We can all unanimously agree that Daniel Craig’s James Bond was one of the coolest spies in movie history. But did you know his version of 007 may have never happened without the inspiration from a Marvel star? Yes, Craig told The Daily Telegraph that none other than Hugh Jackman, best known as Wolverine, played a big part in shaping how he approached his Bond role.
I owe him big style. Hugh is an extraordinary man and had a big influence on me. He is a gentleman, and he loves his job dearly. And through him, I learned to love my job more.
Even though Hugh Jackman almost became James Bond himself years ago, fate had other plans. So he instead ended up inspiring Daniel Craig for the role. Now, with Craig hanging up the tux after No Time to Die, the search for the next Bond is still on, and fans are growing restless. But before we move on, let’s look back at how Jackman had almost become a part of the spy franchise.
The table contains basic details on Daniel Craig’s James Bond movies:
Hugh Jackman Got Brutally Honest About Why He Rejected James Bond
Well, back in the early 2000s, when the James Bond movies were all about big explosions, flashy gadgets, and over-the-top action scenes, EON Productions had screen-tested Hugh Jackman for the role. But unfortunately, Jackman wasn’t too happy about the style of the franchise. When he was offered the chance to play Bond in Casino Royale, he felt the scripts had lost their edge.
In an interview with Variety, Jackman thus noted,
I just felt at the time that the scripts had become so unbelievable and crazy, and I felt like they needed to become grittier and real.
So, was it because Jackman wanted the movies to be more serious and gritty? Is that why he rejected the spy franchise? Well, not technically. Because later on, in an interview with the British Press Association in 2011 (via EW), the Aussie actor pointed out another issue. He explained that he didn’t want to jump into another action-heavy franchise right after X-Men.
At the time I wasn’t. I was about to shoot X-Men 2 and Wolverine had become this thing in my life and I didn’t want to be doing two such iconic characters at once.
Hugh Jackman was already famous as Wolverine and was filming X-Men 2 at the time. Therefore, playing another major hero like Bond felt like too much for him. He worried that switching between two big characters would make both roles feel repetitive instead of exciting. Plus, he also told IndieWire how he feared getting trapped playing the same old tough, charming hero.
I was worried I’d never get to do different things. I didn’t want to do the same things. You know, the role of the hero action star. I mean, it was the meat-and-potatoes of a lot of American film, that archetype. It was all various forms of heroic guys in tough situations.
He wanted to explore new stories, new emotions, and even try musicals or dramas, which later became his strength with films like The Greatest Showman. So, while fans might dream about a world where Hugh Jackman wore the tuxedo instead of the claws, the actor made the right call for himself. And ironically, by turning Bond down, he ended up inspiring Daniel Craig.
The Next James Bond Casting Is Following Daniel Craig’s Route
Now, let’s talk about the future of the James Bond franchise. So far, it has been revealed that Amazon has taken over the film series and has decided to follow a similar casting rule as EON Productions did, back when Daniel Craig was hired. Well, the rule we’re talking about is: finding someone new, who’s not already a huge star.
Basically, they want a fresh face who can bring something new to the character, just like Craig did years ago. This means the next Bond won’t be a big Hollywood name but a talented actor who can grow into the role over time. Now, while this seems like a brilliant plan, it might leave the actor with the same backlash as Craig.
Remember when the British actor was first announced as James Bond in 2005, many fans were not happy? He constantly got compared to Pierce Brosnan and even struggled with a sudden rise in fame. Plus, the actor also told BFI (via Variety) how “tough… and emotionally kind of difficult” it was for him to cope with the role as well as the constant criticism.
But gradually, after Casino Royale hit theaters, Craig proved everyone wrong and became the best version of modern era James Bond. His iteration became tougher, more emotional, and more human, and soon became one of the most loved portrayals in 007 history. And now, it seems, that’s the kind of magic the new Bond producers are trying to recreate.
Looking for actors in their thirties, like Jacob Elordi, Josh O’Connor, and Harris Dickinson, Amazon is still seeking new faces. Director Denis Villeneuve and writer Steven Knight are working on a story, since the film’s target release is 2028. So far, although we don’t know who will wear the tux next, one thing’s for sure: the goal is to make Bond feel exciting and modern again.
Share your opinions and expectations of the next James Bond.
James Bond movies are currently available in the US on Prime Video.
