Matthew Goode says he didn't get a James Bond audition for this ‘dark' reason

New York Post

a day ago

Matthew Goode knows exactly why he isn't a Martini-sipping 007.
The English actor, 47, recently revealed he didn't land the role of James Bond – much less receive an audition.
'I didn't audition. I went in and met Barbara [Broccoli],' Goode said while on Thursday's episode of the 'Happy Sad Confused' podcast.
9 Matthew Goode talks James Bond.
JoshHorowitz/YouTube
Broccoli, 65, along with her brother Michael G. Wilson, 83, were the producers of the Bond franchise before they relinquished creative control of the films to Amazon MGM Studios for a reported $1 billion in February.
'I didn't get to the audition,' Goode explained, 'but 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.''
9 Matthew Goode on the 'Happy Sad Confused' podcast.
JoshHorowitz/YouTube
That wasn't the idea Broccoli had in mind.
Goode reflected, 'I think by the end of the interview, she was like, 'Mhmm. Next.' I wanted to make it really dark.'
Looking back, the 'Leap Year' star knew the detail he was missing, adding that what 'I should have said was, 'But also incredibly charming.''
9 Matthew Goode in 'Dept. Q.'
©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection
Although, Daniel Craig, who landed the role and portrayed Bond in five films from 2006 to 2021, was a bit darker than his predecessors.
'Ultimately, you know,' Goode stated, 'what they did get was Daniel Craig.'
Although he didn't take on the suave British Secret Service agent, these days, the actor stars as DCI Carl Morck on the Netflix thriller series 'Dept. Q.'
9 The UK screening 'Dept. Q.'
Getty Images
Meanwhile, Bond was created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming. The saga launched in 1962 with Sean Connery as Bond in the first film, 'Dr. No.'
Pierce Brosnan brought a debonair 007 to life in four films from 1995 to 2002. Other Bonds have been David Niven, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, and Timothy Dalton.
Rumors have swirled over who would portray the next 007 after Craig had his final adventure in 2021's 'No Time to Die.'
9 Daniel Craig in 'No Time to Die.'
©MGM/Courtesy Everett Collection
Amazon MGM Studios announced on Wednesday that the next film has found its new director, Denis Villeneuve.
The French-Canadian filmmaker, 57, said in a statement, 'I'm a die-hard Bond fan. To me, he's sacred territory.'
'I intend to honor the tradition and open the path for many new missions to come. This is a massive responsibility, but also, incredibly exciting for me and a huge honor.'
9 Jane Seymour, Roger Moore in 'Live and Let Die.'
Everett Collection (liveandletdie1973-fsct17)
'James Bond is in the hands of one of today's greatest filmmakers,' Mike Hopkins, head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, added.
Spearheading the franchise is Amy Pascal — who helped bring Craig in as Bond — and David Heyman.
At Cannes in May, Harrison Dickinson addressed rumors that he was in the running to be the new spy.
9 Michelle Yeoh, Pierce Brosnan in 'Tomorrow Never Dies.'
©United Artists/Courtesy Everett Collection
'Jonathan Bailey is your first choice, so let's go with that,' quipped the star, 29, after the reporter stated Dickinson would be his third pick. 'That sounds like a good idea.'
That same month, Denise Richards, who starred as Dr. Christmas Jones alongside Brosnan, 72, in the 1999 action/thriller 'The World Is Not Enough' threw her idea for Bond into the hat.
'I really don't even know,' the 'Wild Things' vet, 54, exclusively told The Post, before her husband, Aaron Phypers, 52, chimed in, 'I would do it.'
9 Roger Moore as James Bond.
©United Artists/courtesy Everett / Everett Collection
9 Pierce Brosnan in 2002's 'Die Another Day.'
©MGM/Courtesy Everett Collection
'He would be an amazing Bond,' Richards concurred, to which the wellness coach added, 'I could do it. No problem.'
'I don't even know who is in the mix,' confessed the Bravo star. 'I know they will cast someone amazing.'
In March, Brosnan said it's a 'given' that the next man to suit up must be British. He added that it was also the 'right decision' for the franchise to be given to Amazon.
'It takes great courage for them to let go,' Brosnan expressed to the Telegraph. 'I hope that [Amazon] handles the work and the character with dignity and imagination and respect.'
'In this world that is moving so fast now, at the speed of light, [the takeover] does come with a certain lament,' Brosnan continued. 'I thought it was coming for some time, I guess, but I think it was the right decision for Barbara and Michael.'