Hollywood star Matthew Goode has opened up about his disastrous pitch for James Bond, which went so badlythathe never even got to audition for the role.
Matthew, 47, was one of a handful of actors reportedly in the running for 2006’s Casino Royale, along with Henry Cavill, Rupert Friend and Sam Worthington.
However, Matthew didn’t get much further than his meeting with franchise producer Barbara Broccoli – putting himself out of the running by pitching Bond as an alcoholic drug addict who ‘hates himself’ and ‘hates women.’
The role ultimately went to Daniel Craig, who starred as Bond for five films before bowing out with 2021’s No Time to Die.
With the franchise now run by Amazon MGM Studios after being purchased for $8.45billion (£6.7billion) in 2022, the hunt is on for their new Bond.
Reflecting on his own vision of 007, Matthew has spoken of where it all went wrong.
In an interview with Variety, Matthew said: ‘I didn’t audition. I went in and met Barbara [Broccoli].
‘It was quite a funny one because — and she’s gorgeous and just a lovely, lovely person — she was like, “So what’s your idea for Bond?”
‘And I was like, “My idea for Bond. We’ve gotta take it back to the books, you know? Really, we absolutely have to make this guy an alcoholic, a drug addict. He hates himself. He hates women. He hates a lot of people. He’s in deep pain. He’s brilliant at killing people.’”
And that, according to Matthew, is where his journey ended.
‘I think by the end of the interview, she was like, “Mhmm. Next.”
‘I wanted to make it really dark, but what I should have said was, “But also incredibly charming.”‘
After failing to score a licence to kill, Matthew went on to star in Zack Snyder’s superhero adaptation Watchmen, in which he played the scheming Ozymandias.
Since then, he has appeared as Henry Talbot in the period drama Downton Abbey, and as Toby Armstrong-Jones in The Crown.
His film work includes the comedy drama Cemetery Junction and comedy-spy prequel The King’s Man, both of which featured Bond star Ralph Fiennes, who appeared as M opposite Daniel Craig.
Matthew can currently be found starring in the crime drama Dept. Q for Netflix, where he plays disgraced detective Carl Morck.
As for Bond, the hunt is now on for Daniel Craig’s replacement following the appointment of Denis Villeneuve to direct the next entry in the franchise.
The Dune director has promised that the franchise is in good hands, saying: ‘Some of my earliest movie-going memories are connected to 007.
‘I grew up watching James Bond films with my father, ever since Dr. No with Sean Connery. I’m a die-hard Bond fan. To me, he’s sacred territory.’
He described the opportunity ‘a massive responsibility, but also, incredibly exciting for me and a huge honour.’
The studio has reportedly narrowed their search for the next Bond down to three names, according to Variety.
It’s also said that Amazon MGM are seeking a British actor under the age of 30.
As such, Saltburn star Jacob Elordi, the MCU’s Tom Holland and Babygirl star Harris Dickinson are all said to be under consideration.
Jacob may not be a Brit, but could follow in former Bond George Lazenby’s footsteps as an Australian 007.
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