Daniel Craig was recently spotted in Athens, Greece, while filming his upcoming prison drama alongside Cillian Murphy and Michelle Williams. This comes as the James Bond franchise prepares for its longest hiatus in its 64-year history, with the next installment anticipated in 2028.

Craig Filming New Role in Greece

The 58-year-old actor, best known for his portrayal of James Bond, arrived at Athens International Airport on Saturday. He opted for a casual look, wearing a light grey Champion hoodie, black top, jeans, sunglasses, and a black cap, completed with tan suede boots.

Details of the New Prison Drama

The plot of the new film remains largely undisclosed. However, World Of Steel reports the story centers on a prison warden, played by Craig, attempting to control a rebellious inmate, portrayed by Cillian Murphy, 49. The narrative will explore a psychological conflict between the two characters as tensions escalate.

Michelle Williams is cast as the warden’s wife, and Mia Threapleton will play the inmate’s girlfriend. Filming is scheduled to continue through May, moving from Athens to Corfu.

Longest Hiatus for James Bond Franchise

James Bond fans face a longer wait than usual for the next 007 film. The franchise is experiencing its longest gap between releases due to the ongoing search for a new lead actor following Daniel Craig’s departure after No Time To Die in 2021.

Industry projections suggest the next Bond film won’t be released until 2028, creating a seven-year gap – the longest in the franchise’s history. The previous longest gap was six years, between 1989’s Licence to Kill and 1995’s GoldenEye.

Creative Shift at Amazon MGM Studios

Creative control of the Bond franchise has transitioned to Amazon MGM Studios, which acquired the parent studio in 2022. Denis Villeneuve, director of Dune, is set to direct the new Bond film, with Steven Knight, creator of Peaky Blinders, writing the script.

A source close to the production emphasized a focus on quality, stating, “Bond won’t be back until 2028. The mindset has shifted from ‘Let’s hurry this through’ to ‘Make sure we get this right.’” Villeneuve is planning to begin work after Dune 3, and Knight will refine the script. Pre-production is expected to start in January 2027, with filming in the summer and post-production lasting nine months to a year.