‘Doctor Who’ Star David Tennant Almost Cast as James Bond

While the search still continues for the next actor to play James Bond, Doctor Who star David Tennant is revealing he was almost cast in the iconic role.

Before Daniel Craig landed the part, Tennant is now revealing that he was on the shortlist of actors being considered for the character. He learned the news from a friend of Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson. Though the news was a bit of a surprise to Tennant, who never knew he was in the running.

David Tennant Comments On Almost Being Cast as James Bond

“I never believed I had until I worked with a director recently who had worked with the Broccolis, who said, ‘Yeah, you were on the list that time,'” Tennant revealed during an Acting for Others Presents podcast. “I went, ‘What time?’ He went, ‘The last time.’

“I suppose he meant Daniel Craig. Because before that I’d have been a child. I think it was a long list and I don’t think I was ever near the top of it, but apparently so.” Tennant continued.

Tennant recognizes that his life and career would have looked significantly different had he been cast as James Bond. He also added during the podcast, “I think it’s a bit of a game changer. That level of celebrity. Bond is on a different level.” 

“But there is that bit (as the Doctor) where you lose your anonymity, certainly,” Tennant adds. “It was a different scale to anything I’d done before in terms of just the general public being aware of you. There’s always someone who has a DVD that they want signing. But I’m not going to complain about that, it’s a very privileged place to be.”

David Tennant, 51, is best known for playing the Tenth Doctor on Doctor Who between 2005 and 2010. He’s also set to return to the role for the series’ 60th anniversary next year.

Could you have seen Tennant in the role of James Bond? Sound off with your thoughts in our comment section below!