James Bond 25: Daniel Craig last 007 movie looks set to start Marvel-style SHARED UNIVERSE

The writer for the Hollywood Insider website tweeted: “I’ve heard the Broccolis have caught Universe Fever and would love to explore other corners of the Bond franchise… simultaneously.”

He also claimed that Daniel Craig would return, adding: “I’ve heard he’s coming back, but I guess we’ll see…” – well he was certainly right there.

Then in September last year news arrived that digital giants Apple and Amazon had entered the race to buy MGM and the Bond rights with it – a deal that to this day isn’t finalised.

From sources, The Hollywood Reporter reckoned that Apple wanted to “acquire full ownership to exploit Bond’s largely unmined TV potential.”

This would be an excellent way of testing the potential of a shared universe while also being the answer to calls for a female Bond without actually going the whole hog of gender-swapping 007 himself.

And as this is Craig’s last film in the franchise it wouldn’t be far-fetched to assume his incarnation will kick the bucket, only to hand on the baton to his female apprentice.

The character then wouldn’t be overshadowed and fill the gap for fans until Bond is rebooted again.

It’s certainly not the first time 007 producers have considered this, having almost created solo spin-offs for two former Bond girls.

The idea was first considered in 1997 following the release of Pierce Brosnan’s Tomorrow Never Dies.

His co-star Michelle Yeoh who played Wai Lin, a spy for the Chinese Secret Service, almost had her own movie.

When that didn’t work out producers tried to get her back for Brosnan’s final 007 movie, 2002’s Die Another Day, but the Malaysian star wasn’t able to reprise her role due to scheduling conflicts.

Instead, Halle Berry was cast as NSA agent Jinx who almost had her own solo movie too.

According to Variety, Bond screenwriters Neal Purvis and Robert Wade were hired to write the script and Stephen Frears was set to direct.

However MGM “pulled the plug”, apparently due to “creative differences.”

But perhaps third time’s the charm will work here after Craig bows out in Bond 25?

James Bond 25 is set for release in November 2019.