Jeffrey Wright is returning as Felix Leiter in No Time to Die, bringing back the most underrated character in the Daniel Craig James Bond movies. First appearing as Leiter in 2006’s Casino Royale, Wright made a splash as Bond’s infinitely more spy-like American counterpart and ally, but his presence in Cary Fukunaga’s (True Detective) No Time to Die will mark his first appearance in the franchise since 2008’s Quantum of Solace. Given the character’s long history, it is surprising to many that he has been out of the series for so long.
Originally appearing in Ian Fleming’s first James Bond novel (Casino Royale), Felix Leiter has also been a part of the film franchise since the beginning, making an appearance in Dr. No (1962). Wright is the sixth actor to appear as Felix Leiter in Eon Productions’ films and the eighth in total, including the 1954 television production of Casino Royale and the unofficial remake of Thunderball (1965), Never Say Never Again (1983). The character has even been a part of the James Bond comic books.
With such a rich history for Leiter to draw on and a performance from an Emmy-nominated and Tony Award-winning actor, No Time to Die may have a bit more to offer for fans of Wright’s portrayal. So far, he hasn’t been given enough real estate on screen to show the significance and impact the character could have. But that could soon change.
Jeffrey Wright’s Appearances Amount To Little More Than Cameos
James Bond’s victory at the Texas Hold’em table in Casino Royale over Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen) wouldn’t have been possible if not for Felix’s intervention. Instead of letting Bond fly off the handle and murder someone whom both the British and American governments were after for information, Leiter assessed the situation and presented a mutually beneficial solution to the problem. Does everything work out the way that it should have once this plan was enacted and Bond wins the game? No. But that isn’t Felix’s fault. Unfortunately, his entire presence in the movie was limited to the scenes at the casino, seeming like just another high roller, until he was willing to break his cover to reel in a brother in arms. Once things moved beyond what can be done at the poker tables, he was gone.
Leiter was left with an even smaller role in Quantum of Solace. Rewrites reduced Felix’s screen time to basically dropping by to give Bond some information and then leaving again. While this was still early in the new telling of the Bond story, it is a far cry from the type of relationship shared by Bond and Leiter in previous movies. License to Kill (1989) begins with the two men working together to capture a drug dealer before the two of them parachute into Felix’s wedding in which James was the best man. This indicates the characters’ friendship in the early iterations of the franchise.
In Daniel Craig’s interpretation of Bond, it did feel like they were trying to establish a beginning for the pair and a contrast in styles. Especially early in the series, Craig’s Bond is motivated by vengeance and emotion, while Felix Leiter was the cooler-headed counterpart who seemed to fit much more in the “spy” role. But this contrast wasn’t explored any further because Felix was completely missing from Skyfall and Spectre.
Felix’s Backstory Hasn’t Been Explored At All In Craig’s Bond Movies
Beyond his affiliation with the CIA, barely any information about Felix Leiter was presented in either Casino Royale or Quantum of Solace. His lack of screen time has made it difficult to dive into his experiences before joining the agency or give any insight into his personal life. Ian Fleming wrote the character as a former U.S. Marine, who eventually worked with NATO, and previous installments in the film franchise took a step in the direction of a life outside of the spy game with his marriage. While the absence of these character details does add an air of mystery to the Wright’s portrayal of Felix, it is hard to maintain any character recognition if there is little mention of him after his brief appearance in Quantum of Solace.
Granted, the Craig movies have been a way to re-establish Bond and give some explanation as to how he become the cooler than cool spy that he has come to be recognized as. This does include diving deep into the other characters around him, including love interests like Vesper Lynd (Eva Green) and Madeleine Swann (Léa Seydoux), two Ms (Judi Dench and Ralph Fiennes), and Moneypenny (Naomie Harris) to name a few. But Leiter has been left out in the cold. With No Time to Die looking like it is Daniel Craig’s last appearance as Bond, time may be running out for us to get to know Jeffrey Wright’s Felix Leiter.
No Time To Die Can Give Felix The Appreciation He Deserves
The good news is Felix is back for No Time to Die. And beyond that, it looks like he is the one who brings Bond back into things after leaving active service. Having the two of them work together on screen again could be a big leap forward in not only giving fans more of Felix, but a chance to see how he works and explore the character more. Jeffrey Wright is the first actor to play Leiter in more than two movies, so hopefully this is where they really start to explore who he is and what he can do.
Felix will have some hefty competition for screen time, though. Multiple characters are already integral to the Bond mythos, including Lashana Lynch’s new 00 character that is a replacement for Bond and a new villain played by Rami Malek that will need exploring, Leiter may remain a bit of a mystery. But pretty much any action on screen will testify to the interesting nature of the character and boost him in the fan-favorite category - even if we don’t get to explore the story where he is partially eaten by a shark again.
Craig’s exit from the series after No Time to Die may cause Felix Leiter to be a bit of collateral damage in its wake. Or he could be a character that continues to guide Bond along with a new actor in place. If the history of the series is any gauge of things, Bond is in for some rough times ahead and the character will need someone like Felix Leiter to keep him afloat and make him not only a better spy, but a better man. So much about Felix has yet to be introduced, or re-introduced, in this new era, and it would make sense for more time to be given to him as the movies go on. And preferably with Jeffrey Wright in the role.
Next: No Time To Die: Every Clue That Daniel Craig’s James Bond Will Die
- Bond 25 Release Date: 2021-10-08
