Summary
Daniel Craig’s era ofJames Bondmovies took on a much darker toner than the franchise had previously adopted, and there could be an explanation in a parody of the legendary film series as to why this happened.Every actor to play James Bondbrought something new and refreshing to the role, and each man’s era as 007 took on a slightly different vibe. However,Craig’s time leading the franchise led to a drastically different approachthat suited the movies well, but the change may not have just come out of thin air.
All theJames Bondmovieshave been so popular through the decades that several spoofs have inevitably popped up. Some have taken the source material and completely gone their own way with it. On the other hand, otherJames Bondparodies have been much more subtle when reworking the original movies for comedic purposes. Interestingly,there is one spoof franchise that shares key figures of theJames Bondcreative team, and it could account for Daniel Craig’s era becoming so dark when compared to the previous 007 movies.
One Daniel Craig James Bond Movie Title Had A Deeper Meaning (& Broke A 19-Year Trend)
The James Bond movies all have unique titles, but the name of one of Daniel Craig’s Bond films was a little more familiar than most of the others.
Neal Purvis & Robert Wade’s Johnny English Was A Lighter James Bond
Rowan Atkinson played the title character in the 2003 spoof
Among the most successfulJames Bondparodies is 2003’sJohnny English, with British comedy legend Rowan Atkinson in the title role. The movie was co-written by Neil Purvis and Robert Wade, who went on to contribute to everyBondmovie script in the Daniel Craig era.Johnny Englishwent on to become a trilogy, with a fourth movie announced in February 2024.The difference in tone betweenJohnny Englishand Craig’sBondmovies could not be more disparate, with the former being riddled with lighthearted hijinks and the latter being incredibly gritty. However, the shared writers could weirdly explain that.
By the time Purvis and Wade came to pen the script for 2006’sCasino Royale, the writers may have scratched their itch for comedic spy antics.
By the time Purvis and Wade came to pen the script for 2006’sCasino Royale, the writers may have scratched their itch for comedic spy antics. Instead, they decided to mark the change in the era of theJames Bondfranchise by making it much darker than bothJohnny Englishand past 007 movies. So, in a roundabout way,Johnny Englishbecame a sort of warm-up forCasino Royaleand beyond. If the writing duo hadn’t been able to flex their comedy muscles before Craig’s casting, theBondfranchise may have continued along the same track it had for decades.
Johnny English (& Brosnan’s Era) Proves Purvis & Wade Can Write Lighter Bond Movies
The Daniel Craig era writing duo also worked on 2 Brosnan Bond movies
Daniel Craig’s era may have been staunchly dark throughout the actor’s run, but the fact Purvis and Wade had writtenJohnny Englishimmediately beforeCasino Royalegoes to show they aren’t one-trick ponies. They’re very capable of writing less intense spy movies, and they do it well. That being said,Johnny Englishisn’t the only spy movie by Purvis and Writers to pre-dateCasino Royaleand its dark tone.
The writing duo was also behind the scenes during Pierce Brosnan’s time as James Bond, penning the last two of the actor’s four movies in the title role.
The writing duo was also behind the scenes duringPierce Brosnan’s time as James Bond, penning the last two of the actor’s four movies in the title role. Brosnon’sBondmovies may not have hit the same lightheartedness asJohnny Englisheventually did, but they are certainly nowhere near as serious as Daniel Craig’s five installments. With only one year separating 2002’sDie Another DayandJohnny English, it’s clear to see thatPurvis and Wade wanted one last dalliance with sillinessbefore bringing something new to their signature style for the foreseeable future.
Daniel Craig’s Darker Era Was The Right Choice For The James Bond Franchise
The Bond reboot was perfectly timed to update the 007 movies
AlthoughCasino Royalemarked the start of a new kind ofJames Bondmovie, it was about time the film series received a much-needed reboot. Not only was it EON’s way of reclaiming the movie’s title from a 1967 spoof movie, but the decision to go darker perfectly suited the modern age of cinema. If theJames Bondmovies had continued in line with the same old formula, then it’s possible the franchise could have fallen into obscurity.
Sean Connery Started James Bond’s Canon Confusion 53 Years Ago (Then Did It Again 12 Years Later)
Sean Connery may have been the first James Bond, but he’s also arguably responsible for the confusion surrounding the character’s timeline.
Craig has since proven he’s capable of embodying more lighthearted characters, as evidenced in his work asBenoit Blanc in theKnives Outmovies, but his portrayal of an even more serious Bond than the versions that came before him is what helped solidify his era’s success. It’s currently unclear what the future of theJames Bondfranchise will look like withoutDaniel Craig, but Purvis and Wade have established themselves as capable of various kinds of writing if they return to pen further scripts.
James Bond
The James Bond franchise follows the adventures of British secret agent 007 as he combats global threats. With a license to kill, Bond faces off against various villains and criminal organizations, employing high-tech gadgets, espionage, and charm. The series spans multiple films, featuring exotic locations, thrilling action sequences, and memorable characters. Bond’s mission to protect the world and uphold justice remains central, making the franchise an enduring icon in the spy genre.
