Daniel Craig | Big Questions With Even Bigger Stars

Summary

Podcast Summary

The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert

Episode: Daniel Craig | Big Questions With Even Bigger Stars
Date: January 4, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode features Stephen Colbert in his whimsical segment, "Big Questions with Even Bigger Stars," where he engages in a lighthearted, existential, and often hilarious conversation with actor Daniel Craig. Together, on a metaphoric “hillside under the stars,” they volley absurd philosophical questions, trading jokes, jabs, and surprising moments of sincerity. Fans of late-night banter and quick wit will appreciate the rapid-fire exchange as the two ponder life’s biggest mysteries.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Setup: On the (Metaphorical) Hillside [01:09–01:59]

• Colbert sets the scene by describing his existential musings, and how he seeks guidance from “people who clearly have all the answers: movie stars.”
• The mood is playful and imaginative, establishing a tradition of turning big philosophical topics into comic fodder.

Existential Banter and Deep “Questions” [02:18–06:30]

• Why Daniel Craig seeks higher ground:

  • Daniel: “Sometimes my thoughts get so deep that I have to seek higher ground so I won’t drown in my own smartness.” [02:22]

• What happens after you die?

  • Daniel: “I think they wait a few years and then reboot the whole thing with a different British actor.” [02:37]
    (A play on both reincarnation and his James Bond legacy)

• Is beauty skin deep?

  • Stephen: “Oh, no. I have very sexy kidneys.” [02:50]

• If you could change one thing about the world?

  • Daniel: “I would make it so oatmeal raisin cookies don’t look so much like chocolate chocolate chip cookies. You bite in expecting chocolate, expecting only to find old grapes and lies.” [03:02]
  • Stephen: “That was a really good point.” [03:16] (with mock gravity)

• Last thing to see before you die?

  • Stephen: “Oh, probably the face of the person I’m about to switch bodies with.” [03:28]

• Are we living in someone else’s dream?

  • Daniel: “No. Usually when I’m in someone else’s dream, I’m not wearing this many clothes.” [03:50]

• Are there multiple universes?

  • Stephen: “Yes. Yes, I do… And however different they may be, in place and in time, they all sell delicious chicken wonton tacos.” [04:17]
  • Daniel: “Wait, are you thinking of Applebee’s?”
  • Stephen: “Yeah. Sorry. I’m thinking of Applebee’s.” [04:28]

• What came before the Big Bang?

  • Daniel: “Hopefully some generous foreplay.” [04:41]

• Difference between art and pornography?

  • Stephen: “Oh, it’s not easy, but I’d say no one’s ever yelled at me for watching art on the bus.” [04:53]

• Where (and when) would you magically transport?

  • Daniel: “That’s easy. I would be right here, laying on the stage of the Ed Sullivan Theater… on February 9, 1964, when the Beatles made their U.S. debut. Paul McCartney’s crotch would be right here.” [05:17]

• If you weren’t a famous talk show host, what would you be?

  • Stephen (teasing about an uncertain future): “Well, I’m about to find out.” [05:56]

• Is God watching all of us all the time?

  • Daniel (with a plug): “No, no, no. I think at least some of the time, he’s watching Wake Up Deadman and Knives Out Mystery in theaters and streaming on Netflix on December 12th.” [06:21]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Daniel on movie franchise reboots:
  “I think they wait a few years and then reboot the whole thing with a different British actor.” [02:37]

• Stephen on the nature of beauty:
  “Oh, no. I have very sexy kidneys.” [02:50]

• Daniel on culinary deception:
  “You bite in expecting chocolate, expecting only to find old grapes and lies.” [03:02]

• Stephen on alternate realities:
  “And however different they may be... they all sell delicious chicken wonton tacos.” [04:19]

• Daniel’s Beatles wish:
  “Paul McCartney’s crotch would be right here.” [05:23]

• Daniel’s self-promotional twist on divinity:
  “I think at least some of the time, [God’s] watching Wake Up Deadman and Knives Out Mystery...” [06:21]

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Important Timestamps

• [01:09] – Colbert sets the philosophical mood
• [02:22] – Daniel Craig arrives, self-deprecating humor
• [02:37] – First big existential question with a Bond twist
• [03:02] – Cookie deception and grievances
• [04:17] – Discussion of multiverses and cosmic Applebee’s
• [04:41] – Before the Big Bang: “generous foreplay”
• [05:17] – Time travel wish: Beatles at the Ed Sullivan Theater
• [06:21] – Daniel Craig inserts a movie plug as an answer about God

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Tone & Style

• Light-hearted, witty, and irreverent—each question is more a setup for a punchline than genuine searching.
• Friendly banter and playful digs highlight the good-humored camaraderie between Colbert and Craig.
• Occasional sincere moments (e.g., Daniel’s fondness for the Beatles) are quickly undercut by more jokes.

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Conclusion

This episode is a delightful, fast-paced exchange between two charismatic entertainers who tackle life’s big questions with levity and sharp wit. Fans of Stephen Colbert’s satirical style and Daniel Craig’s dry humor will find plenty to enjoy, from pop culture riffs to metaphysical musings—all delivered with tongue firmly in cheek. For more Daniel Craig, check out “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery" on Netflix.

