‘They didn’t have the gravitas!’ James Bond casting director claims younger actors lacked ‘mental capacity’ to play 007 in auditions
A James Bond casting director has claimed younger actors don’t have the ‘mental capacity’ for the highly-coveted role.
Debbie McWilliams, who has snapped up stars for the franchise since 1981, complained up-and-coming hopefuls lacked ‘experience’ and ‘gravitas’ when they auditioned for the top spot ahead of 2006’s Casino Royale.
She told Radio Times: ‘We did look at a lot of younger actors, and I just don’t think they had the gravitas, they didn’t have the experience, they didn’t have the mental capacity to take it on, because it’s not just the part they’re taking on, it’s a massive responsibility.’
‘So we kind of scrubbed that idea and went back to the drawing board and started again.’
Daniel Craig ultimately became 007, a role he reprised for 2009’s Quantum of Solace, 2012’s Skyfall, 2015’s Spectre and No Time to Die in 2021.
Interesting! A James Bond casting director has claimed younger actors don’t have the ‘mental capacity’ for the highly-coveted role (Daniel Craig pictured in No Time To Die)
Iconic: Debbie McWilliams complained up-and-coming hopefuls lacked ‘experience’ and ‘gravitas’ when they auditioned for 2006’s Casino Royale (Daniel Craig pictured in Spectre)
Daniel recently bowed out of his role as the secret agent and speculation has been rife about who is next in line – with Aaron Taylor Johnson and Henry Cavill leading the bookies’ favourites.
Bookmakers William Hill subsequently placed Henry Cavill at the forefront with 5/2, Regé Jean-Page with odds of 4/1, followed by Tom Hardy and James Norton both with 6/1 and Chiwetel Ejiofor at 7/1.
Idris Elba has insisted he has no interest in playing James Bond as he discussed the ‘extended middle finger and a wink’ to the spy in Luther: The Fallen Sun.
The actor, 50, stars as the titular John Luther in the first big-screen version of the TV franchise and has long been touted as Daniel’s replacement.
One scene in the film has Luther refusing a martini, Bond’s favourite drink, in a moment that creator and writer Neil Cross described to Radio Times as “an extended middle finger and a wink” at Bond.
Idris said: ‘The martini line is a bit cheeky, isn’t it? I was like, “Neil, are you sure you want to put that in?”.’
However, he also insists that the references to Bond in the Luther film are not his attempt at an audition for the British spy.
Idris said: ‘My Bond audition? Oh my God, no! I’ve been saying for years, no!’
Could it be? Daniel recently bowed out of his role and speculation has been rife about who is next in line – with Aaron Taylor Johnson (pictured in 2019) leading the bookies’ favourites
Hopeful: James Norton’s odds of becoming Bond are placed at 6/1 (pictured in March 2023)
Peace out: Regé Jean-Page has odds of 4/1 (pictured in 2022)
Wow! Emily In Paris actor Lucien Laviscount also caught the eye of James Bond boss Barbara Broccoli in December (pictured in 2022)
Giving his opinion on if he thinks Luther is better than Bond, Idris diplomatically says: ‘Not “better”, no. Luther’s equally engaging, equally sexy and great to see visually.
‘But Bond is from a universe where espionage was the way to capture. Luther is from the world where you bang on the door, “Are you in there? I’m coming in.”
‘I think Luther fits with a bit more of a modern-day bad guy as opposed to someone from the taking-over-the-world style.’
Discussing Luther, he adds: ‘That character is so well written. You could have Luther opening an envelope for ten minutes and you’d still go, “Oh my God, what’s in the envelope?” because he’s just that kind of character.
‘It’s still exciting to me because we’re not talking about season one of Luther. It’s evolved and grown and we’ve got bigger and braver.’
Emily In Paris actor Lucien Laviscount also caught the eye of James Bond boss Barbara Broccoli in December.
The debonair Burnley-born actor caught the attention of the movie franchise’s bosses for his role in the romcom series as Alfie, boyfriend of Emily Cooper, played by Lily Collins.
JAMES BOND BOOKIES ODDS
Aaron Taylor Johnson 2/1
Henry Cavill 2/1
James Norton 6/1
Rege-Jean Page 6/1
Lucien, 30, whose first role was as a child model for Marks & Spencer when he was ten, is also deemed to be the perfect age to play Bond. Ms Broccoli has made it clear she wants the next actor to portray the character for 15 years, which rules out former favourite Idris Elba, who turned 50 in September.
It is also thought that Ms Broccoli and her team are keen to have an ethnic-minority star to play 007 so the franchise is reflective of modern society.
However, some executives are fearful Lucien’s appearance on reality show Celebrity Big Brother in 2011, when he finished in fifth place, will tarnish his chances of getting the job because previous Bonds have been more highbrow.
A source told The Mail On Sunday: ‘Lucien ticks all of the boxes. He is a super talented actor, is extremely handsome and in the past 18 months has won lots of new fans since he joined Emily In Paris.
‘Bond bosses are already saying how you can see him in the 007 tuxedo, how dapper and fitting to the role he will look.
‘But, there is a sticking point, and that is Big Brother. Lucien appeared on the show at a time when his acting career was not as high-profile as it is now, but he was very popular then and has a fan base now which stretches generations. That is a dream for Barbara who is very taken with him.’
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