Daniel Craig's 92% Fresh Comedic Role From 7 Years Ago Proved How Great Knives Out Would Be

Summary Craig's first true leading comedy role was in 2017.

His experience in Logan Lucky likely influenced Knives Out.

Craig reinvented his career after Bond.

Daniel Craig is most known for his role as James Bond, but with Knives Out, he has found much success starring in a genre he had previously only once explored, comedy films. Throughout most of his acting tenure - including the first two decades of his career - Craig had typically been cast in dramas and adventure films. Road to Perdition, Sylvia, Layer Cake, The Golden Compass, and Defiance stand out as prominent non-007 Daniel Craig movies. Notably, apart from Some Voices in 2000, there were no comedies in his filmography as of 2016.

In 2017, however, one well-received performance changed the trajectory of his career, opening up new avenues and granting him a new baseline in his post-Bond years. In fact, since 2017, Craig has only appeared in five films, and three of those films were comedies. The sudden change in Craig's career choices has redefined his range, and, now in his mid-50s, he's embracing this shift in identity. While Craig will almost certainly star in more drama and action films in the future, comedy is his current genre of choice, with Knives Out: Wake Up Dead Man releasing in 2025.

Related Daniel Craig Southern Heist Comedy Nearly Got A Prequel From Ocean's Trilogy Director Steven Soderbergh says there were plans for a prequel to his Daniel Craig heist film Logan Lucky, until the movie failed at the box office.

Logan Lucky Showed Daniel Craig's Comedic Potential Before Knives Out

It Was Craig's First Featured Comedic Casting

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In what was a break from conventions for Craig, he was cast in one of the most fun heist movies ever, Logan Lucky. Craig plays Joe Bang, a troublemaker with tattoos covering his body, dyed hair, and a southern accent that would later lend itself to Craig's Knives Out character. Craig is instantly lovable as a recklessly funny con man. These character choices make this role so funny; they are different from the more serious, somber, and oftentimes poignant versions of Daniel Craig that audiences grew to love.

Notable Daniel Craig Non-Bond Action/Drama Films Release Year The Power of One 1992 Obsession 1997 Elizabeth 1998 Lara Croft: Tomb Raider 2001 Road to Perdition 2002 The Mother 2003 Sylvia 2003 Layer Cake 2004 The Jacket 2005 Munich 2005 Infamous 2006 The Golden Compass 2007 Defiance 2008 Cowboys & Aliens 2011 The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo 2011

What truly makes Logan Lucky such a groundbreaking performance for Craig was his complete willingness to commit to the role; this was only possible because of director Steven Soderberg's abject approval of basically anything Craig wanted to try (via GQ). Many actors would be reluctant to reinvent themselves so late in their careers, but it is a choice that has revitalized Craig's image, and audiences have loved this version of him so far. By allowing himself to experiment and not take himself too seriously, Craig set himself up for future success beyond the James Bond movies.

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Daniel Craig Is Even Funnier In Logan Lucky Than In Knives Out

Without Logan Lucky, Knives Out Might Not Have Happened

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One of the most prevailing bits of discourse surrounding Logan Lucky was Craig's comedic talents. Especially for those who only really knew him as the brooding, scowling, suit/bathing suit rocking MI-6 agent James Bond, Logan Lucky was a complete turn from the norm that Craig had established. When this opened up opportunities to act in films such as Knives Out, Craig was able to build from the initial groundwork of Logan Lucky. Importantly, Craig, himself, was excited by the opportunity to broaden his range and implied that his prior seeming avoidance of comedy wasn't entirely by design.

It's as if, through the meshing of James Bond and Joe Bang, Craig was able to find a logical middle point between comedy and class (...)

In Logan Lucky, Craig is able to fully let loose and commit to a character who is intentionally over-the-top, whereas Craig's character in Knives Out is much more centered and brings with him an air of authority and class. It's as if, through the meshing of James Bond and Joe Bang, Craig was able to find a logical middle point between comedy and class, resulting in Benoit Blanc from Knives Out. None of this would be possible without the groundwork laid by Logan Lucky.