The latest James Bond film, No Time to Die, is soon to hit theaters, but does it have a post-credits scene to stick around for once the credits roll? Daniel Craig, who recently passed the last Roger Moore as the longest-tenured James Bond actor, will be stepping into the role of 007 one last time. After five films and 15 years of playing the world's suavest spy, Craig will finally put down the baton to be picked up by a new actor.
The final film is a swan song for the Craig era, with familiar faces returning, long-running plotlines wrapped up, and the story of Daniel Craig's James Bond movies coming to a satisfying close. It's been a long time coming since 2005, when Craig's casting caused an uproar among longtime James Bond franchise fans who felt Craig wasn't suave enough, taking particular issue with his blonde hair, shorter stature and rugged rather than refined good looks. It all turned out to be silly criticism, of course–Daniel Craig completely updated and reinvented what had become a tired character and franchise, and No Time to Die is his victory lap.
Considering that it's Craig's last movie in the role, some may wonder if there is a post-credits scene in No Time to Die. The short answer is no, there is not, which makes sense. Beyond James Bond movies not having post-credits stingers in general, this is the last movie with Craig in the role and the James Bond franchise usually takes a few years to regroup, refocus, and recast the role after each actor leaves. There's simply no upcoming movie for a post-credits scene to tease. It does, however, have the James Bond franchise's famous parting title card postscript at the very end of the credits: "James Bond will return."
Most modern moviegoing audiences associate this sort of postscript with Marvel Studios, which, along with their famed mid- and post-credit scenes, has regularly attached title cards letting audiences know certain characters will return. However, that's an old trick first utilized and made famous by the James Bond movies back in the 1960s. Up until 1985's A View to a Kill, James Bond movies ended with the postscript of "James Bond will return in..." or "James Bond will be back in..." and then the reveal of the next movie's title. No Time to Die's postscript message is merely continuing a long and beloved tradition in the James Bond franchise, despite it not naming the next movie.
It's actually fitting and best that No Time to Die doesn't have a post-credits scene. The Daniel Craig era of 007 has been a remarkable one full of highs and lows, and incredible reinvention of the character. The stable of writers and four different directors during his time have contributed much to the franchise, but Craig was the common denominator for it all and has left his stamp on the franchise. With No Time to Die being a tribute and goodbye to Craig's time as James Bond, it would be a disservice to the actor to already be looking ahead to what comes next instead of appreciating and reflecting on what has just finished.
