Inside the covert James Bond auditioning process 21 years after Daniel Craig | Films | Entertainment

It’s been almost a record 21 years since Daniel Craig successfully auditioned to be the next James Bond after Pierce Brosnan. Back in October 2005, the yet-to-be household name famously rode a Royal Marine Rigid Raider along the Thames (while wearing a not-very-Bondy, enforced life jacket) to be revealed to the world press.

A similar event is very likely to take place later this year for his successor, the first ever under Amazon MGM Studios and without the Broccoli family of EON Productions. David Heyman (Harry Potter, Paddington) and Amy Pascal (Spider-Man, first three Craig Bonds) are the new Bond producers and have hired Denis Villeneuve (Dune trilogy) to direct and Steven Knight (Peaky Blinders) to pen the script. Of course, Amazon may do their own thing, but if they wisely take a leaf out of the Broccoli way of prepping for a new Bond, here’s how it usually goes.

Historically, Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson would nail down the feel of where they want the next Bond to go first. Hard and gritty like Craig? Or lighter and more humorous like Roger Moore? Once the producers have that in mind, they would then look for the director and writer who fit that mould. Considering Villeneuve and Knight have been hired by Heyman and Pascal, expect a doubling down of the Craig era’s realism without the campy aspects of Spectre and No Time To Die.

Once a new 007 script is mostly nailed down, then the producers, director and screenwriter work with the casting director to secretly audition the right actor for the new feel and screenplay. For the past 40 years, that job has gone to Debbie McWilliams. Speaking with The Independent in June, she downplayed rumours that established celebrities Jacob Elordi or Callum Turner would take the role. She said: “It is absolutely essential that he retains a total enigma. I don’t want to see any of them as Bond because we now know so much about them. We want to know as little about them personally as possible, because that’s what spies are.”

That is what McWilliams would do, but Amazon’s new casting director is Nina Gold (Game of Thrones, The Crown), so perhaps someone like bookies’ favourite Callum Turner, who is a rising star on the cusp of the A-list, might actually have a decent chance of bagging the Licence to Kill under the new administration.

Back in 2005, the Broccoli considered over 200 actors for Brosnan’s replacement, with McWilliams passing on those in their twenties for the Casino Royale origin story due to their lack of charisma and maturity. What usually happens is that initial meetings take place, with actors filming in plain clothes in an office, saying a few “Bond, James Bond ” lines. Last time around, it was the likes of Sam Worthington, Rupert Friend, Antony Starr, and, of course, Henry Cavill whose tapes have since been released.

Presumably, this round has already happened this time around, given reports of an Elordi meeting with Villeneuve and Amazon MGM Studios’ public announcement in May: “The search for the next James Bond is under way. While we don’t plan to comment on specific details during the casting process, we’re excited to share more news with 007 fans as soon as the time is right.”

Then, in June, Deadline reported that the next round of auditions would take place in August, and that of those left, there were at least 5 and as many as 19 actors still in the running. The source also claimed Gold has been meeting with lesser-known actors who might have made it through alongside rumoured stars. Now these are probably back-ups among one or two favourites, as was the case with Casino Royale.

This next round of Bond auditions this month will likely be proper screen tests with high-quality sets, cinematography and music. Historically, and if Amazon chooses to do this, it would be acting in the same scene as taken from Sean Connery’s From Russia with Love. Bond walks in with a towel while holding a gun and approaches a Bond girl in bed. It’s never been confirmed, but presumably the Broccolis used this scene rather than one in a tuxedo in a casino because it’s much harder to stay in character as 007 while wearing almost nothing. It also gives the judges a chance to see what sort of shape their candidates are in.

Henry Cavill, who was the only other actor in serious contention alongside Craig for Casino Royale, famously said director Martin Campbell saw his belly and quipped, “Looking a little chubby there, Henry”. Only 22 at the time, he looks back with thanks at the filmmaker’s honesty that got him ripped for Superman. Plus, Campbell exclusively told the Daily Express in 2023 that Cavill gave a “tremendous” audition and would have been cast if Craig hadn’t existed. He told me, “He did very well in the audition, but ironically, he was too young. I wasn’t favouring Henry [as was the rumour].”

On the secrets of the Bond screen-test, he divulged: “The way they work with Bond, and it’s pretty terrific, is when they decide on the actor and you audition – in our case, it was eight people – it’s very democratic. You sit around a table, eight or nine of you. It was the producers, the casting director, and me. And you go through the eight people, and you put your hand up as you talk through each person, and ultimately everybody has to be unanimous in their decision, if you see what I mean.”

After the screen-tests, it comes down to the top team’s final decision, when the producers phone up the next Bond. Barbara called him up, Craig, saying, “Over to you, kiddo”. After hanging up, he celebrated by buying a cocktail shaker and mixing himself vodka martinis back at his flat. Craig recalled: “That was my first bit of exercise. I had a hangover for like three days.”

Of course, Amazon could go in a different direction, but given the historical methods that have only aided the 63-year-old franchise’s ongoing tenure, the new team would be wise to follow that spirit.

The next James Bond will hopefully be announced later this year.