When you really think about it, Daniel Craig‘s character in the upcoming Netflix movie Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew proves that the actor has absolutely left his James Bond era behind. For almost 15 years, Craig served as the seventh actor to portray 007, wrapping up his time as the iconic spy in 2021 with No Time to Die. Since then, the actor has made an even bigger name for himself in plenty of different roles, but it has been hard for the world to remember him as anyone other than James Bond. However, his spot in the new Narnia movie cast has definitely started a conversation.
Craig is set to play Andrew Ketterley, Digory Kirke’s uncle, in the upcoming film directed by Greta Gerwig, which will make its debut in theaters in February 2027 before arriving on Netflix next April. It’s hoped that Gerwig won’t make too many changes to Uncle Andrew’s personality, and this is something that many are concerned about; they’re considering the possibility that Craig has been cast as an entirely different character from the one in the book. But Narnia casting theories aside, if Uncle Andrew is still the same villainous figure as in C. S. Lewis’ The Magician’s Nephew, Daniel Craig’s performance in the new movie is proof that he has truly moved on from James Bond.
Daniel Craig’s ‘Narnia’ Character Will Be the Polar Opposite of James Bond
It’s worth noting that while Daniel Craig has portrayed villains before, Uncle Andrew is a whole new level, and the actor’s role in the new Narnia ​​​​​​movie will definitely be one of his strangest to date. For example, Craig previously lent his voice to the villainous pirates Ivan Ivanovitch Sakharine and Red Rackham in the 2011 animated movie The Adventures of Tintin, and he also played mobster Connor Rooney in Road to Perdition. However, Daniel Craig’s Narnia ​​​​​​villain, Uncle Andrew, is truly something else. Andrew is much like a pantomime villain, over the top and eccentric, but seemingly detached from the chaos and somewhat cowardly; ironically, a bit like a James Bond villain to a certain degree.
Since stepping away from the role of 007, Daniel Craig’s filmography has been diverse. His most notable character since leaving the franchise is easily Benoit Blanc in the Knives Out ​​​​​​movies, whose personality differs greatly from Bond, but his portrayal of William Lee in the 2024 adaptation of Queer ​​​​​​is definitely miles away from the legendary spy, too. Knives Out has been a great way for Craig to break out of the James Bond mold, and playing such a quirky yet intriguing character like Blanc proves that his acting range isn’t just limited to dark and gritty figures, much like his version of 007.
Uncle Andrew, though, is a character we haven’t really seen from Craig before. Yes, he has played some antagonistic figures in the past, but this Narnia character is so far from James Bond that it’s a little difficult to imagine him in such a role, although this doesn’t necessarily mean he isn’t a good casting choice. It’s amazing to see Craig branch out into something completely different, but it’s not surprising, either. Those who have followed Craig since the earlier years of his career will know that he has a fantastic sense of humor, and he isn’t afraid to get a little weird when needed, so I’m expecting Uncle Andrew to end up becoming one of his most eccentric characters ever.
Craig’s involvement is why I (along with many others) believe that Gerwig’s exciting fantasy adaptation of The Magician’s Nephew will be so brilliant. This upcoming movie makes it apparent that Daniel Craig really has moved on from James Bond, and perhaps Amazon should take note of this. Considering they have yet to cast someone else in the role of 007, it might make them think about their potential candidates and ponder the fact that James Bond actors are capable of everything and anything, rather than focusing on what was Craig’s bread and butter: action-packed sequences and close-up shots of him brooding. The next James Bond might be right under their noses; they just need to alter their thinking.
