Former Marvel villain Guy Pearce has recalled the time he was involved in conversations about potentially taking over the role of James Bond. Widely considered one of the iconic characters in modern cinema, the task of casting Britain’s most famous MI6 agent has often been the subject of close scrutiny and public debate long before franchise producers were faced with finding a replacement for Daniel Craig. Back in 2014, the question was even posed to modern James Bond author Jeffery Deaver, who suggested that Pearce would be the ideal candidate to portray the 007 featured in his 2011 novel Carte Blanche.

Speaking with CinemaBlend during the press day for his new movie The Convert, Pearce was asked about Deaver’s previous endorsement and whether he was ever interested in the role of James Bond. Saying that while he was not aware of Deaver’s comments, Pearce revealed that he was once involved in “a little chat” where he was asked if he may be interested in pursuing the role. However, the Iron Man 3 star admitted that it was never anything serious enough for him to give too much thought to. Check out his comments below:

I wasn't aware of that moment, no. There was a little chat, nothing official, knowing that the role was kind of opening up, and would that be something that I would [be interested in.] And funnily enough, that all sort of came I guess during that time that I was kind of being open to more things. But I suppose, and you know it wasn't anything serious enough that I either pursued, or had to sort of resist pursuing. It was sort of just a whim, a kind of idea to even think about. There was no real substance to having to think about it much.

Carte Blanche Would Be An Ideal Starting Point For A New Bond

Jeffrey Deaver's James Bond Novel Could Introduce A Truly Modern 007.

While Pearce does not reveal exactly when he was originally approached for the role of James Bond, it would most likely have been at the time producers were looking for someone to succeed Pierce Brosnan’s tenure as 007 in the early 2000s. Seeking to put a fresh spin on the long-running franchise, producers famously considered a number of potential 007s, including a young Henry Cavill and Outlander’s Sam Heughan. Yet it would be Craig who ultimately landed the role, and would make his own debut with an adaptation of Ian Fleming’s first ever James Bond novel, Casino Royale.

However, with producers once again looking to reboot the James Bond franchise following the character’s shocking death in No Time To Die, they may very well look to adapt the same book that the author once wanted Pearce as its lead. Reinventing Bond for the modern age, the 007 in Deaver’s Carte Blanche is no longer the Cold War-era spy of Fleming’s original tales, but instead a veteran of the Afghan war who is employed by the 00 section “to identify and eliminate threats to the country by extraordinary means.”

Reinventing several key franchise characters, including the head of Q Branch and Bond’s often forgotten secretary Mary Goodnight, Carte Blanche could provide the perfect blueprint for a new, 21st century Bond. While Pearce may have never had the chance to step into 007’s shoes, perhaps the story he was once considered perfect for could still find its way onto the screen as the start of a new James Bond series.

Mary Goodnight only ever appeared in one James Bond movie, 1974's The Man with the Golden Gun, played by Britt Eckland.