David Corenswet described the James Bond film Casino Royale as
“one of the best movies of all time,”
revealing a distinctive theory that could challenge long-held understandings among Bond enthusiasts. The Superman actor discussed this during an appearance on Brittany Broski’s YouTube show, Royal Court, where he explored various topics including pop culture and personal perspectives. Corenswet expressed particular admiration for the film’s black-and-white opening sequence, which introduces Daniel Craig’s version of Bond and is frequently celebrated as one of the greatest in the franchise.
An Alternative Perspective on Bond’s Introduction in Casino Royale
The opening scene of Casino Royale revolves around Bond confronting a section chief from MI6 who is guilty of selling secrets. In this intense moment, Bond recounts the process of earning his 00 status, which requires two confirmed kills. While the film depicts Bond’s first kill as awkward and uncertain, his second is far more controlled and efficient, ultimately securing his official license to kill.
Corenswet offers a fascinating theory that the person Bond shoots second—the MI6 section chief—is actually not the second kill in Bond’s own experience. Instead, Corenswet argues that Bond’s real second kill occurs earlier, when a contact who Bond had sunk in the sink unexpectedly revives and attacks him, forcing Bond to shoot him in self-defense. This moment, Corenswet suggests, is what Bond perceives as the second kill because it comes after the contact initially appears dead from drowning and then suddenly becomes a threat again.
“Everybody thinks that the second kill is when Bond kills the main bad guy, in the office later, and he’s like ‘Yes, considerably.’ But what actually happened is, experientially, Bond already had his second kill because he drowned the guy and then had to shoot him. So, in his experience, he had to go through drowning the guy, thought he was dead, thought that he had had his first kill, and then the guy woke up, and he just shot him. So that’s actually the second kill in his mind, and that was super easy.” — David Corenswet
Understanding the Implications of Corenswet’s Bond Theory
While MI6 officially counts Bond’s second kill as the shooting of the section chief, Corenswet’s interpretation offers a deeper look into Bond’s personal experience, which diverges from the agency’s formal view. Bond’s reality involves confronting danger in unpredictable and often chaotic ways, a process that doesn’t always align with the orderly structure favored by MI6. This tension is a hallmark of Daniel Craig’s portrait of Bond, who frequently acts outside the bounds of protocol.
Throughout Craig’s tenure, Bond has been depicted as more impulsive and emotionally complex, straying from previous portrayals that emphasized cold precision. Films like License to Kill and Die Another Day showed Bond defying orders to follow personal motivations. This trait was further emphasized in Quantum of Solace and Spectre, where Bond’s rebellious actions carry significant consequences. In Casino Royale, his need to be rescued by Felix Leiter highlights how his unconventional methods can leave him vulnerable.
Director Denis Villeneuve’s upcoming James Bond film is anticipated to build on these complex character traits and could become a defining moment in the series, contingent on casting the right actor to carry the role forward. Corenswet’s take underscores how Bond’s personal journey and experiences often conflict with the rigid demands of MI6, reflecting a broader theme of individualism within institutional constraints.
The discrepancy between Bond’s lived experience of his second kill and the official record represents a microcosm of this divergence. It suggests that Bond’s success in the field depends not only on skill but on his ability to navigate morally ambiguous and chaotic situations that strict adherence to protocol does not cover. This nuanced insight adds depth to understanding why Daniel Craig’s Bond resonates with audiences as a more flawed and human character compared to previous iterations.