Transcript

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It's the Late Show Poncho with Stephen Colbert.

[Daniel Craig]

Folks.

[Stephen Colbert]

You know, lately I've been pondering a lot of existential questions. Might be the end of the year, end of the show, but when I start to wax philosophical, I like to head to a special hillside where I explore the mysteries of the universe with people who clearly have all the answers to life. That's movie stars. And for the biggest questions, we turn only to the biggest stars. This is Big Questions with even bigger stars.

[Daniel Craig]

Wow.

[Stephen Colbert]

Wow. Look at all those gorgeous stars.

[Daniel Craig]

Just like us. It's so weird taking claws lying down. Just like us. They're beautiful and full of gas.

[Stephen Colbert]

Daniel Craig, what are you doing up here?

[Daniel Craig]

Sometimes my thoughts get so deep that I have to seek higher ground so I won't drown in my own smartness. Right.

[Stephen Colbert]

Right. Hey. Hey, Daniel.

[Daniel Craig]

Yeah, Stephen.

[Stephen Colbert]

What do you think happens after you die?

[Daniel Craig]

I think they wait a few years and then reboot the whole thing with a different British actor. Hey, Stephen.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah, Daniel?

[Daniel Craig]

Do you think beauty is only skin deep?

[Stephen Colbert]

Oh, no. I have very sexy kidneys.

[Daniel Craig]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Dan. Steve, if you could change one thing about the world, what would it be?

[Daniel Craig]

I would make it so oatmeal raisin cookies don't look so much like chocolate chocolate chip cookies. You bite in expecting chocolate, expecting only to find old grapes and lies. Hey, Sc.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. That was a really good point.

[Daniel Craig]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Really good point. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Daniel Craig]

Dc, what's the last thing you hope to see before you die?

[Stephen Colbert]

Oh, probably the face of the person I'm about to switch bodies with. Hey. Hey. Dan the man.

[Daniel Craig]

Yeah, Steven, who is also technically a man.

[Stephen Colbert]

You ever wonder if the reality we're experiencing right now is actually taking place in someone else's dream?

[Daniel Craig]

No. Usually when I'm in someone else's dream, I'm not wearing this many clothes. Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah, that's. That's true.

[Daniel Craig]

Hey, Steve of destruction.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yes, Danimal?

[Daniel Craig]

Do you think there are multiple universes?

[Stephen Colbert]

Yes. Yes, I do.

[Daniel Craig]

Mm.

[Stephen Colbert]

And however different they may be, in place and in time, they all sell delicious chicken wonton tacos.

[Daniel Craig]

Wait, are you thinking of Applebee's?

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah. Sorry. Yeah, I'm thinking of Applebee's. Hey, Cray. Yeah.

[Daniel Craig]

Cold.

[Stephen Colbert]

What came before the big bang?

[Daniel Craig]

Hopefully some generous foreplay. Hey, Coleslaw.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah, yeah. Danwich.

[Daniel Craig]

How can we truly know the difference between art and pornography?

[Stephen Colbert]

Oh, it's not easy, but I'd say no one's ever yelled at me for watching art on the bus. Look at that shooting star.

[Daniel Craig]

Oh, okay.

[Stephen Colbert]

Isn't that beautiful? Make a wish. Make a wish. Hey, Craigslist. Yes. Stevia. Right. Now, if you could magically transport yourself to any place in time, where would it be?

[Daniel Craig]

Oh, that's easy. I would be right here, laying on the stage of the Ed Sullivan Theater.

[Stephen Colbert]

Aw, Daniel, I gotta say, that is just. That is so sweet of you.

[Daniel Craig]

I wasn't finished. I'd be laying on the stage of the Ed Sullivan Theater on February 9, 1964, when the Beatles made their U.S. debut. Paul McCartney's crotch would be right here.

[Stephen Colbert]

What a genius.

[Daniel Craig]

If you weren't a famous talk show host, what do you think you'd be?

[Stephen Colbert]

Well, I'm about to find out. Hey, James Bond.

[Daniel Craig]

Yeah. The voice of Perry Prescott in Despicable Me. Sorry, sorry, sorry.

[Stephen Colbert]

Don't be jealous. Do you believe that God is watching all of us all the time?

[Daniel Craig]

No, no, no. I think at least some of the time, he's watching Wake Up Deadman and Knives Out Mystery in theaters and streaming on Netflix on December 12th.

[Stephen Colbert]

Well, that. You got that line out. Well, that answers all my questions about the universe. See more of Daniel Craig in Wake Up Dead Man a knives out mystery. And see more of me when I come back. Thank you for listening to the Late Show Pod show with Stephen Colbert. Just one more thing. If you want to see more of me, come to The Late Show YouTube channel channel for more clips and exclusives.

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You're welcome.

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[Daniel Craig]

Oh, my goodness.

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[Daniel Craig]

Are you not entertained?

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