20 Things You Didn’t Know About Casino Royale (2006)
2. No, I’m Just Looking
Daniel Craig remains one of the most controversial casting choices for the role of James Bond, continuing to divide audiences and die-hard fans alike. His casting in Casino Royale created such a stir that the paparazzi descended on the production whenever possible.
Craig’s emergence from the crystal blue sea on New Providence Island was deliberately meant to recall Ursula Andress’s entrance as Honey Ryder in Dr. No (1962) and Halle Berry’s introduction as Jinx in Die Another Day.
However, out of shot, the crew were fending off the press who were trying to snap images of the new Bond - even taking to the water in boats - threatening to interfere with filming.
Additionally, Bond was to have been swimming when he first saw Solange on the beach, but Craig had to stand up when he hit a sandbank underwater. The “mistake” transformed the actor into an international sex symbol after it became a key marketing image for the film.