James Bond 25: Daniel Craig wants to 'KILL Bond'? Danny Boyle quit over 'RIDICULOUS' plot

Craig made no secret of his unwillingness to return to play OO7 but surely this is taking it a bit far?

After Bond 25 director Boyle sensationaly quit earlier this week, speculation has been mounting as to what actually went wrong.

The fact that Craig’s name was prominently included in the official statement was confirmation of just how much power the star wields over his final outing as the iconic British agent.

It is no surprise he wants to make a dramatic ending to his tenure in the role, but now it is being reported that he wants to kill the character off on screen.

The initial reports exposed a clash between Boyle and Craig over the director’s script for a Russian cold war-style plot and Russian villain.

Now The Sun has revealed an even more dramatic twist.

The report said: “Daniel Craig… and producer Barbara Broccoli are believed to have wanted to Bond to die in a ‘spectacular finale’, according to sources. But Oscar-winner Boyle, 61, refused to kill off the secret agent, labelling the idea ‘ridiculous.'”

What would happen next sounds even more bizarre.

The planned death leaves two equally unsatisfactory options.

The first possibility would mean starting Bond 26 with a new star in the lead role and some kind of explanation that OO7 didn’t actually die after all. This is an extremely cumbersome and leaves the spectre of Craig hanging over his successor.

The second, according to the Sun, opens up the possibilty “there could be a Doctor Who-esque regeneration with a new actor.”

Surely that is utterly ridiculous?

The franchise has thrived for seven decades with the unspoken agreement between audience and filmmaker that the existence of an ever-changing leading man is taken on board with no questions asked. Any attempt to change that dynamic would met with extreme resistance, if not ridicule, from fans.

Another option of Bond sustaining terrible injuries which change his appearance would also be unlikely and still leave any new star having to play some form of Craig’s incarnation.

All these options somehow break the fourth wall and leave Craig’s presence seeming larger thanthe franchise itself.

The report in The Sun ends on the ominous note: “There’s pandemonium among crew with people leaving the production left, right and centre.”