Spectre star Léa Seydoux didn't expect to return for No Time to Die. The upcoming James Bond film marks Daniel Craig's fifth and final portrayal of the character and the 25th film overall in Eon's long-running franchise. No Time to Die was released in the UK on September 30, breaking numerous pandemic box office records and garnering rave reviews in the process. The film's US debut is now just one day away on October 8.
Cary Joji Fukunaga takes over the reins from Sam Mendes, who directed the last two films, though No Time to Die will still bring back a host of familiar faces from the previous film, Spectre. M (Ralph Fiennes), Q (Ben Whishaw), and Eve Moneypenny (Naomie Harris) are all back for Craig's final adventure as Bond. Though Christoph Waltz is back as Blofeld, Rami Malek's Lyutsifer Safin will act as the film's primary antagonist. Another notable holdover from Spectre is Léa Seydoux's Dr. Madeleine Swann, who is now living with Bond after he leaves active service with MI6.
Now, a new report by USA Today reveals that Léa Seydoux "wasn't counting on returning to the franchise," even though her character was still with Bond at the end of Spectre. Seydoux was reportedly "shocked to be asked back" for a second appearance, a real rarity for James Bond's various love interests over the years. Read what Seydoux had to say about her return below:
In Spectre, the relationship was not totally incarnated. I wanted to make the relationship between Bond and Madeleine work and make it real. Sometimes the pressure could be paralyzing. Because the love story between the two is really the center of the film. The fact that's she more of a mature woman gave Madeleine more depth. It's the first time that we have had a female character in a Bond film where we have that real insight into her past. She's wounded like Bond; that's why they understand each other. That's why they connect.
Léa Seydoux also just revealed in an interview that she didn't expect Daniel Craig to return to the franchise after Spectre, citing his exhaustion with the physically and mentally demanding role. Craig's decision to return for No Time to Die certainly paved the way for characters like Madeleine to return as well, as their relationship was left mostly open-ended at the end of the last film.
In 2015, Spectre introduced Dr. Madeleine Swann as a psychiatrist and the daughter of the villain Mr. White (Jesper Christensen) who appears in 2006's Casino Royale and 2008's Quantum of Solace before returning in Spectre. After rescuing her, Madeleine proves to be pivotal in Bond's mission to defeat Blofeld. No Time to Die will now take a deep dive into Madeleine's tragic backstory during the opening scene of the film, a flashback that shows Safin murdering her mother. In the past, many of Bond's relationships were merely flings, but it seems they are going for something much deeper and more meaningful with Madeleine Swann.
Source: USA Today
