James Bond star Daniel Craig has gone “off grid” from film bosses who are desperate to sign him up for the next 007 movie.
MGM execs are “panicking” because they have started planning Bond 25, due out in 2018, without hearing from Daniel for a year whether he will star in it, insiders say.
A source said: “Daniel and MGM are currently at a stalemate with him having not spoken to them about Bond.
“They have offered a bigger wage deal, and asked about his filming availability to his reps in 2017, but as yet they have not spoken to Daniel.
"They want Bond 25 out in October 2018, but currently they have no Bond, film dates or knowledge of when that will change.
“Daniel’s commitment is also a key part of whether Sony Pictures will come in to co-finance the film. So much is hanging in the air – and no-one knows.”
Daniel is currently working with Bond executive producer Barbara Broccoli on New York stage show Othello.
The 48-year-old star upset MGM bosses saying he would rather slit his wrists than play Bond again.
But in September Daniel said: “I’ve got the best job in the world. I’ll keep doing it as long as I still get a kick out of it.”
He later added: “If I were to stop doing it, I would miss it terribly.”