The shower scene in Casino Royale (2006) is one of the most emotionally vulnerable moments for Daniel Craig's James Bond. However, many might not know that the actor had to fight for the scene to be like this. It would seem that originally, this was supposed to be a sexy scene.
After the catastrophe of Die Another Day, the James Bond franchise desperately needed a fresh start. What made the failure of the Pierce Brosnan film so fascinating was how by the book it was. It followed every single thing that worked in the franchise and created a compilation film. Since this approach did not work, the creators had to get quite creative when they were making Casino Royale.
Daniel Craig in Casino Royale [Credit: Sony Pictures]There were many approaches taken during the making of the movie, and its untraditionality made it the most traditional Bond film to come out in years. The film was a masterpiece in every way, and the biggest reason for this was its ability to take risks. A major difference in the movie was its focus on characters and intentions rather than appeal and audience satisfaction.
Daniel Craig and Eva Green in Casino Royale [Credit: Sony Pictures]This motivation can be perfectly encompassed in the shower sequence between Daniel Craig's James Bond, and Eva Green's Vesper Lynd.
A Typical Romance Scene Was Not What Casino Royale Needed
Casino Royale took a lot of liberties when it was deciding its story. However, there was one scene that was supposed to follow a formula similar to most Bond films. Vesper Lynd had just made her first kill, and she was in a moral conundrum. Lying on the shower floor with her clothes drenched, she was crying when Bond entered the picture.
Craig in Casino Royale [Credit: Sony Pictures]In the original script, the scene was supposed to lead to them getting intimate in the shower, much like in most Bond movies. However, Daniel Craig did not think that this was what the characters needed.
Daniel said, ‘No, they don’t get undressed. They are in their clothes.
In a documentary about the movie, Being James Bond, Barbara Broccoli, a producer for the film, talked about what Craig had to say about the scene. It would seem that the actor put his foot down and said that instead of them having a romantic scene, they would get intimate in another way. He would sit next to her in the shower, fully clothed.
Daniel Craig’s Change Made Sense
While Daniel Craig got quite a bit of pushback from the creators of Casino Royale, they soon realized that, perhaps, he was onto something. Michael G. Wilson, another producer, spoke during the documentary about the entire interaction, revealing that the hints for such a meaningful scene were right there in the script.
[I]t was just sort of hinted at in the script. I was about this thing that if we’re going to go with the violence, if we’re going to go with the reality of it… it’s still a James Bond movie. But I wanted to see what happens. I wanted to see the effect it has on people. She’s in shock, so she’s sitting in the shower in her clothes. It made complete sense to me.
Eva Green in Casino Royale [Credit: Sony Pictures]
After Craig pointed it out, they realized that Vesper Lynd crying in the shower was better fuel for an emotional scene than a sensual one. It is safe to say that audiences appreciated the change that was made, as it gave birth to one of the most iconic scenes in the series.
The Being James Bond Documentary is available for streaming on Prime Video.
References:
- "No, they don't get undressed": Daniel Craig's Giga Chad Moment [r/movies]
- "Being James Bond" documentary (available on Prime Video)