Anthony Horowitz, an author familiar with the long-running James Bond franchise, has expressed strong criticism of the way Daniel Craig’s tenure as the iconic MI6 agent ended in the 2021 film No Time to Die. Horowitz argues that killing off Bond was a serious error, especially as the franchise prepares to move forward with new stories and a fresh lead following Amazon MGM Studios’ recent acquisition of the series.
Controversy Over James Bond’s Definite Death
The final installment featuring Daniel Craig was always expected to conclude his portrayal of the legendary spy, but the decision to kill off James Bond set a historic precedent. For the first time in cinema history, the character of Bond was not just retired but permanently eliminated on screen. Fans had hoped for a last-minute escape or twist that would preserve Bond’s invincibility, but director Cary Fukunaga insisted on a definitive and tragic end. Horowitz voiced his disagreement with that choice, telling Radio Times:
“The last time we saw Bond (in 2021’s No Time to Die) he was poisoned and blown to smithereens – how will they get past the fact he is dead with a capital D? I think that was a mistake, because Bond is a legend. He belongs to everybody, he is eternal – except in that film. If I was asked tomorrow to write the script, I wouldn’t be able to do it. Where would you start? You can’t have him waking up in the shower and saying it was all a dream.” – Anthony Horowitz, Author
Challenges Posed by Killing Off a Fictional Icon
Typically, the death of a fictional character signals the definitive end for that persona, with rare exceptions involving complex retcons or plot devices that negate the death. However, James Bond’s legacy differs due to its nature as a franchise with a revolving actor tradition. Each new performer essentially rebooted the character, making death a flexible concept rather than an absolute.
Daniel Craig’s introduction through Casino Royale marked a significant reinvention of Bond, moving away from the more tongue-in-cheek style of the Pierce Brosnan era toward a grittier, more grounded action hero. His version reinvigorated the series with a fresh narrative tone, while retaining some continuity through long-standing MI6 figures like Dame Judi Dench’s M. This blend of reboot and continuity blurred the lines, allowing for new interpretations and story arcs within the same universe.
Craig’s films also revived classic characters such as Blofeld, portrayed by Christoph Waltz, who had been an arch-enemy since Sean Connery’s Bond films. This return emphasized the flexibility within the franchise’s storytelling — rules were fluid, and new iterations could redefine characters and plots freely.
The Future Beyond Daniel Craig’s Bond
Despite the on-screen death of Daniel Craig’s James Bond, the franchise’s future remains assured, with fresh projects and a new actor poised to take over the mantle. The killing of Bond in No Time to Die serves primarily to close the chapter on Craig’s era and the first 60 years of the franchise’s cinematic history, rather than to restrict subsequent films.
As the rights transferred to Amazon MGM Studios, a new direction for the spy series is expected, featuring different storytelling approaches and interpretations of 007. This transition underscores the inevitability of evolution within the series, even if it creates uncertainty about how future films will address or acknowledge the preceding chapters.
Key Cast of No Time to Die
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Daniel Craig as James Bond
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Lea Seydoux as Madeleine
