50 years of James Bond films

Production was rushed owing to a pending writers strike. Later, MGM's financial woes led to a delay in production of a third Bond film starring Craig until 2012's "Skyfall."

In "Skyfall" the intelligence organization MI6 comes under attack. This latest James Bond adventure comes with an especially high pedigree: in addition to Judi Dench returning as M, the film also stars Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes, and Albert Finney; was directed by Sam Mendes ("American Beauty"); and features such under-the-line stars as screenwriter Josh Logan ("Hugo"), cinematographer Roger Deakins, composer Thomas Newsman, and songstress Adele.

When asked if he had tried to avoid being typecast as Bond, Craig - who has starred in "The Golden Compass," "Defiance," "Cowboys & Aliens" and "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" - told a "Skyfall" press conference, "I just like working. I mean it's as simple as that. I don't think about it, genuinely. . . . I've been lucky enough to get some really nice roles thrown at me, and I grabbed them.