Instead of focusing on his audition for James Bond, Michael Fassbender ended up being his competition’s hype man.
The Oscar-nominated actor was a guest on a recent episode of the Happy Sad Confused podcast, where he recalled accidentally “promoting” Daniel Craig for the 007 role rather than himself during his audition for 2006’s Casino Royale.
After being asked by host Josh Horowitz if there was “ever a real Bond conversation” involving Fassbender, the X-Men actor responded, “I met with Barbara Broccoli just you know through passing and I actually went in for an audition phase before Daniel [Craig] was cast, but I don’t think I was ever in the mix.”
“But I remember going into that room and meeting with her and [Michael G.] Wilson and I think I was like, ‘Daniel Craig is…’ I don’t know why I was promoting him, I should have been promoting myself,” he added.
Fassbender proceeded to quip, “This is what I was saying, I was terrible at auditions.” Elsewhere in the interview, he also noted his Mad Max: Fury Road audition was “awful” because he showed up late.
While the Prometheus actor didn’t get to slip into Bond’s suit, he ultimately had nothing but praise for Craig, who led the franchise for five films, from 2006 to 2021, following Pierce Brosnan’s run. “Obviously Daniel did a fantastic job and went on to be I think the most successful Bond in history but that was it really, there was never a conversation after that,” Fassbender said.
Many actors have been contenders for the role of James Bond over the years, however, most people have turned their attention to who will be the next 007 after Craig’s final outing in 2021’s No Time to Die. While nothing has been revealed as the search continues, the franchise received a shake-up recently when it was announced that Amazon MGM Studios would gain creative control over the James Bond franchise. Wilson and Broccoli will remain co-owners of the 60-year-old property.
“My respect, admiration and love for Barbara and Michael remain constant and undiminished,” Craig previously said in a statement about the deal. “I wish Michael a long, relaxing (and well-deserved) retirement and whatever ventures Barbara goes on to do, I know they will be spectacular and I hope I can be part of them.”