The James Bond depicter shuts down a reporter who asks if the 'Fleabag' creator was brought on board 'No Time to Die' to make the movie look more representative.
- Nov 5, 2019
AceShowbiz - Daniel Craig has defended Phoebe Waller-Bridge after a reporter questioned the motive behind her hiring as one of the writers for "No Time to Die". The British actor dropped F-bomb after The Sunday Times reporter Jonathan Dean asked if the "Killing Eve" creator and showrunner was brought on board the upcoming James Bond movie to make the franchise more inclusive.
Noting that in the entire history of the "Bond" franchise only one woman had received a writing credit before Waller-Bridge, Dean wrote, "A cynic might suggest the new recruit has been chosen to help the film look more representative." He apparently asked a question with a similar effect to the actor and he's not having it.
"Look, we're having a conversation about Phoebe's gender here, which is f**king ridiculous," Craig responded, giving a mouthful. "She's a great writer. Why shouldn't we get Phoebe onto 'Bond'? That's the answer to that."
"I know where you're going, but I don't actually want to have that conversation," the 51-year-old shut down the reporter. Further defending the Emmy-winning writer, he continued, "I know what you're trying to do, but it's wrong. It's absolutely wrong. She's a f**king great writer. One of the best English writers around. I said, 'Can we get her on the film?' That's where I came from."
"She's just brilliant," Craig added. "I had my eye on her ever since the first 'Fleabag', and then I saw 'Killing Eve' and what she did with that and just wanted her voice. It is so unique - we are very privileged to have her on board."
Waller-Bridge previously debunked the speculation that her hiring would turn Bond into a feminist. "There's been a lot of talk about whether or not [the 'Bond' franchise] is relevant now because of who he is and the way he treats women. I think that's bollocks," she told Deadline in May. "I think he's absolutely relevant now. It has just got to grow. It has just got to evolve, and the important thing is that the film treats the women properly. He doesn't have to. He needs to be true to this character."
"No Time to Die", in which Craig reprises his role as the 007 agent, wrapped up filming on October 25. Directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, it also stars Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Rami Malek, Lea Seydoux, Ben Whishaw and Jeffrey Wright among others. The movie is due out April 8, 2020 in the United States.
