Daniel Craig teased who the next James Bond could be when he made a cryptic joke at 2024 Governors Awards on Sunday. 

The actor, 56, who played 007 for five films from 2006 until 2021, weighed in on the ongoing debate while presenting an award on stage at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

As he honoured producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson with the Irving G Thalberg Memorial Award he said ‘the next James Bond could be in the room.’

Previous reports suggested Aaron-Taylor Johnson and Theo James could be next in line to take on the iconic role. 

‘Let’s just get something out of the way,’ Daniel began. 

Daniel Craig teased who the next James Bond could be when he made a cryptic joke at 2024 Governors Awards on Sunday

The actor, 56, who played 007 for five films from 2006 until 2021, weighed in on the ongoing debate while presenting an award on stage at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles (pictured in 2015’s Spectre)

‘If you came here this evening to find out who the next James Bond is, don’t look at me, but he might be in the room. I’m just joking. Maybe I’m not,’ PEOPLE report. 

Daniel hung up his bowtie and tux three years ago and has been leaning into more experimental roles since, ranging from a fun camp gentleman sleuth with a Southern drawl to a man who falls in love with a drug addict in Mexico City, in the 1940s.

He will next star in Queer which is an adaptation of a novella by American writer William Burroughs. 

The actor plays an American, William Lee, living in Mexico City who becomes Sєxually obsessed with a former sailor, Eugene Allerton (Drew Starkey). 

During a special Screening for the film in San Francisco on Monday, Daniel was joined by producer Luca Guadagnino and Julia Roberts. 

He wore a leather bomber jacket that he teamed with a pair of quirky trousers and a cream scarf. 

The James Bond actor spent months taking dance and movement classes with Starkey, whose drug-addicted character Eugene was based on Adelbert Lewis Marker.

‘There’s nothing like a good dance to break the ice,’ the two-time Golden Globe nominee told ET on Wednesday.

As he honoured producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson with the Irving G Thalberg Memorial Award he said ‘the next James Bond could be in the room’ (pictured on Monday)

Daniel hung up his bowtie and tux three years ago and will next star in Queer

During a special Screening for the film in San Francisco on Monday, Daniel was joined by producer Luca Guadagnino and Julia Roberts

‘I think it did all sorts. It made us bond very quickly because we’re both non-dancers and we both had to go through the pain barrier to get to a good position. It was really important to us.’ 

Read More James Bond candidates film dramatic scenes for new movie Fuze in Kent

Queer will hit limited US theaters November 27 and UK theaters December 13 – currently has a 78% critic approval rating (out of 68 reviews) on Rotten Tomatoes.

Last week, Daniel offered a very blunt three-word response when asked who he wants to play the next James Bond. 

As the rumour mill bubbles at speculation as to who will be taking over from him, Daniel has made his feelings on a new casting known – albeit bluntly.

Variety asked Daniel and his Queer co-star Drew Starkey on Thursday: ‘If you were to pᴀss the James Bond torch, who would you love to see play him?’

The question prompted a laugh from the Knives Out star as he matter-of-factly replied: ‘I Don’t Care.’

The comment comes after it was reported that fans are set to wait half a decade to see another 007 flick return to their screens.

The five-year delay is reportedly caused by ‘delays to production and casting’ as the next spy is still yet to be confirmed. 

He wore a leather bomber jacket that he teamed with a pair of quirky trousers and a cream scarf

Julia looked chic in a dark grey blazer and matching trousers as she joined Luca on stage

A year following’s final No Time To Die release in September 2021, producer Barbara Broccoli said that there was a year wait before filming the next flick. 

But, to the unhappiness of 007 fans, it is likely to be much longer as filming has still not started. 

In June, 2022, Barbara said: ‘There isn’t a script and we can’t come up with one until we decide how we’re going to approach the next film because, really, it’s a reinvention of Bond. 

‘We’re reinventing who he is, and that takes time. I’d say that filming is at least two years away.’ 

 The top 20 actors Brits want to be                  the next James Bond 

1. Idris Elba

2. Tom Hardy

3. Henry Cavill

4. James Norton

5. Cillian Murphy

6. Tom Hiddleston

7. Tom Holland

8. Jamie Dornan

9. Aaron Taylor-Johnson

10. Richard Madden

11. Rege Jean Page

12. Luke Evans

13. Leo Woodall

14. Emilia Clarke

15. Emily Blunt

16. Helen Mirren

17. Barry Keoghan

18. Theo James

19. Lupita Nyong’o

20. Sam Heughan