No Time to Die co-writer/director Cary Joji Fukunaga reveals his favorite James Bond movies ahead of the release of the latest installment. The new film picks up five years after the events of Spectre in which Bond has stepped away from active service with Dr. Madeleine Swann, though finds himself drawn back into action as CIA agent and friend Felix Leiter requests his help in the search for a missing scientist. The search will put Bond on the trail to a villain with plans of massive destruction that could lead to the deaths of millions.

Daniel Craig returns for one final outing as Bond in No Time to Die alongside Christoph Waltz reprising his role of Ernst Stavro Blofeld, Léa Seydoux as Madeleine, Jeffrey Wright as Felix, Ralph Fiennes as M, Naomie Harris as Eve Moneypenny, Ben Whishaw as Quartermaster "Q" and Rory Kinnear as Bill Tanner. The film will also introduce Rami Malek as the villainous Lyutsifer Safin, Lashanna Lynch as new 00 agent Nomi and Ana de Armas as Cuban CIA agent Paloma. Following multiple shifts in its release cycle due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, No Time to Die is currently gearing up for its release in October.

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With just a few weeks remaining for the film's release, Fukunaga caught up with The Hollywood Reporter to discuss No Time to Die. In reflecting on bringing his own vision to the film, the director was asked which were his favorite James Bond films. Fukunaga cited 2006's Casino Royale and 1969's On Her Majesty's Secret Service as his favorite installments in the long-running action franchise.

Fifteen years since its release and it's understandable why Fukunaga would cite Casino Royale as one of his favorite installments in the James Bond franchise. Taking the reboot approach for the first time in the series, Craig's debut outing brought a more grounded and emotional approach to the Bond formula than previously seen and critics and audiences have continued to hail it as one of the best Bond films to date. Fukunaga's decision of On Her Majesty's Secret Service as his other favorite film in the series is likely to turn some heads, however.

Though reception has changed for the better for the George Lazenby-led film in the 50 years since its release, it still doesn't sit high on many fans' rankings, namely for the performance of Lazenby in his sole Bond film. However given the more emotional nature of its story and development of Bond, it does offer plenty of better elements than some of its successors and makes for a good inspiration for Fukunaga to pull from for No Time to Die. The wait for Craig's final outing is almost over as the film arrives in theaters on October 8.

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Source: THR

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