Casino

Few films in modern times have been as popular as Casino Royale. The 2006 James Bond film was the 21st in the series and the third screen adaptation of Ian Fleming’s novel and a film that marked a significant change in the series. In Daniel Craig’s first appearance as the iconic British spy, this was the point in the series that took a darker, grittier turn in a bid to reboot it. The result was a thrilling action film that is still regarded today as one of the greatest action films of all time. This post will look at some interesting facts about Casino Royale.

Daniel Craig Added 20 Pounds Of Muscle

One of the most iconic scenes from the movie involves James Bond emerging from the ocean (a classic Bond trope), and it was clear that Craig had been working out for this scene. In fact, the English actor added a whopping 20 pounds of muscle for the role, including some exercise sessions that lasted 12 hours. Craig also quit smoking for the role to help him to achieve his physique. 

A Stunt Is In The Guinness World Records

It would not be a James Bond film without stunts, and there are many breathtaking sequences in Casino Royale, with one ending up in the Guinness World Book of Records. In the scene, an Aston Martin rolls an incredible seven times, making it a world record. This was achieved with the use of an air-powered cannon behind the driver’s seat, as it was thought that a standard ramp would not be enough to make the car roll.

Daniel Craig Lost Two Teeth

Another iconic scene is at the very beginning when Bond chases a villain through Prague. The impressive sequence came at a cost to Craig, though, who managed to lose two front teeth while filming the chase sequence. Fortunately, his dentist from London was flown out immediately and managed to replace them. Following this, Craig was sure to wear a mouth protector when filming action sequences.

Henry Cavill Was Runner-Up To Play Bond

Casino Royale marked the beginning of Daniel Craig’s illustrious career as the iconic British spy, but it almost turned out very differently. Henry Cavill – now of Superman fame – was seriously considered for the role of 007 but was ruled to be too young. Also in the frame were Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, Ewan McGregor, and Orlando Bloom. Now that Craig’s run has ended, Cavill is once again a frontrunner to land the role.

Craig Originally Turned The Role Down

Following on from this, Craig also was not keen to take on the role at first. Craig is believed to have thought that the James Bond series had become stagnant and repetitive (a common opinion at the time) and initially turned down the role. After reading the script and noticing the change in tone and style, he was keen to take on the role and begin this exciting new chapter in his career that turned out to be immensely successful.

Poker Was Played Constantly On Set

Fittingly, poker was played constantly by the cast and crew between takes during filming. The poker scenes in the film are now iconic, and it seems that the game was enjoyed by many working on the set. These days, it is likely that cast and crew would be playing online casino games on their phones between takes. You can even find online casinos with free spins and no deposit games at places like www.freeextrachips.com. This can make it quick and easy to start playing casino games online, plus you can easily play on a smartphone anywhere with an internet connection.

There Were Many Considerations For Vesper Lynd

The role of Vesper Lynd, an agent of Her Majesty’s Treasury and Bond’s love interest, was also hotly contested. Eva Green went on to secure the role and put in a compelling performance that took her career to new heights and earned her a BAFTA Rising Star award, but there were many other names that were considered for this role. A few other names that were in the frame included Angelina Jolie, Scarlett Johansson, and Charlize Theron.

The Film Received The Most BAFTA Award Nominations For A Bond Film

Following this, Casino Royale earned an impressive 9 BAFTA Award nominations, which was the most ever for a Bond film. The nominations were for Best British Film, Adapted Screenplay, Actor in a Leading Role, Film Music, Cinematography, Editing, Production Design, Sound and SFX. 

They Play Baccarat In The Novel

Casino Royale is famous for the high-stakes game of poker, specifically Texas Hold ‘Em, but this is different from the original book. In the novel, they play a game of baccarat. It is thought that this could be because audiences are less familiar with the rules of baccarat, which would ruin the drama. Poker is arguably better known, so that’s why this game was chosen to feature in the film. 

The Film Was Censored For Release

The film is known for its gritty style, but it received a BBFC 12A rating in the UK and PG-13 in the USA. This was achieved by censoring the film and omitting a few scenes. In the UK, some of the torture scenes were removed, while in the USA, there were two fight sequences that were removed to achieve a PG-13 rating. UK Blu-Ray releases from 2012 onwards include the fully uncensored version of the film. 

These are a few interesting facts about Casino Royale that should give you a greater appreciation for the film as well as the knowledge that will impress your friends. Casino Royale remains one of the most popular and acclaimed of all the James Bond films and marks the beginning of a significant shift in the series. Many claim that this is the film that saved the series by giving the story a darker and grittier edge while losing many of the outdated tropes. The film also features some of the most impressive action sequences filmed in recent times that still hold up well today.