Turning down the role of a lifetime is no easy decision. Just ask Rupert Friend, who turned down the chance to play James Bond in what would be the Daniel Craig era.
In a heavyweight battle that featured Henry Cavill, Sam Worthington, and Craig, we saw Rupert Friend (Homeland, Obi-Wan Kenobi) make it as a top contender. That was until he turned down the chance to play 007 after a meeting with the producers.
Speaking to Variety, Friend does a deep dive into the process and what brought him to turn down what could’ve been a career-defining role – for good or bad.
Friend recalls, “When I was 22 and just out of acting college, I did three pictures back to back: The Libertine, Pride & Prejudice, and Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont. And I was told, ‘We’d love to talk to you about playing James Bond but rebooting the series. We want to do him basically straight out of college.’ And I met Barbara Broccoli and her brother Michael and Debbie McWilliams, the casting director for Bond. Obviously, I’ve watched them growing up and just love all the actors and all the movies.”
He goes on to break down what they wanted from him. The actor says, “Basically, they said: you’ll do a screen test, and if it goes well, you’re signed up for three pictures which you won’t read, and you won’t know who the director is. You’re basically handcuffed to it.” The pressure seemingly got to him, “And I suddenly was like, ‘I just feel at this point in my life and career, I’m too young, I don’t have the experience, I don’t have the acting chops, and I don’t have any of the hard knocks – emotionally, psychologically, physically – that a great Bond should have.’ So I’m gonna politely decline.”
Friend tells the outlet that kind of boldness must’ve shaken them. “That was probably a bit of an eyebrow raise for them. To be honest, I’m grateful that I did. Because back then, not only could the part have sort of eclipsed me, I felt like the part was bigger than me as an actor or even as a person. That it would sort of swallow me up, and I might sink the franchise or at least be the worst Bond that ever lived. And that was just not an option because I love the franchise.”
Rupert Friend can be seen next in Asteroid City, the latest film from Wes Anderson. It opens this June following its premiere at the 76th Cannes Film Festival.
