How Dwayne Johnson’s Role Swap Changed Bond History

Karl Urban’s face is familiar to anyone who’s kept up with blockbuster franchises over the past couple of decades. He’s popped up as Leonard ‘Bones’ McCoy in the Star Trek reboot, swung a sword in The Lord of the Rings, and even squeezed in a cameo in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. But there’s one legendary role that slipped through his fingers, and it’s a story with a twist involving Dwayne Johnson.

After Pierce Brosnan hung up his tuxedo following Die Another Day, the search for the next 007 was on. Plenty of big names were in the mix. Henry Cavill was a strong contender but was apparently passed over for not being in top shape. Sam Worthington, who’d later star in Avatar, was also considered. Christian Bale was even offered the gig but knocked it back. Urban, meanwhile, was right in the thick of it, making it further than most.

Missed Chances and a Kiwi Connection

Urban’s chances looked promising, possibly helped by the fact that Casino Royale’s director, Martin Campbell, also hails from New Zealand. As Urban told Nine,

“There was a period when they were casting it the last time around where I’d met with Barbara Broccoli and various other producers. Unfortunately, I was shooting another movie, and I couldn’t do the final test.”

That other film? Doom, released in 2005, based on the classic first-person shooter game. Urban played John ‘Reaper’ Grimm, a name that’s a bit of a laugh for fans of the original game.

Doom wasn’t exactly a critical darling. Aside from a first-person sequence that tried to mimic the game, the film was mostly panned for being a run-of-the-mill action flick that didn’t capture the spirit of its source material. Still, it kept Urban busy at a crucial moment.

Dwayne Johnson’s Decision and the Domino Effect

Here’s where Dwayne Johnson comes in. The main character in Doom was first offered to Johnson, who was still early in his acting career but already had enough clout to have a say in casting. He decided to play Sarge, the squad leader, instead of Grimm. If Johnson had taken the original part, Urban’s schedule might have been different—or he might have skipped Doom altogether. That could have freed him up for the final Bond screen test, potentially changing the course of his career.

Instead, Urban was tied up on set, and the opportunity to become the next Bond slipped away. The role ultimately went to Daniel Craig, who would go on to redefine the character over five films and fifteen years.

Looking Back Without Regrets

Urban doesn’t seem to hold any grudges about how things turned out. In fact, he’s pretty philosophical about missing out on the role.

“I’m actually pretty grateful I didn’t because I think Daniel Craig did such an extraordinary job,”

he said.

“I couldn’t have imagined a better Bond.”

It’s a classic case of timing and circumstance, with a bit of Hollywood serendipity thrown in. For Urban, it’s just another story from a career packed with near-misses and iconic roles.