In fact, then-23-year-old Cavill was director Martin Campbell’s initial favourite until the new film’s script development led them to needing someone older.Ĭraig was a rising star who’d made his name on TV in ‘Our Friends in the North’ before impressing in movies like ‘Road To Perdition’, ‘The Mother’ and ‘Enduring Love’. Henry Cavill and Sam Worthington are thought to have made up the final trio from which Craig was chosen after Rupert Friend had taken himself out of contention. It was only Pierce Brosnan who didn’t create any controversy – probably because he actually looked like almost a parody of the Bond archetype.”Īs ever, dozens of actors had been considered after producers decided to reboot the franchise.

Timothy Dalton was a bit equine for some people’s tastes and a bit northern. When Roger Moore was cast, a lot of people thought he was too soft. “Because there’d been no Bond before Sean Connery, George Lazenby was on a hiding to nothing. “Most of them caused a stir, if not as much as Craig,” says Sean Egan, author of ‘James Bond: The Secret History’. Yet while it had never been quite so vociferous, this wasn’t the first time the spy’s casting had caused a furore. Poll: Who should be the next James Bond? “Daniel looks like a villain in a Bond movie that gets killed by 007 in the opening sequence.” “I’m sure a blond could play James Bond,” read one brutal online bulletin board comment, “but not someone who’s so ugly and uncharismatic as Daniel Craig.” Critics argued he didn’t have the charisma, classical looks and above all, dark hair that was essential for the role. Immediately, so-called 007 fans started whinging that James would never be such a wuss, clearly confused that the ‘Layer Cake’ star was a 37-year-old actor from Chester and not a real secret agent.īut the hatred didn’t stop there. The trolling began the moment he was announced, but it was cemented as a “thing” when Daniel Craig arrived by speedboat at the London press conference unveiling him as the new James Bond – wearing a life jacket. With ‘Casino Royale’ celebrating its 10th anniversary, we look back the crazy anti-Craig fan reaction that greeted the announcement he would take over from Pierce Brosnan as 007.

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