The Untold Story: How Daniel Craig Sealed His Fate as James Bond in Casino Royale

Summary

Despite his enthusiasm and lunch meeting with the production company EON, director Matthew Vaughn was ultimately rejected for the opportunity to helm Casino Royale.

Vaughn missed out on a substantial career opportunity with Casino Royale, however, he rebounded by directing highly successful action films like Kick-Ass and the Kingsman series.

Although Daniel Craig's portrayal as Bond was initially uncertain, he ultimately won over audiences and became a cherished addition to the 007 universe, starring in multiple Bond films following Casino Royale.

Director Matthew Vaughn shares his experience of unintentionally being offered the opportunity to direct Casino Royale. In an interview with Josh Horowitz on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Vaughn reveals that following a discussion with studio MGM, he was extended an offer to helm the film. Excited about the prospect, Vaughn proceeded to meet with British production company EON. However, after a lunch meeting with EON, the directing position was not presented to him. For the complete account, listen to Vaughn's account below:

“It was a really bizarre period when I received a phone call asking if I would be interested in discussing the possibility of working on Casino Royale. And naturally, I responded with overwhelming excitement. So, I took the time to devour the book once again and then proceeded to meet with them. Surprisingly, we all seemed to hit it off quite well. Then, in true Hollywood fashion, I received a call from MGM instructing me to keep the news under wraps: ‘you’ve got the job.’ And of course, I understood the need for secrecy. They informed me that I would be meeting with EON, who would officially break the news to me. So off I went to this meeting, pretending to be clueless, all the while thinking, ‘let’s get to the point, shall we?’ I was more than ready to begin. Ironically enough, during our discussion of potential casting choices, I suggested the idea of Daniel. Their response was uncertain: ‘we’re not sure about Daniel.’ I nodded, accepting their response. However, MGM later informed me that I had indeed secured the role. Following that revelation, I had numerous lunches and meetings, but in the end, the offer never materialized. Confused and disheartened, I returned home and immediately called the chairman of MGM to seek clarification. I asked, ‘what’s going on?’ To which they responded, ‘oh, we spoke too soon; you didn’t get it. We will be casting Daniel.’ I simply replied, ‘oh, okay.’ I realize now that I likely said the wrong things during our lunch, sabotaging my own chances.”

What Was Next for Matthew Vaughn (& James Bond)

In the mid-2000s, Casino Royale could have been a significant milestone in Vaughn's career. Prior to 2006, Vaughn had only directed one feature film, Layer Cake, a crime-drama starring Craig. It would have been a considerable leap from the low-budget Layer Cake to the $150 million Casino Royale, which is why EON ultimately rejected him. Fortunately for Vaughn, he didn't need the Bond film to propel his career forward. He went on to direct several high-budget action movies, such as Kick-Ass, X-Men: First Class, and Kingsman: The Secret Service.

Vaughn was right about one thing in Casino Royale: Craig's casting as Bond. Despite initial uncertainty from MGM, Craig eventually won over audiences with his sophisticated and emotionally nuanced portrayal of the agent. Following Casino Royale, Craig went on to star in four more Bond films - Quantum of Solace, Skyfall, Spectre, and No Time to Die.

As Craig's tenure as Bond came to an end with No Time to Die, the James Bond films find themselves at a crucial juncture, searching for the next actor to take on the iconic role of 007. Speculation has swirled for years, with Idris Elba once rumored but later debunked. Other actors, such as Henry Cavill, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Will Poulter, have also been rumored for the part. As Bond embarks on its new era, perhaps even the experienced Vaughn will have an opportunity to direct, having been previously rejected for Casino Royale.

Source: Josh Horowitz