© Jamie McCarthy - Getty ImagesWriter and director Brian Helgeland has spoken about how James Bond actor Daniel Craig was almost cast in A Knight's Tale opposite Heath Ledger.
It's hard to believe that A Knight's Tale was released two decades ago, but the film starring Heath Ledger is now 20 years old.
Discussing the movie's legacy with Variety, writer and director Brian Helgeland spilled some behind-the-scenes trivia from the film, including how James Bond was almost cast.
Helgeland revealed that Daniel Craig read for the part of Count Adhemar and while the future Bond impressed, the director was already set on Rufus Sewell for the part.
© Jamie McCarthy - Getty ImagesMoMA's Film Series
"Daniel Craig came in to read for Count Adhemar and he was fantastic," Adhemar said. "This was long before he was Bond, obviously. He was just amazing.
"But I had already taken to Rufus Sewell for the role. I came close to changing my mind but it ultimately came down to Daniel was blond and Heath was blond and I thought the contrast in looks with Heath and Rufus was better. And they became best friends, those two, they would carouse through Prague together."
© Columbia PicturesRufus Sewell in A Knight
Helgeland also revealed that he wrote the part of Chaucer for future WandaVision star Paul Bettany after he impressed him during the audition process for another film.
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While Bettany appreciated the character being written for him, he did have some qualms about one, very memorable, scene.
© Frederick M. Brown / Stringer - Getty ImagesPaul Bettany
"I wrote Chaucer for Paul and sent him the script," Helgeland said. "And day or two went by and he called on the phone and it was basically like, 'You f**k, you f**ker!' And it was Paul.
"He goes, 'I'm naked! I'm f**king naked.' And I said, 'Do you want to do it or don't you?' And he goes, 'Of course I want to do it!' And I go, 'Okay, because it's gonna be a struggle.'"
A Knight's Tale is available to watch through Amazon Prime Video.
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