The Bond We Never Got: Tarantino's Casino Royale

Acclaimed director Quentin Tarantino recently shared why his version of Casino Royale never came to fruition. The first book written by James Bond creator Ian Fleming, Casino Royale introduced the world to the suave British spy and paved the way for his eventual jump to the big screen in 1962's Dr. No. Tarantino had planned to adapt the book following the success of his 1994 film Pulp Fiction, casting a new Bond and setting the action in the '60s. However, the project ultimately fell through due to rights issues. Although Tarantino had believed the film rights to the book still sat with the Fleming estate, the Broccoli family had already made a blanket deal three years earlier. Tarantino envisioned his version of Casino Royale as a standalone film, not part of a series, and was disappointed when the project fell through.

What Tarantino’s James Bond Would Have Done For The Franchise?

However, it soon came to light that the Broccolis had anticipated someone attempting to replicate my actions three years prior. Consequently, they made a comprehensive deal with the Fleming estate, stipulating that they possessed the movie rights to every piece of literature he had ever penned. The estate was awarded a substantial sum of money for the entirety of Fleming's work, and any individuals wishing to adapt his writing into film would have to approach the Broccolis first.

If Quentin Tarantino had been successful in obtaining the film rights for Casino Royale, his James Bond movie could have posed a significant problem for the official Bond franchise. This would have resulted in another unofficial Bond film, similar to 1967’s Casino Royale and 1983’s Never Say Never Again, which would not be considered as a part of the canonized entries produced by Eon Productions. Moreover, Tarantino’s Bond debut would have directly competed against Pierce Brosnan’s own Bond in 1995’s Goldeneye.

While the Bond franchise had encountered a similar issue before, with Roger Moore’s Octopussy released in the same year that Sean Connery returned for Never Say Never Again, Moore had already established himself in the role and proven his credentials for the part. In contrast, Brosnan would have been at a disadvantage with no previous Bond films to his credit, competing against the work of one of the most celebrated directors of the time. Though Tarantino’s Bond would have likely been a memorable film, it could have spelled potential doom for the official Bond franchise.

With the James Bond movies currently in another state of flux, following the departure of Daniel Craig and the ongoing search for his replacement, the Bond producers might consider borrowing some of Tarantino’s ideas. As the Bond films were originally created in a different era, the later Bond movies have struggled to find their place in the modern world. Following Tarantino’s concept of making his Casino Royale a period piece set during the height of the Cold War could offer a fresh perspective when Bond finally makes his triumphant return to screens.

Source: Deadline