I wanted Daniel Craig, and Michael wanted Daniel Craig, so we just stuck to our guns. Fortunately, we had the right management who really stuck with us. Thanks to that, we got our choice. He’s been an extraordinary Bond, and he is very much the right Bond for the 21st century.
I think Bond the character is distinct: He’s British, he has a certain code that he lives by, he’s incorruptible… he’s a classical hero, but he’s also fallible. He has inner demons, inner conflicts, and he’s a romantic.
We just try to make the best film we can, each time, and hope that we satisfy the fans. I’m sure, with Skyfall, that we will. I think it’s a terrific film. I hope the audiences enjoy it, as much as we’ve enjoyed making it.
It’s been such a huge part of my life, it’s hard for me to separate it out. All I can say is that I had an extraordinary childhood. I was around these amazing people and went to exotic locations. The whole movie-making thing is so magical.
Every 20 minutes you’ve got to have a bump, you’ve got to have a change in course, you’ve got to unsettle the audience. It can’t be too predictable so something has to happen. I think that was something that Hitchcock did very well too. You couldn’t let an audience feel too settled in.
And they stuck to their guns and fought for Sean Connery, and they were right to fight for Sean Connery. If it wasn’t for Sean Connery, we wouldn’t all be here. I was raised to fight for what I believed in, so I wasn’t going to give up.
It’s a privilege. It’s a real honor. It’s a challenge. Michael and I always feel we stand on tall shoulders when we make these films. Audiences come to them with a lot of good will because of what’s come before.
