Ralph Fiennes says he lost James Bond role after behaving badly

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 5 Nov, 08:29 · Archive

Ralph Fiennes revealed he was considered to play James Bond years ago but missed the opportunity after behaving dismissively towards producers.

Ralph Fiennes, the actor who plays M in the recent James Bond films, revealed he was once considered to play 007 himself years earlier. He missed the opportunity after his behaviour during a meeting with producers, which he described as being 'a bit of a dick'.

When approached about the role, Fiennes suggested that the producers could reinvent the Bond films as 1950s noir in black and white, closer to Ian Fleming's original novels. He noted that 'From Russia With Love' was the closest adaptation to the source material, praising Bond as 'sort of lonely, sexy, dark, and slightly violent'.

Fiennes acknowledged that the films eventually adopted an increasingly comedic tone, which diverged from his own taste. He went on to praise Daniel Craig for later 're-inventing Bond in a fantastic way', managing to satisfy the franchise requirements while providing wit and a human side to the character. Bond fans are currently awaiting news of the next actor to play 007, with reports suggesting Jack Lowden, Callum Turner, Josh O'Connor and an unnamed fourth actor recently completed screen tests.

How it is being reported

• Oscar Nominee Claims He Lost Out On James Bond Role After Being 'A D**k' In MeetingRalph Fiennes is already a known face to James Bond fans thanks to his work as M in the franchise’s most recent instalments. But the Oscar nominee has revealed he previously missed out on an opportunity to play 007 himself after a meeting with producers. “I used to love James Bond when I was younger and at one point they talked to me about Bond some years ago,” he recalled on Radio 3’s The Essay . Ralph Fiennes Unfortunately, during this meeting, Ralph has admitted that “maybe” he was “a bit of a dick”. He continued: “I loved the books, and I like [former James Bond producer] Barbara…HuffPost UK · 5 Nov, 08:03
• Ralph Fiennes reveals he missed out on the chance to play James Bond after behaving like a 'd**k' to producersThe actor, 63, is known for his role as British Secret Intelligence Service head Gareth Mallory, but he has shared he was considered to play 007 years earlier.Daily Mail · 3 Nov, 22:28

In this story: Ralph Fiennes · Barbara Broccoli · Ian Fleming · Daniel Craig · Jack Lowden · Callum Turner · Josh O'Connor

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