Mark Strong has hinted that Daniel Craig is done with the role of James Bond.
Mark Strong
Strong is on the promotional trail for his latest film Grimsby, which sees him star alongside Sacha Baron Cohen. And while we have seen the actor take on many villainous roles over the years, he admits that he would have likes to play a Bond villain alongside Craig.
However, the actor hinted that that opportunity has now passed him by.
Speaking to ShortList, the actor said: "Do you know what, I'd have loved to have played the villain in a Bond movie while Daniel was doing it because he's a pal and that would have been great. But I think he's come to the end of his Bond time and so it's probably never going to happen, but that would have always been great.
"Having played so many villains, it would have been wonderful to have done the villain of villains, if you like. Because a Bond villain has a status all of his own."
Strong worked with Craig on television series Our Friends in the North and while he would try and talk his friend into staying, he does think the time has come.
He continued: "Well, I will try, believe me, I will do my best. But there are powers at work greater than us who make all these decisions. He has been [wonderful] and he's loved it. But I think he feels like he's mined it. He's done what he wants with it. That point has come."
As for Strong, Grimsby is the first time that we have seen him on the big screen since the success of Kingsman: The Secret Service last year. Work on a sequel to Kingsman is set to get under way later this year but it is not clear if Strong will be involved.
The actor has also completed work on 6 Days, Ad Inexplorata, Jadotville and is currently filming Miss Sloane. The movie sees Strong team up with filmmaker John Madden and Jessica Chastain, Jake Lacy, and Gugu Mbatha-Raw are all also on board.
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