Let me tell you, this is one of those moments that'll make you think twice about career advice. In a candid interview, Hugh Jackman recently opened up about the time he let the James Bond role slip through his fingers. And guess who advised him against taking it? None other than his pal, Russell Crowe. Now, looking back, the 50-year-old Hollywood star admits he wouldn't mind turning back the clock and making a different choice!
Here's the scoop, according to the UK’s Daily Star: Russell, who's now 54, questioned Hugh about juggling two major franchises—James Bond and his iconic Wolverine role in the X-Men series. "I was like, 'It’s not for me,'" Hugh recalls. But when he sat down to watch Casino Royale, starring Daniel Craig, he instantly regretted his decision. "Oops," was his immediate reaction. Let's just say, Hugh wished he'd grabbed that role with both hands.
Why Did Hugh Jackman Pass on James Bond?
This isn't the first time Hugh has spilled the beans about rejecting the 007 role. Back in 2015, during an interview with Variety, he shared his reasoning. At that point, Hugh was focused on X-Men 2, and when his agent mentioned the Bond opportunity, he hesitated. "I just felt at the time that the scripts had become so unbelievable and crazy," he explained. "I felt like they needed to become grittier and real." For Hugh, it was all about staying true to his craft and not jumping into something that didn't resonate with him.
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Concerns About Career Versatility
Hugh went on to elaborate about his concerns back then. "I was also worried that between Bond and X-Men, I’d never have time to do different things," he confessed. "I always tried to do different things. But there was a time between X-Men 3 and the first Wolverine movie when I could see the roles getting smaller. People wanted me to play that kind of hero part exclusively. It felt a little bit claustrophobic." It's clear that Hugh wanted to keep his career options open and not get pigeonholed into a specific type of role.
Fast forward to today, and Daniel Craig has made the 007 role his own, starring in four Bond films: Casino Royale in 2006, Quantum of Solace in 2008, Skyfall in 2012, and Spectre in 2015. Daniel's final Bond flick, Bond 25, is currently in the works and set to start filming soon. But here's the million-dollar question: Who will step into the iconic role after Daniel steps aside? Could Hugh Jackman finally get his second chance at becoming the legendary James Bond?
