If you think you have an understanding of Daniel Craig‘s defining ‘Casino Royale‘ origin story, ‘Superman‘ actor David Corenswet will quickly change your mind about it, giving the film a grittier and more realistic spin. While James Bond is said to earn his 00 status through two killings in the movie, Corenswet argues that his transformation from regular intelligence officer to deadly spy occurs in a much shorter period of time—all thanks to one bloody scene that takes place in the bathroom.
Here’s how Corenswet believes rethinking Bond’s first mission changes everything about the movie and the franchise. But before we dive into the theory, here’s why it makes the character’s famous line all the more meaningful.
Why David Corenswet Disagrees With Bond’s Official Second Kill
In an episode of her YouTube series Royal Court, Brittany Broski had a conversation with actor David Corenswet, known for his starring role in Superman.
When discussing Bond’s journey to becoming a 00 agent in ‘Casino Royale,’ Corenswet offered an interesting take on the film, arguing that Bond experiences his “second kill” much earlier than expected.
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In Corenswet’s opinion, Bond’s first mission is closely tied to the brutal bathroom fight that occurs early in the film. During the sequence, Bond drowns Dryden’s contact in the sink.
However, unbeknownst to Bond, the man suddenly comes to his senses and starts attacking him. As a result, the spy ends up shooting the contact to defend himself.
According to Corenswet, the two events represent different experiences from Bond’s point of view. He initially believes he has taken a life through drowning, only to find himself having to kill the same man a second time moments later.
As a result, Corenswet views the gunshot as Bond’s true “second kill” emotionally and psychologically, even if it was not the second person he killed.
Why Bond’s Famous Line Means Something Else To Corenswet
While most viewers believe Bond’s famous “Yes, considerably” response after hearing the line “The second is easier,” refers to Dryden being Bond’s second victim, Corenswet sees things differently.
To him, what matters is the experience itself rather than who exactly dies during the course of Bond’s actions. In other words, by the time Bond executes Dryden and delivers his cold one-liner, he isn’t processing a brand-new milestone. He had already crossed that emotional threshold earlier in the night.
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“My hot take is, everyone thinks 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.” Corenswet said.
“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 that was super easy.” He added.
In Corenswet’s interpretation of ‘Casino Royale,’ what’s important about Daniel Craig’s Bond is not that he goes on two different missions in his journey to becoming a 00 agent.
Rather, it is more about his psychological transformation. “It’s a human experience thing. The point is not the second person you kill; it’s the second experience of killing.”
What do you think about David Corenset’s James Bond theory? Let us know in the comments section below.
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