No Time to Die director was filming scenes without knowing where they'd fit into the movie

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Cary Fukunaga was writing scenes just before they due to film

Daniel Craig in new James Bond movie No Time to Die
(Image credit: MGM)

No Time to Die director Cary Fukunaga has opened up about the process behind making the new James Bond movie – including a unique way of dealing with things after 007 actor Daniel Craig was injured during filming.

"The only set which was really ready to go was M’s office in MI6," Fukunaga told Esquire Middle East about the shift to different scenes in Craig’s absence. "I knew more or less in the outline that I made what I wanted to have happen in that section, but none of the body of the script had been written yet. Luckily, I was sitting there with some of the greatest actors in the world."

Those actors included Ralph Fiennes, Ben Whishaw, and Rory Kinnear – with Fukunaga contributing to dialogue that could be shaped differently depending on the plot’s direction.

"I was writing dialogue that was intentional enough, but vague enough, that I could apply it to a number of different things happening in the third act," Fukunaga said. "When we finally put the film together, it all made sense, somehow all fit together… there are pieces that Ralph Fiennes says in the trailer that neither Ralph nor I knew exactly what he was saying it for."

Fukunaga also revealed that the script was still being tweaked well into post-production – which hints at a film that had to heavily deviate from its original production plan in the wake of Craig’s injury.

Thankfully it all turned out well in the end. For more analysis of Daniel Craig’s swan song as 007, check out our spoiler-filled No Time to Die ending breakdown. There’s even a wider look at who could be the next James Bond, as well as a rundown of the best James Bond movies.

Bradley Russell
Bradley Russell
Senior Entertainment Writer

I'm the Senior Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, focusing on news, features, and interviews with some of the biggest names in film and TV. On-site, you'll find me marveling at Marvel and providing analysis and room temperature takes on the newest films, Star Wars and, of course, anime. Outside of GR, I love getting lost in a good 100-hour JRPG, Warzone, and kicking back on the (virtual) field with Football Manager. My work has also been featured in OPM, FourFourTwo, and Game Revolution.