3. Christian Bale – James Bond Franchise – $93.1 million
Pierce Brosnan started life as 007 with a bang in GoldenEye, but as the years worn on so did the audience’s appetite to see him playing James Bond in Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enoughand Die Another Day. The franchise began to feel stale and when the reboot of sorts Casino Royale came about casting prior to it’s 2006 release, Christian Bale was front of mind.
Had he agreed to the project to take the hefty role of 007, it would have almost coincided with his influence in reviving another classic character – Bruce Wayne via Batman Begins in 2005. Whether it was a scheduling conflict or just a genuine disinterest in playing the part, Christian bailed on the project and carried on one franchise under the guidance of Christopher Nolan and The Dark Knight. Daniel Craig, courtesy of being the last man standing at the casting call, is now estimated to have earned a collective $93.1 million salary as Bond and it all started 10 years ago through the smash hit Casino Royale.
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