Steven Spielberg has cemented his standing within Hollywood as one of the most highly-celebrated directors to have graced the industry. Movie-going audiences have witnessed the auteur’s evergreen allure time and again with memorable classics such as Jaws, Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park, etc., embellishing Spielberg’s unparalleled filmography.
The director’s knack for action-adventure premises drew him towards another prominent and exalted movie series of that era—the highly-revered James Bond franchise. Unfortunately, Spielberg’s dream of helming a 007 film remained unfulfilled, with the filmmaker facing rejection not once, but twice.
What remains fascinating about this rejection tale is how in an ironic twist of fate the director would eventually contribute to the revival of the $7.8 billion James Bond franchise through his exceptional judgment.
Steven Spielberg Was Rejected By James Bond Producer Twice
Speaking on The Michael Ball Show on BBC Radio 2, the Lincoln alum shed light on his rejection tales surrounding the possibility of helming a James Bond film. He revealed that his efforts to pursue such an endeavor were turned down not once, but twice. Following the mind-boggling success of Jaws (1975), Steven Spielberg believed that his services would be readily welcomed if he were to offer them. He decided to reach out to Bond producer Albert ‘Cubby’ Broccoli. Following is how he recalled it:
“I called Cubby Broccoli (Barbara Broccoli’s late father) twice, and after Jaws, which was such a huge success I thought, ‘Hey people are giving me final cut now.’ So, I called up Cubby and offered my services but he didn’t think I was right for the part,”
That accounted for his first rejection. However, Spielberg, who had been enthusiastic about the possibility, decided to try again after the blockbuster success of his 1977 movie, Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Alas, the filmmaker’s triumphs could not sway the outcome, as his aspirations were yet again rejected:
“Then even after Close Encounters [of the Third Kind] came out and was a big hit – once again – I tried to get on a Bond film and now they can’t afford me. So Barbara [Broccoli], forget it.”
Some reports claim that Steven Spielberg’s offers were turned down as a result of his “inexperience.” Other sources state that Albert Broccoli, albeit being an American producer, believed that the James Bond franchise was predominantly a British one and should therefore only be directed by British filmmakers.
This tradition continued for a while until Cary Joji Fukunaga became the first non-British director to helm a 007 film with 2021’s No Time To Die.
Steven Spielberg’s Approval Of The Casino Royale Script Changed Everything
Daniel Craig‘s portrayal of the renowned British spy brought new life to a franchise that was starting to feel stale owing to its formulaic themes. Departing from the repetitive nature of the series, Craig’s portrayal introduced a previously unseen aspect of vulnerability to the character. As a result, movie-going audiences were able to appreciate the infusion of a new and fresh perspective into the series.
However, there was a point in time when the 55-year-old actor was reluctant to embark on this historic journey. Securing the actor’s participation in 2006’s Casino Royale proved to be quite a demanding endeavor. In an interview with The Guardian, he revealed:
“When I got the call, it really was left field. Honored though I was, I wasn’t deeply enthusiastic […] For me, at that stage, it was promises, promises. Unfortunately, they didn’t have a script and I can’t say yes without a script.”
The lack of a script led to Craig turning down the role. His stance on the matter changed when director Steven Spielberg, with whom the actor had worked on Munich (2005), convinced him to give the premise a shot.
“I walked away from it because I thought this is taking up too much of my life. I was thinking about it too much. I said to Steven [Spielberg], ‘Bond isn’t this kind of film.’ He said, ‘If the script’s right and if the deal’s right, do the job.'”
When he finally received the script for the 2006 project, the actor was quickly impressed by the story. Refusing the film became a challenging decision. In a separate interview, the Knives Out star revealed that he sought Spielberg’s advice again. He urged the director to review the material for Casino Royale. Following is how he recalled it:
“Steven was in the same hotel by chance … And I went, ‘Would you read this, please?’ He read it very quickly and said, ‘You have to do it’. It was very important to me that someone like him should be as inspired by it as I was.”
With Steven Spielberg’s approval, all the doubts that the actor harbored were alleviated. And the rest is, of course, history.
The director who was rejected twice in his attempts to helm a James Bond film ended up being the very person who assisted Daniel Craig in embarking on this journey and consequently rejuvenating the franchise. It’s safe to say that the esteemed filmmaker had the last laugh in this ironic scenario.
Casino Royale (2006) is available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Source: The Guardian & Independent
