'They desperately want him to return': Naomie Harris OBE reveals there's a 'very good chance' co-star Daniel Craig COULD be back as James Bond

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They starred in both Spectre and Skyfall together - and Naomie Harris has revealed that Daniel Craig could return for another Bond movie. 

Giving an interview after receiving her OBE on Thursday, the 40-year-old actress told Just Jared: 'I think there’s a very good chance that Daniel will come back. 

'I think it’s way too early to be thinking about other people at this stage. 

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'They desperately want him to return': On Thursday, Spectre and Skyfall star Naomie Harris revealed there's a 'very good chance' co-star Daniel Craig COULD be return as James Bond

Giving an interview after receiving her OBE on Thursday, the 40-year-old actress told Just Jared : 'I think there’s a very good chance that Daniel will come back - a 2012 still from Skyfall 

She continued: 'I think the fact that the last two Bonds – Spectre and Skyfall – have been the highest-grossing Bond movies of all time shows that people love him as Bond, and they desperately want him to return. 

'And I don’t think Daniel is immune to that… I think he’s very aware, so I think that adds an extra level of pressure. But he has to ultimately do what feels right to him.

'But I know that we, as a cast, collectively want him back. 'I know that Barbara and Michael – our producers – desperately want him back, so I think the only person that needs persuading is Daniel.'  

An honour: Naomie's words came from an interview given after she received her OBE from the Queen at Buckingham Palace in London on Thursday

It was previously reported that Daniel left MGM bosses 'panicking' after keeping mum on his decision to star in Bond 25.

The British actor, 48, has been 'off grid' for a year, while film bosses are desperate to sign him up as the famous secret agent.

Execs have now started planning for the next instalment of the successful movie franchise, which is set for release in 2018, without hearing if the British actor will take part. 

She continued: 'I think the fact that the last two Bonds – Spectre and Skyfall – have been the highest-grossing Bond movies of all time shows that people love him as Bond, and they desperately want him to return - a still from Skyfall 

Speaking about the sticky situation, a source told the Daily Mirror: 'Daniel and MGM are currently at a stalemate with him having not spoken to them about Bond.

'They have offered a bigger wage deal, and asked about his filming availability to his reps in 2017, but as yet they have not spoken to Daniel'. 

Continuing on about the flick's timeline, the source revealed: 'They want Bond 25 out in October 2018, but currently they have no Bond, film dates or knowledge of when that will change.'

Will he, won't he? It was previously reported that Daniel left MGM bosses 'panicking' after keeping mum on his decision to star in Bond 25

Awkward: Reports initially surfaced that Daniel would be quitting the franchise after he stated that he'd 'rather slash his wrists' than do another Bond film

But despite 'so much hanging in the air', Daniel hinted strongly back in October that he may not want to turn his back on 007. 

Speaking at the New Yorker Festival, he told the audience: 'I got the best job in the world doing Bond. The things I get to do on a Bond movie and the type of work it is, there's no other job like it.

'If I were to stop doing it – just say – I'd miss it terribly. It's one of the most thrilling things as an actor you can do.

'I love this job. I get a massive kick out of it. And, if I can keep getting a kick out of it, I will.'

Reports initially surfaced that Daniel would be quitting the franchise after he stated that he'd 'rather slash his wrists' than do another Bond film. 

However, the comments were made at the end of a gruelling press tour. 

Proud: The star was honoured for her services to drama

Naomie was made OBE in London on Thursday, just days before she's due in Hollywood as an Oscars nominee.

The 40-year-old, best known for her role as Moneypenny in 007, was honoured by the Queen at Buckingham Palace for her services to drama.

Naomie is nominated for an Academy Award for her role in Moonlight this Sunday, but clearly still had Bond on her mind at the ceremony, saying she'd put money on the return of Daniel Craig as James Bond. 

'I'm not going to forget this week,' she told Associated Press, collecting the honour in an elegant Mary Katrantzou dress, ahead of her turn on the red carpet at the Dolby Theatre on Sunday.

She is nominated in the Supporting Actress category for her role in Moonlight as Paula, the drug-addicted mother of a young black gay man growing up in Miami.

'I don't think I have a chance of winning at all,' she said, adding that it feels 'incredible' to be nominated.

Naomie is up against Viola Davies for Fences, Nicole Kidman for Lion, Octavia Spencer in Hidden Figures and Michelle Williams in Manchester by the Sea.

Filled with excitement, Naomie said the experience of collecting her award from the Queen was 'lovely', and said the monarch asked her what she was working on at the moment.  

Naomie famously played Moneypenny in Skyfall (2012) and Spectre (2015), saying that she's expecting to go back to work with Daniel Craig on the next film

'I really don't think that they've moved on from Daniel,' she said, despite his cynicism about the role and the speculation surrounding a replacement.

Smart: She wore a smart coat over a pretty dress, and teamed it all with kitten heel shoes

Exciting week: Naomie is due in Hollywood later this week for the Academy Awards

'I think there's a very good chance that Daniel will come back. I think it's way too early to be thinking about other people at this stage.'

The 40-year-old star added: 'If I was going to bet, that's the way I would bet.' 

Naomie has previously spoken of her desire to see Craig return as Bond following speculation he may leave the role - and now says that if she was a betting woman she would put her money on him to return.

Earlier this week - the week Craig became the second-longest serving 007 - James Norton and Michael Fassbender were said to be the frontrunners to become the next Bond. 

Special event: She is nominated for an Oscar for her role in Moonlight

Special day: Naomie looked gorgeous inside the palace, wearing Mary Katrantzou

Harris said she thinks fans would be 'very disappointed' if Craig did not return to the role, adding: 'I think the fact that the last two Bonds - Spectre and Skyfall - have been the highest-grossing Bond movies of all time shows that people love him as Bond, and they desperately want him to return.

'And I don't think Daniel is immune to that as well, I think he's very aware of that, so I think that adds an extra level of pressure. But he has to ultimately do what feels right to him.

'But I know that we, as a cast, collectively want him back. I know that Barbara and Michael - our producers - desperately want him back, so I think the only person that needs persuading is Daniel.'

Shortly after the release of Spectre, Craig said he would rather 'slash my wrists' than appear in another film as the secret service agent.

But Naomie said that comment was 'just a joke' and that it can be difficult to translate jokes in print.

Naomie has previously said she wants to continue appearing in Bond films 'for as long as they'll have me'.

Delighted: She kept up good conversation with the Queen