Daniel Craig says a woman 'should be considered to play James Bond' when he leaves the role...after Phoebe Waller-Bridge was recruited to assist on Bond 25 screenplay
Daniel Craig has revealed he would back a woman replacing him as James Bond when he departs the franchise.
Asked about who could replace him in the iconic role, which has previously been played by Sean Connery and Pierce Brosnan, Daniel said the part should be broadened.
He told The Mirror: 'I think that everybody should be considered. Also for women and for African-Americans, there should be great parts anyway, across the board.'
Future: Daniel Craig has revealed he would back a woman replacing him as James Bond when he departs the franchise (pictured in April 2019)
The actor, 51, also said the womanising secret agent could be portrayed differently in future films, citing changing societal attitudes.
Fleabag star Phoebe Waller-Bridge was recruited to help pen the script for Bond 25, which is expected to hit screens on April 8, 2020.
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It comes after former Bond girl Madeline Smith said she also thinks the character could one day be played by a woman.
Speaking on This Morning, she said: 'I cannot see any reason why ultimately, a woman, a lady, a girl, cannot play the James Bond character.
Talent: Fleabag star Phoebe Waller-Bridge was recruited to help pen the script for Bond 25, which is expected to hit screens on April 8, 2020 (pictured in January 2019)
'What would a woman bring to the role? Sensitivity. Sex. I don't necessarily advocate having a woman... but times have changed. Women play a far greater role now.'
However, James Bond producer Barbara Broccoli previously told how she believes the character will stay as male in the future.
Speaking to The Guardian, she said: 'Bond is male. He's a male character. He was written as a male and I think he'll probably stay as a male.
'And that's fine. We don't have to turn male characters into women. Let's just create more female characters and make the story fit those female characters.'
Daniel said: 'I think that everybody should be considered. Also for women and for African-Americans, there should be great parts anyway, across the board' (pictured in 2012)
Oscar winner and Bohemian Rhapsody star Rami Malek, who will play the villain in Bond 25, also spoke from New York, where he is filming the final season of Mr Robot.
He said: 'Ultimately villains are so great in Ian Fleming's novels. You go back to that instinctually, [you] go back to those books and decipher what makes them worthy adversaries for Bond.
'I am still working on that to be quite honest, but I have no doubt I am going to give him a run for his money.'
Character: The actor, 51, also said the womanising secret agent could be portrayed differently in future films, citing changing societal attitudes (pictured in 2006)
Also joining the cast are Dali Benssalah, Lashana Lynch, Ana De Armas as Paloma, David Dencik and Billy Magnussen.
Ralph Fiennes (M), Léa Seydoux (Dr Madeleine Swann), Ben Whishaw (Q), Rory Kinnear (Bill Tanner) and Jeffrey Wright (Felix Leiter) will all return for Bond 25.
In Bond 25, the agent has left active service and is enjoying a tranquil life in Jamaica but his peace is short-lived when his old friend Felix from the CIA turns up asking for help.
The mission to rescue a kidnapped scientist turns out to be far more treacherous than expected, leading Bond onto the trail of a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology.
007: However, James Bond producer Barbara Broccoli previously told how she believes the character will stay as male in the future (pictured in 2015)
