Twenty years later, Sam Heughan explains why he misplaced out on James Bond to Daniel Craig. Launched in 2006, On line casino Royale ushered in a brand new period for 007, one outlined by gritty motion and a extra grounded story.
Just lately departing the franchise with 2021’s No Time To Die, Craig was a usually well-liked Bond, however he famously wasn’t the one star thought-about for the function. Actors like Henry Cavill, Clive Owen, Michael Fassbender, Sam Worthington, and Rupert Good friend, amongst others, have been all within the working, as was Heughan, who’s now greatest recognized for starring in Outlander.
Throughout a latest interview with The Times, Heughan remembers auditioning for Bond in his mid-twenties and being rejected for a really particular cause. In keeping with the folks within the room, which included director Martin Campbell, producer Barbara Broccoli, and casting director Debbie McWilliams, Heughan “wasn’t charismatic sufficient.”
Heughan reveals that the candid little bit of suggestions then prompted a shift in his profession, as he dyed his hair a darker shade of brown and began auditioning for villain roles to “give myself some edge.” Try Heughan’s recollection of the On line casino Royale audition beneath:
“It was all high secret, the Bond folks took me as much as their boardroom, the casting director was there, Barbara Broccoli was there, Martin Campbell the director was there, there was a golden gun on the desk, and so they instructed me to do the scene there after which. It was very, very odd.”
Now, 20 years later, Heughan reveals that he is nonetheless open to turning into 007:
“I’d love one other crack at it. I believe I’m too previous now, although.”
What This Means For James Bond
On line casino Royale stays not simply essentially the most highly-rated Craig 007 film, however it’s one of the vital beloved movies in the complete James Bond saga. After Die One other Day (2002) featured an invisible automotive and a questionable arctic browsing sequence, Campbell’s 2006 entry introduced the franchise again to Earth with a no-nonsense tackle the enduring character.
On Rotten Tomatoes, On line casino Royale enjoys a 94% critics’ rating and a 90% Popcornmeter rating, indicating widespread acclaim. The movie was additionally a field workplace hit, grossing $616 million worldwide. Clearly, Craig’s introduction as Bond went over nicely.
It is not clear how Heughan would have been acquired because the character, however he would have grow to be the second Scottish Bond actor after the late Sean Connery. Bond helped to propel Craig to film star standing, and the identical might have occurred for Heughan, who presently stays most well-known for his work on the small display screen.
As for whether or not Heughan now has one other likelihood at 007, it will appears that he’s right in his evaluation that he is too previous. With director Denis Villeneuve on the helm, the confirmed Bond 26 is reportedly searching for an actor of their late 20s or early 30s, and ideally somebody who’s a little bit of an unknown.
Our Take On Sam Heughan’s James Bond Casting Story
Outlander has been a highly regarded present for Starz. The sequence has been a large enough hit for Starz to order a prequel sequence, subtitled Blood of My Blood, which premiered this previous August. Now, Outlander season 8 is about to carry the story – and Heughan’s time as protagonist Jamie Fraser – to a detailed subsequent yr.
Whereas Craig was an ideal match for Bond, it will have been attention-grabbing to see what Heughan may have delivered to the function. Viewers definitely appear to agree that he’s charismatic sufficient in Outlander, suggesting he both did not present that high quality within the audition or took just a few years to hone it.
In any case, Heughan’s shot at James Bond appears to have handed, with Amazon seeking to take the franchise ahead with a youthful star. Perhaps, although, Heughan may nonetheless seem within the franchise as a villain.
- Upcoming Movies
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James Bond 26
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Motion
- First TV Present
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Fleming: The Man Who Can be Bond
