Two decades later, Sam Heughan explains why he lost out on James Bond to Daniel Craig. Released in 2006, Casino Royale ushered in a new era for 007, one defined by gritty action and a more grounded story.

Recently departing the franchise with 2021’s No Time To Die, Craig was a generally popular Bond, but he famously wasn’t the only star considered for the role. Actors like Henry Cavill, Clive Owen, Michael Fassbender, Sam Worthington, and Rupert Friend, among others, were all in the running, as was Heughan, who is now best known for starring in Outlander.

During a recent interview with The Times, Heughan recalls auditioning for Bond in his mid-twenties and being rejected for a very specific reason. According to the people in the room, which included director Martin Campbell, producer Barbara Broccoli, and casting director Debbie McWilliams, Heughan “wasn’t charismatic enough.”

Heughan reveals that the candid bit of feedback then prompted a shift in his career, as he dyed his hair a darker shade of brown and started auditioning for villain roles to “give myself some edge.” Check out Heughan’s recollection of the Casino Royale audition below:

“It was all top secret, the Bond people took me up to their boardroom, the casting director was there, Barbara Broccoli was there, Martin Campbell the director was there, there was a golden gun on the table, and they told me to do the scene there and then. It was very, very odd.”

Now, 20 years later, Heughan reveals that he’s still open to becoming 007:

“I’d love another crack at it. I think I’m too old now, though.”

What This Means For James Bond

Casino Royale remains not just the most highly-rated Craig 007 movie, but it’s one of the most beloved films in the entire James Bond saga. After Die Another Day (2002) featured an invisible car and a questionable arctic surfing sequence, Campbell’s 2006 entry brought the franchise back to Earth with a no-nonsense take on the iconic character.

On Rotten Tomatoes, Casino Royale enjoys a 94% critics’ score and a 90% Popcornmeter score, indicating widespread acclaim. The film was also a box office hit, grossing $616 million worldwide. Clearly, Craig’s introduction as Bond went over well.

It’s not clear how Heughan would have been received as the character, but he would have become the second Scottish Bond actor after the late Sean Connery. Bond helped to propel Craig to movie star status, and the same may have happened for Heughan, who currently remains most well known for his work on the small screen.

As for whether Heughan now has another chance at 007, it would seems that he is correct in his assessment that he’s too old. With director Denis Villeneuve at the helm, the confirmed Bond 26 is reportedly looking for an actor in their late 20s or early 30s, and preferably someone who is a bit of an unknown.

Our Take On Sam Heughan’s James Bond Casting Story

Sam Heughan in Outlander season 7, episode 16, looking at Claire

Outlander has been a very popular show for Starz. The series has been a big enough hit for Starz to order a prequel series, subtitled Blood of My Blood, which premiered this past August. Now, Outlander season 8 is set to bring the story – and Heughan’s time as protagonist Jamie Fraser – to a close next year.

While Craig was a perfect fit for Bond, it would have been interesting to see what Heughan could have brought to the role. Viewers certainly seem to agree that he is charismatic enough in Outlander, suggesting he either didn’t show that quality in the audition or took a few years to hone it.

In any case, Heughan’s shot at James Bond seems to have passed, with Amazon looking to take the franchise forward with a younger star. Maybe, though, Heughan could still appear in the franchise as a villain.