Daniel Craig’s Tomb Raider Regret: Why He Took the Role

Daniel Craig’s career after hanging up the Bond tux has been nothing short of impressive. While some former 007s faded into the background or coasted on their spy fame, Craig’s managed to carve out a path that’s both varied and successful. He’s picked up a trio of Golden Globe nods for his turns in the Knives Out series and Luca Guadagnino’s Queer, showing he’s not afraid to take a punt on something different now that he’s got the financial security from his Bond days. That freedom means he can pick and choose, taking risks where he fancies.

Despite this, Craig’s filmography outside of Bond, Benoit Blanc, and William Lee has been pretty lean over the past decade. Still, the signs are good for a bloke who might just give Sean Connery a run for his money in the post-Bond stakes. Connery kept pulling in big roles and paydays right up until he called it quits, and while Craig’s not quite there yet, he’s got the chops and the profile to keep things interesting. Before he was ever cast as the world’s most famous secret agent, though, Craig was still finding his feet. It wasn’t until Layer Cake in 2004 that he really started to get noticed, after making a mark on telly with Our Friends in the North and turning heads in Road to Perdition. That first big lead role was a game-changer for him.

Early Blockbuster Days

But if you look back a bit further, you’ll find Craig’s first taste of blockbuster life came in 2001, when he played Alex West in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider. The film, led by Angelina Jolie, smashed records at the box office, becoming the top-grossing video game adaptation and the highest-earning action flick with a woman front and centre at the time. Despite all that, Craig wasn’t exactly swept up in the excitement. When asked by Phase 9 what drew him to the part, he didn’t mince words.

“Money!”

That was the honest answer, and he didn’t really try to dress it up much more than that.

He did go on to explain a bit further, though, saying,

“I also like going to the cinema and having popcorn, nachos, hot dogs, the lot, while watching some big Hollywood movie. So it was an opportunity to be a part of that, and it was a good movie for what it was, but that kind of film does not turn me on.”

It’s clear he saw it as a chance to be involved in a big-budget production, but the genre itself didn’t exactly light his fire.

Looking Back with Regret

With the benefit of hindsight, Craig’s feelings about Tomb Raider have only soured. He’s since called it the

“worst mistake”

of his career, a pretty blunt assessment for a film that, at least on paper, looked like a solid move. It’s fair to say he was hoping the paycheque made up for the lack of passion.

For Craig, Tomb Raider stands out as a rare misstep in a career that’s otherwise been marked by smart choices and a willingness to take risks. While he’s now free to chase roles that genuinely interest him, that early blockbuster experience serves as a reminder that not every big gig is worth the price of admission.