.

He took three months to recover following surgery in 2019 and then the pandemic delayed the film’s release day further in March 2020. But tonight the new Bond outing enjoyed a star-studded world premiere at the Royal Albert Hall in London, attended by the cast and guests including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Craig donned a dark pink suede dinner jacket as he led the star-studded arrivals for the world premiere. The actor, 53, oozed sophistication alongside glamorous co-stars Lashana Lynch, Lea Seydoux and Ana de Armas at the swanky event.

And fans are elated the film will finally hit cinemas on Thursday with thousands taking to Twitter to share their excitement. One wrote: ‘I’m watching no time to die on 30th September so excited and sad at the same time that it’s Daniel Craig’s last appearance as James Bond. I think I’ll cry by the end of this one.’

No Time To Die, with Craig, 53, as James Bond for the last time, is set to be the biggest opening for the cinema giant Odeon since The Lion King in summer 2019. The chain has sold more than 175,000 tickets in the two weeks since they went on sale – 40 per cent of them to moviegoers visiting cinemas for the first time since they reopened in May.

Daniel Craig (pictured) donned a dark pink suede dinner jacket as he led the star-studded arrivals for the world premiere. The actor, 53, oozed sophistication ahead of his final outing as James Bond alongside glamorous co-stars Lashana Lynch, Lea Seydoux and Ana de Armas at the swanky event

Fans are elated the film will finally hit cinemas on Thursday after three delays because of bad luck and coronavirus

At tonight’s premiere Lashana looked effortlessly glamorous in an elaborate yellow gown, Lea dazzled in a shimmering silver number, while Ana put on a leggy display in black as they joined leading man Craig on the red carpet.

It was originally scheduled for release in April last year but was pushed back to November 12 and then to this month because of the pandemic.

No Time To Die is the longest Bond film to date, running to two hours and 43 minutes. It is 15 minutes longer than the previous record-holder, Spectre, at 148 minutes.

The film, co-written by Fleabag star Phoebe Waller-Bridge, will see the return of Naomie Harris as Miss Moneypenny and Ralph Fiennes as M.

Meanwhile, Craig has addressed the outdated Bond plotlines of past films in the franchise – such as the idea of glamorous disposable so-called Bond girls.

Speaking to Lorraine Kelly, he said of the spy series – which sees latest movie No Time To Die released this week – that ‘you’ve got to adapt’ with the times.

‘Certainly a lot of what went on in the earlier movies is sort of questionable now… different times, but we didn’t want to lose the essence [in the new film]. It’s still a Bond movie.

‘I’ve been given free range to put my influence on it, but I’ve never forgotten that. We can have all key elements and things people have loved over the years, but you adapt.

‘One of my biggest things is all the characters, especially the women, have to be brilliant and believable.’

No Time To Die, with Daniel Craig, 53, (pictured) as Bond for the last time, is set to be the biggest opening for the cinema giant Odeon since The Lion King in summer 2019

Craig’s co-star Lea believes, however, that a female version of James Bond is a terrible idea.

The 36-year-old actress has reprised the role of Dr Madeleine Swann for No Time To Die, and explained to Sky News: ‘James Bond is James Bond. I don’t think James Bond should be played by a woman.

‘It’s important for young girls… to have a good example of strong women – maybe they could do a female spy, but it would be another film.’

Craig also told Lorraine about becoming overcome with emotion when he shot his final scene as Bond.

‘Everybody turned up – all the heads of department came down, and I thought ‘Oh God, I have to make a speech, this is my worst nightmare.’ It all just came out, I tried to keep it together.

‘All of those people I go to work with every day, particularly on this movie, the collective effort was so huge and meant so much to me that everyone put that hard work in – that’s what I’ll miss so much.’

Craig has addressed the outdated James Bond plotlines of past films in the franchise – such as the idea of glamorous disposable so-called Bond girls

Craig’s co-star Lea Seydoux (pictured) believes a female version of Bond is a terrible idea

Speaking to Lorraine Kelly, Craig said of the spy series – which sees latest movie No Time To Die released this week – that ‘you’ve got to adapt’ with the times

On being hands on with the film, Craig said: ‘I have a very big mouth. I was incredibly fortunate. I said to the directors, ‘If you let me get involved with everything – because I probably am a bit of a control freak when it boils down to it – it means that I can be confident enough to come on set and play that role.

‘I was unsure of where that was going to come from… they gave me a creative role and I’ll be forever grateful for that.’

After the film’s release was delayed three times last year due to Covid, Craig told Lorraine he’s glad it’s finally in the cinemas on Thursday, saying: ‘It’s been such a weird time and everything’s been put into perspective, but I’m so excited and proud of this film.

‘We wanted it to be in the cinemas and thank goodness we’ve got there because it looked like it wasn’t going to happen for a while.’

His advice to the next person who plays Bond is: ‘Just enjoy it. My coming in was complicated, just stick your head down, do your work and do the best you can.

‘That’s what I said to myself. Fingers crossed it’ll work out for the next person… it’ll only go up.’

Over the years the Bond films have become renowned for several iconic features, including the many anthemic theme tunes that have accompanied the release of each film.

American singer songwriter Billie Eilish has written and performed the title song for No Time To Die, but when asked about their favourite Bond songs Craig chose the Propellerheads remix of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, whilst Rami Malek – who is the latest Bond villain – opted for Shirley Bassey’s iconic Goldfinger, as they chatted to Magic Radio Breakfast.

