After directing Pierce Brosnan’s first James Bond film GoldenEye so efficiently, Martin Campbell was invited to return to the franchise for the subsequent reboot, Casino Royale.

This was the final time EON Productions held their secret auditions for a brand new 007, some 18 years in the past, the place he and producers display screen examined round eight potential new Bonds together with Daniel Craig and Henry Cavill.

Famously, the longer term Superman star simply misplaced out to the newest 007 actor and now the director has shared little-known particulars from the casting course of which included appearing out a scene in a towel from Sean Connery‘s From Russia with Love.

Speaking completely with Express.co.uk to advertise this week’s London Action Festival, Campbell was very optimistic in regards to the then 22-year-old’s audition.

READ MORE: Next Bond – World’s Top 10 favourites for new 007 unveiled – Idris Elba second

Campbell, who had identified to Cavill that he was just a little chubby for 007 through the course of, advised us however: “He looked great in the audition. His acting was tremendous. And look, if Daniel didn’t exist Henry would have made an excellent Bond. He looked terrific, he was in great physical shape… very handsome, very chiselled. He just looked a little young at that time back then.”

Asked if even at 40 the Superman star may nonetheless play Bond he mentioned: “By the time Daniel got to [No Time To Die] really he was at an age where one more would have been too old for him. I think they sign on for three Bonds, I’m not absolutely 100 per cent certain of that. I know with Pierce he had to sign on to three when we did him. So that’s going to take, what, six years of your life maybe? I suspect Daniel [had] the same deal. And the next guy’s going to have to do that.

“Henry’s 40, so by the time he’s done the third one he’s going to be 50 and anything beyond that’s two, three years per Bond. He’s in good shape Henry, he’s a good guy. He did very well in the audition, but ironically he was too young.”

The director, who could be open to rebooting Bond a 3rd time, additionally dispelled the hearsay that he favoured Cavill – who’s presently at 7-2 to be the subsequent 007 – over Craig.

Campbell mentioned: “I wasn’t favouring Henry. The way they work with Bond and it’s pretty terrific is when they decide on the actor and you audition – in our case, it was eight people – it’s very democratic. You sit around a table, eight or nine of you.

“It was myself and the producers, casting director etc etc. And you go through the eight people and you put your hand up as you talk through each person and ultimately everybody has to be unanimous in their decision, if you see what I mean.”

This week, the two-time Bond director is participating within the London Action Festival the place he’ll converse at a Q&A throughout a Twenty fifth-anniversary screening of The Mask of Zorro. The 79-year-old may also be on a panel known as Anatomy Of A Set Piece, through which he’ll speak about what he thinks is likely one of the finest motion scenes in cinema historical past.

Asked what his favorite from his personal films are, he mentioned: “That opening of Casino was pretty good. I was quite pleased with that. And the end scene of that too.”

THE LONDON ACTION FESTIVAL runs from Wednesday twenty first – Sunday Twenty fifth June. Tickets are on sale now by way of the web site HERE