Ben Whishaw's Q contract ends with 'No Time To Die', but he hopes to return in 'Bond 26'

Watch: Ben Whishaw mulls his future in the James Bond films

Ben Whishaw wants to continue playing Q – James Bond's quartermaster – after No Time To Die, if producers will have him back for Bond 26.

Talking to Yahoo about the next Bond film, in cinemas on Thursday, Whishaw says his three-picture deal to play Bond's gadget man has been fulfilled in Skyfall, Spectre and No Time To Die, but he wants to carry on beyond that.

"I was contracted to do three films," Whishaw explains.

"That is obviously up now. And I was wondering if there is a future for me as Q, and I was wondering to myself how I felt about that. And today I woke up and thought 'ooh, maybe I kinda would like to continue'. So we'll see."

Previous incarnations of Q include John Cleese, who played the character in 2002's Die Another Day, and Desmond Llewelyn, who played him in every Bond film – except 1973's Live and Let Die – from 1963's From Russia with Love to 1999's The World Is Not Enough.

Read more: No Time To Die director on the next James Bond

The character didn't appear at all in Daniel Craig's first two Bond films, so Whishaw accepts it's not really up to him whether Q will be be back.

"I feel like it's completely out of my hands," Whishaw says.

Producer Michael G Wilson is a fan though, and despite refusing to be drawn on future plans for Q (or Bond for that matter), he paid tribute to the Paddington star's portrayal.

"He's a great Q," Wilson tells Yahoo. "He just brings so much to it. He has a light touch, but he's also... he can play the serious parts extremely well."

No Time To Die is directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, from a screenplay by Neal Purvis & Robert Wade and Cary Joji Fukunaga and Phoebe Waller-Bridge, with a story by Neal Purvis & Robert Wade and Cary Joji Fukunaga.

No Time To Die will be released in UK cinemas 30 September. Watch a trailer below.