Bardem’s Bond Dilemma
17th March 2025
How Skyfall nearly lost its villain
By MI6 Staff
Share The Story
Javier Bardem’s chilling performance as Raoul Silva is one of Skyfall’s standout elements. But did you know that he almost turned down the role?
As detailed in the new MI6 special publication 'Skyfall: Production Diary', Bardem was hesitant to play another villain after his Oscar-winning turn as Anton Chigurh in 'No Country for Old Men'. He initially declined the role when approached by producers.
Director Sam Mendes refused to give up on casting Bardem. He believed that Silva needed to be more than just a typical Bond villain - he had to be a reflection of Bond himself. Mendes personally flew to Spain to pitch his vision to Bardem. In the book, Bardem recalls the conversation:
“Sam told me, ‘This isn’t just a villain. This is someone who shares Bond’s pain.’ That’s what made me say yes.”
Once Bardem agreed, Mendes reshaped the character around him, working with screenwriters Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, and John Logan to deepen Silva’s backstory.
One of the most striking moments in Skyfall is Silva’s long, slow entrance, walking toward Bond while delivering his infamous rat monologue. The book reveals that Mendes designed the entire set around this one shot, ensuring that Bardem could walk the exact distance needed to finish his speech at the right moment.
Bardem recalls: “The first time I saw the set, I was amazed. It was built so that I would reach Bond exactly as I finished the monologue. That level of detail blew me away.”
Silva’s platinum blonde hair and eerie demeanor were carefully crafted to unsettle both Bond and the audience. The book reveals that Mendes and Bardem discussed Silva’s “discomforting” presence at length: “We wanted him to feel like he was always a little too close, always just invading your space.”
One of Skyfall’s most unforgettable moments is Silva’s disturbingly flirtatious encounter with Bond. Bardem remembers that this scene was almost cut: “We filmed it, and Sam said, ‘Let’s keep it. It makes Silva even more unpredictable.’”
The moment was so unexpected that even Daniel Craig ad-libbed his response (“What makes you think this is my first time?”), turning it into an instant classic.
Want to uncover more secrets from Skyfall’s production? Skyfall: Production Diary is packed with exclusive details, cut scenes, script excerpts, and behind-the-scenes photos. The 100-page full colour publication is now shipping around the world.
