Daniel Craig admits he accidentally told Pierce Brosnan he was dropped as James Bond

11-Oct-2006 • Casino Royale

James Bond actor Daniel Craig has revealed he dropped a clanger by telling Pierce Brosnan he had been dumped as 007 - reports the Mirror.

Stunned Brosnan hadn't a clue he had been axed before his successor let the cat out of the bag at an awards ceremony.

Thinking the Die Another Day star had been told he was dropped, Craig told him he had been offered the coveted role.

Craig, 38, revealed: "I said, 'Look this is a possibility, what do you think?' I don't know if I gave him much choice, but he said, 'Go for it.' He didn't hit me.

"I don't know if anyone was underhanded with Pierce but I know I wasn't." Shortly after they spoke at the Baftas in February last year, studio bosses dropped Brosnan and Craig was announced as his successor.

But he almost turned down the job, calling it a "poisoned chalice" until he read the script for Casino Royale - out next month.

Studio bosses called to say he had got the part while he was shopping in Baltimore - and he celebrated by downing vodka.

Pierce, 53, recently said: "Daniel Craig is going to do a fantastic job."

Thanks to `Grunther` for the alert.