In an interview, actor Mads Mikkelsen revealed some hilarious behind-the-scenes details about improvising scenes with Daniel Craig for the James Bond film, Casino Royale. According to Mikkelsen, the two actors sometimes let their imaginations run a little too wild during takes. Mikkelsen said Craig was eager to inject notes of levity and vulnerability to show new dimensions of Bond.
Pushed Boundaries of Daniel Craig’s Serious Bond
“Daniel and I would get a bit carried away with the improv at times, “ Mads Mikkelsen told Entertainment Weekly. “We’d come up with these absurd scenarios or lines that were just too crazy. Eventually, the director would have to be like ‘Guys come back, it’s a Bond film!'”
“Daniel was ready to push the character to places we haven’t seen before,” he said. “Obviously the improv went too far sometimes.”
Mikkelsen said their excessive riffing provided some much-needed comedy between intense action sequences. “I think Daniel really savored those moments of lightness,” he explained. “It was a very brooding, dark movie overall.”
“We had to remember Bond is still Bond at the end of the day,” he laughed.
However, Mikkelsen admitted the directors were quick to reign them in if the improvised lines got too outrageous for the refined British spy.
Daniel Craig sucked at Poker
“Everybody knew how to play poker around that table, except for one, Daniel,” he said. “He had no clue. He sucked. And it was the worst thing ever that he, of all people, had to beat [my character] and win all my money. It was like, ‘This is wrong.’ Well, I got him back with the rope, so that’s good.” Mikkelsen shared this with an interview with GQ
But behind the huge action sequences and dramatic spy plots, Mikkelsen said he has fond memories of simply making Craig crack up on set. “It was just two friends trying to have a bit of fun,” he smiled.
Improv Skills Strengthened Bond
While the improvised lines often didn’t make the final cut, Mikkelsen believes the casual riffing sessions actually strengthened his rapport with Craig on screen.
“All that improv we did build trust between us as actors,” he explained. “I think that real friendship translated on camera and served the story.”
Mikkelsen called his time working with Craig on the legacy Bond franchise “some of the best moments of my career.”
And he’s proud Casino Royale gave their beloved character a worthy, emotional farewell. “It was a bonding experience I’ll always treasure,” Mikkelsen said.
Mads Mikkelsen revealed he and Daniel Craig would sometimes get too wild improvising ridiculous lines on the set of Casino Royale. While the off-the-cuff scenes didn’t always fit the serious spy film, Mikkelsen said the playful moments became precious to Craig in his final outing as James Bond. Though the directors had to rein them in, their improv skills strengthened their on-screen bond.
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