Daniel Craig's 2011 Mystery Thriller Climbs HBO Max Top 10 as Bond Search Continues

Amid the search for the next James Bond, fans of longtime franchise stars are flocking to films featuring previous actors, including the most controversial choice, Daniel Craig. His casting as Bond was not well received because some felt his blond hair and height didn't fit the image of the taller, dark-haired Bond portrayed by earlier actors. As a result, some threatened to boycott the film. Still, his debut in Casino Royale was a staggering box-office success, and that success continued in subsequent installments.

While portraying Bond, a role he quit after five films with No Time to Die in 2021, Craig took a leading role in an underrated psychological thriller directed by Jim Sheridan. Released on September 30, 2011, a year before Skyfall, the film features the English star as a successful editor at a New York City publishing house. He quits his job to write a book and spend more time with his wife, Libby, and their young daughters, Trish and Dee Dee, in their dream home. However, he soon discovers that his family has been murdered, and, struggling to cope with his grief, he has fabricated a delusion.

Over a decade after earning significantly negative reviews, Dream House is getting a second life on HBO Max. This week, the mystery thriller has consistently ranked among the streamer's Top 10 movies, with the weekend placing it at No. 9, just behind The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 1. Dream House also stars Craig's real-life wife, Rachel Weisz, as Libby, alongside Naomi Watts, Marton Csokas, Elias Koteas, and Jane Alexander.

Who Is the Next James Bond?

Craig's successor has yet to be chosen for the next James Bond film, half a decade after he bowed out of the franchise. As reported last month, final screen tests for the iconic role were expected to take place in London in late October, with four actors reportedly in contention: Callum Turner, Josh O'Connor, Jack Lowden, and an unrevealed fourth candidate. The tests were apparently planned for earlier in the month, but schedule conflicts with the finalists pushed them to the end of October so they could take place around the same time.

Amazon MGM Studios is targeting a 2028 theatrical release for the next James Bond film, with production expected to kick off next year. Denis Villeneuve is directing, while Steven Knight is writing the script. Producers include David Heyman and Amy Pascal, with Nina Gold handling casting.

Craig's Dream House streams on HBO Max.