James Bond: Casino Royale director ‘didn't find Daniel Craig believable as 007 at first’

It’s said that Cavill was Campbell’s preferred choice, but he was eventually persuaded to go with the riskier choice of Craig by Bond producer Barbara Broccoli.

Speaking exclusively with Express.co.uk, Bond expert and author Mark Edlitz said: “When Daniel Craig was announced, I watched Layer Cake and thought, ‘Good actor but not Bond.’ I was wrong.

“Incidentally, Martin Campbell, director of Casino Royale, had the same initial impression of Craig. Good actor, not Bond.

“But Campbell deferred to Barbara Broccoli and now enthusiastically supports Craig.”