How Dwayne Johnson’s Role in Doom Changed Bond History

Karl Urban’s career has seen him leap from one blockbuster franchise to another, with appearances in everything from Star Trek and The Lord of the Rings to the Marvel universe and even a fleeting moment in Star Wars. Yet, there’s one iconic British role that slipped through his fingers, and the story behind it is rather more circuitous than you might expect.

After Pierce Brosnan’s tenure as the world’s most famous secret agent came to an end, the search for a new 007 was on. The shortlist was peppered with familiar names: Henry Cavill, who was deemed not quite in shape enough; Sam Worthington, who would later find fame in Avatar; and Christian Bale, who was actually offered the part but declined. Among these contenders, Urban’s name was in the mix, and he made it further than most.

Missed Opportunities and Unlikely Obstacles

Urban’s prospects looked promising, perhaps helped along by the fact that Casino Royale’s director, Martin Campbell, also hails from New Zealand. The actor himself recalled,

“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.”

The film in question? Not a prestige drama or a high-profile action epic, but Doom—a 2005 adaptation of the legendary video game, which, in hindsight, was hardly a career-defining moment.

In Doom, Urban took on the role of John ‘Reaper’ Grimm, a name that’s as subtle as a sledgehammer. The film itself, with the exception of a brief first-person sequence, failed to capture the chaotic energy of its source material and was met with a collective shrug from critics and audiences alike.

The Rock’s Pivotal Decision

Here’s where things take a twist. The lead role in Doom was initially offered to Dwayne Johnson, who was still carving out his place in Hollywood at the time. Johnson, however, opted to play Sarge, the squad’s leader, rather than Grimm. Had he chosen differently, Urban’s filming schedule might have been less demanding—or perhaps he’d have skipped the project altogether. That, in turn, could have freed him up to attend the all-important Bond screen test.

It’s a classic case of one actor’s decision rippling out to affect another’s fate. With Urban tied up on set, the opportunity to don the tuxedo and order a martini—shaken, not stirred—slipped away. The role, as we all know, ultimately went to Daniel Craig, who would redefine the character over the next decade and a half.

Looking Back Without Regret

Urban, for his part, seems to harbour no ill will about how things turned out.

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

he admitted, adding,

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

Sometimes, the roles we miss out on are the ones we end up appreciating most from afar.