The next James Bond - Daniel Craig?

Speculation is forming that Brit Daniel Craig, 37, is the new James Bond, having beat out Clive Owen.

Apparently, Pierce Brosnan was dumped after demanding US $42 million for the next Bond flick. If this salary demand was true, then one suspects Brosnan really didn’t have his heart in it and knew they would turn him down or make him even wealthier with the outrageous payday.

Word is that Eon Productions has offered Craig a three-film contract.

Craig’s best known films are Lara Craft: Tomb Raider (2001) and Road To Perdition (2002.)

If indeed he is the next Bond, he follows David Niven, Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton and Pierce Brosnan.

Word is that Owen, nominated for an Oscar in 2004's Closer, didn't really want the role. During the recent "next Bond sweepstakes", I have maintained that Owen is too good to play Bond, as he carries greater depth than any of the Bond actors, save Sean Connery.

While largely unknown outside the UK, he has received much praise for being a very solid actor and possibly the best actor of his age in the UK.

Other news stories are speculating that Pierce Brosnan is returning to play Bond in one or two more films. The tight-fisted studio paid Brosnan about 11 million pounds for the last film, Die Another Day, but it doesn't give out percentages of box-office receipts. Brosnan's take from his four Bond films (which earned US $1.49 billion) has been far less than Tom Cruise's take from the two Mission: Impossible films. Apparently, the studios are reluctant to risk the francise on an unknown but are interested in grooming a younger actor to take over the role.

Every Word is True (2006) .... Richard Hickock
Vengeance (2005)
The Jacket (2005) .... MacKenzie
Fateless (2005) .... US Army Sergeant
Enduring Love (2004) .... Joe Rose
Layer Cake (2004) .... XXXX
*Sylvia (2003) .... Ted Hughes
*The Mother (2003) .... Darren
Ten Minutes Older: The Cello (2002) .... Cecil
*Road to Perdition (2002) .... Connor Rooney
*Tomb Raider (2001) .... Alex West
*Hotel Splendide (2000) .... Ronald
*Some Voices (2000) .... Ray
*I Dreamed of Africa (2000) .... Declan Fielding
*The Trench (1999) .... Sergeant Telford Winter
*Elizabeth (1998) .... John Ballard
*Love and Rage (1998) .... James Lynchehaun
*Love Is the Devil (1998) .... George Dyer
*Obsession (1997) .... John MacHale
*Saint-Ex (1997) .... Guillaumet
*A Kid in King Arthur's Court (1995) .... Master Kane
Genghis Cohn (1993) .... Lieutenant Guth
*The Power of One (1992) .... Sergeant Botha
* available on home video/DVD
http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/04/10/011627.php