But once this particular Bond film started with something other than the standard gun barrel sequence, I quickly realized how serious the filmmakers were about reinventing and reinvigorating this long running franchise. When it came to the James Bond films which starred Pierce Brosnan, I found they were best enjoyed with lowered expectations as they veered to the more openly ridiculous films of the Roger Moore era. “The press response was awful and I felt so sorry for him, but in a funny kind of a way I think it almost spurred him on to do his damndest to prove everybody wrong.I came into “ Casino Royale” with guarded expectations. “It was unbelievably negative, I have to say,” McWilliams said about the reaction to Craig’s casting.

As longtime Bond casting director Debbie McWilliams told Entertainment Weekly back in 2021, she “felt sorry” for Craig after his casting led to extreme blowback from press who thought Craig didn’t fit the part of Bond. The decision to ultimately cast Craig in “Casino Royale” did not receive unanimous praise. He did very well in the audition, but ironically he was too young.” “He’s in good shape Henry, he’s a good guy. “Henry’s 40, so by the time he’s done the third one he’s going to be 50 and anything beyond that’s two, three years per Bond,” the director added. And the next guy’s going to have to do that.” So that’s going to take, what, six years of your life maybe? I suspect Daniel the same deal. “I know with Pierce he had to sign on to three when we did him. “By the time Daniel got to, really he was at an age where one more would have been too old for him,” Campbell said. Does that mean the 40-year-old Cavill should be back in the mix?

With Craig’s Bond tenure over following the release of “No Time to Die,” the search for a new Bond actor will begin. And you go through the eight people and you put your hand up as you talk through each person and ultimately everybody has to be unanimous in their decision, if you see what I mean.” It was myself and the producers, casting director, etc. “You sit around a table, eight or nine of you. “The way they work with Bond, and it’s pretty terrific, is when they decide on the actor and you audition - in our case, it was eight people - it’s very democratic,” Campbell said. Despite Cavill’s fantastic audition, Campbell said he was not “favoring Henry” over Craig for the role.

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