Craig said: ‘Certainly a lot of what went on in the earlier movies is sort of questionable now… different times, but we didn’t want to lose the essence [in the new film]. It’s still a Bond movie’

Craig has insisted he’s ready to let someone else take over the role of Bond after No Time To Die – but that he’s ‘really really happy’ he made one more film as 007

Rami also said: ‘I’ve fallen in love with London. I shot Bohemian Rhapsody here and now having shot No Time To Die, where most of my scenes took place here and being iconic Pinewood and 007 stage and those phenomenal sets, its unparalleled as far as I am concerned.

‘So, to be living in London and shooting here at the same time is something that is a pretty indelible experience for me.’

When asked if they might work together again, Craig said he hopes so, while Malek added: ‘I’d love that. Agent’s get on it!’

Craig also inisted this weekend that he’s ready to let someone else take over the role of James Bond after No Time To Die – but that he’s ‘really really happy’ he made one more film as 007.

Speaking to The Mirror, he also elaborated on how physically challenging the part is.

Craig said: ‘It’s time for someone else to have a go! I’ve hurt myself on every single Bond movie,’ he said. ‘I’m really, really happy I did this movie – that I did one more’

‘Bond producer Barbara Broccoli (pictured) has said she believes 007 will always be a male character

‘It’s time for someone else to have a go! I’ve hurt myself on every single Bond movie,’ he told the publication. ‘I’m really, really happy I did this movie – that I did one more.

‘It’s been, as they always are, incredibly hard work. But it’s a massive collaboration and one of the most moving things for me about finishing this film is some of the people that I have worked with on five Bond films.

‘And for me that’s what it was all about – it was those people and saying goodbye to them.’

No Time To Die was delayed by Craig’s latest stunt-related injuries – and then further pushed back amid the pandemic.

Shooting early scenes for the film in Jamaica, Craig’s ankle ‘exploded’ when he slipped running along a wet dock.

He had to have surgery and recover for nearly three months.

Other injuries during his Bond tenure have included losing two teeth filming Casino Royale, needing knee surgery during Spectre, and losing the tip of his finger and dislocating his shoulder on Quantum Of Solace.

While the debate of who will play Bond next rumbles on, producer Barbara Broccoli has said she believes 007 will always be a male character.

The head of Eon Productions, who signs off on every key hiring and firing in the franchise, said she will be discussing who will take over the role from Craig next year – and that it will be a man [pictured in 2006’s Casino Royale]

The head of Eon Productions, who signs off on every key hiring and firing in the franchise, said she will be discussing who will take over the role from Craig next year – and that it will be a man.

She told the PA news agency: ‘James Bond is a male character. I hope that there will be many, many films made with women, for women, by women, about women.

‘I don’t think we have to take a male character and have a woman portray him. So yes, I see him as male.’

She also admitted she hasn’t faced the fact that current Craig is stepping down.

‘I’m sort of in denial, I would love for Daniel to continue forever,’ she went on. ‘So I’m not thinking about [his replacement]. That’s something Michael [G Wilson, her half-brother and fellow producer] and I will discuss next year.’

Asked if conversations about Craig’s successor are imminent, she replied: ‘No. We want to celebrate the fantastic tenure of Daniel Craig, who’s given everything to this character into this franchise for 15 years and it is really time to celebrate him.’

A family affair: ‘I’m sort of in denial, I would love for Daniel to continue forever,’ she said. ‘So I’m not thinking about [his replacement]. That’s something Michael [G Wilson, her half-brother and fellow producer] and I will discuss next year’ [the three are pictured in Jamaica in 2019]

No Time To Die director Cary Joji Fukunaga, the first American to direct a Bond film, said whoever replaces Craig will have a tough act to follow.

Asked if he would like to see more diversity in the character, he said: ‘That’s a tough one. I don’t actually have a strong opinion either way on that. I think it’s going to be hard for anyone to follow in Craig’s footsteps because, for me, as much as I liked Pierce Brosnan, I was in my early 20s, and kind of checking out of the films a bit.

‘When Daniel came in, it was such a different version of the character that I hadn’t seen before, it made me lean back in as an adult. Whoever plays it just needs to have that charisma, needs to have those layers.

‘So, I think the most important thing is that that there’s attrition to the character, obviously, in terms of who they are and what they’re made up of, but I don’t really have an opinion beyond that.’

Craig, 53, told Radio Times last week that he also believes Bond should remain male.

The actor said: ‘There should simply be better parts for women and actors of colour.

‘Why should a woman play James Bond when there should be a part just as good as James Bond, but for a woman?’

Multiple actresses have supported Craig’s statement that Bond should be played by a male actor, including Die Another Day star Halle Berry, who said on Entertainment Tonight in 2017: ‘That series is steeped in history… you know, Ian Fleming’s stories. I don’t think you can change Bond to a woman’

He said the addition of Fleabag creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge to the writing team was to ‘spice it up’ but she was a Bond fan so ‘she wasn’t about to take him in a different direction’.

The film has attracted the strongest level of demand from an older audience for more than 18 months, with more than a third of tickets bought by those over 46.

Odeon said attendance at its cinemas this month was set to be 10 per cent higher than in September 2019, boosted by demand for the 25th Bond film.

Cineworld also reported that No Time To Die is now its highest pre-selling film since Avengers: End Game in April 2019.

The chain has sold more than 175,000 tickets in two weeks since they went on sale – 40 per cent of them to moviegoers visiting cinemas for the first time since they reopened in May

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