Ralph Fiennes has revealed he missed out on the chance to play James Bond after behaving like a ‘d**k’ when he was approached by producers.
Now, the 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.
Ralph shared that he suggested to producers they could reinvent the Bond films as a 1950s noir, so they were more akin to Ian Fleming’s novels.
Fans are eagerly anticipating news of the next star to play 007, after Callum Turner, Jack Lowden and a third mystery actor took part in final auditions last month.
He said: ‘I used to love James Bond when I was younger and at one point they talked to me about Bond some years ago.
‘I think maybe I was a bit of d***. I mean, I loved the books, and I like Barbara Broccoli enormously.
Ralph Fiennes has revealed he missed out on the chance to play James Bond after behaving like a ‘d**k’ when he was approached by producers
‘But I suggested – could they not do them in the mid 1950s and black and white and very sort of film noir-y?
‘I mean the earlier ones are closer to (the books). I think From Russia With Love is the closest to the book. He’s sort of lonely, sexy, dark, and slightly violent.
‘The films got increasingly funny, wink-wink, tongue in cheek and they were very successful and I just think my taste was kind of less tongue in cheek.’
Speaking in an upcoming episode of BBC Radio 3’s The Essay, which will be released on November 9, he said: ‘Then Daniel Craig just re-invented Bond in a fantastic way by going so grittily right in, totally plausible, complex, dark and he satisfied all the ‘franchisey’ things like the wit and the human. I think he is fantastic.’
Last month, it was reported that final screen tests took place at Bray Studios in Berkshire, with Jack, Callum Turner and a mystery star auditioning to be the next 007.
Bond fans have claimed they’ve figured out the identity of the ‘mystery’ actor after it was revealed that a final shortlist of stars were performing screen tests at Bray Studios.
007 sleuths flooded social media with theories about who the unnamed actor could be, and one name that has appeared multiple times is Joe Alwyn.
The actor has previously appeared in Conversations With Friends, The Brutalist, and Hamnet – and fans have said it would ‘make sense’ if he was the unnamed star.
Fans are eagerly anticipating news of star to replace Daniel Craig as 007, after Callum Turner, Jack Lowden and a third mystery actor took part in final auditions last month
Jack has also been given the clear approval from fans, with the Scottish actor given odds of 8/11 to bag the role.
Callum Turner faces 2/1 odds and all other contenders have been given a less favourable 16/1.
Bookies at Ladbrokes said: ‘The Bond race looks to be reaching crunch time and punters are firmly backing Jack Lowden to get the call.
‘He’s already odds-on and the latest speculation has only fuelled support for him, with Callum Turner looking like his biggest threat.’
Jack and English actor Josh O’Connor were more recent names to be thrown into the ring along with Australian actor Jacob Elordi, 29, who is believed to have missed out on the role.
Confirming that the audition process was reaching an end, Bond producer Amy Pascal in August said: ‘I would say the end of the year is a good bet.’
Casting by December would allow Amazon MGM Studios to start filming the next movie in 2027.
Dune director Denis Villeneuve – who is taking on the project – and bosses at Amazon announced in May that the casting process was under way.
Ms Pascal said: ‘We are being really, really methodical. Having worked with Barbara Broccoli at the studio, I mean, Daniel Craig is a hard act to follow.
‘And it’s got to be something really different that is stirring and exciting and different.’
Other stars who were previously linked with the role include The King’s Man star Harris Dickinson, along with SAS: Rogue Heroes’ Jack Barton.
Only six actors have ever played novelist Ian Fleming’s British Secret Service agent in the official film series – Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig.