Ben Starr, the actor whose voice and motion capture performances have defined some of the most memorable video game characters in recent years, has disclosed that he once auditioned to play James Bond. The revelation, which Starr made during a recent interview, centers on a project titled 007 First Light, a game that aimed to bring a fresh origin story for the iconic British spy. For fans of both Starr’s work and the long-running Bond franchise, this piece of casting trivia offers a fascinating glimpse into how the entertainment industry’s most coveted roles are pursued behind closed doors.
Starr is best known for his breakout role as Clive Rosfield in Final Fantasy XVI, a performance that earned widespread critical acclaim for its emotional depth and physical intensity. He also recently appeared as the character Gustave in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, an ambitious turn-based RPG that has drawn praise for its dark, painterly aesthetic and narrative ambition. These roles have cemented Starr’s reputation as a versatile performer capable of conveying both vulnerability and commanding presence — qualities that would certainly serve a potential James Bond actor well.
The news that Starr auditioned for Bond comes at a time when the franchise is undergoing a period of significant transition. Following Daniel Craig’s farewell in No Time to Die (2021), speculation about the next actor to don the tuxedo has been relentless. While the Bond film series remains the most visible pillar of the franchise, the video game arm has also seen renewed activity. 007 First Light was reportedly conceived as a prequel-style game exploring Bond’s early career, offering a younger, less polished version of the character than the one seen in the films.
Who Is Ben Starr and Why Does This Audition Matter?
Ben Starr is not a household name in the way that some Hollywood A-listers are, but within the gaming industry, he has become one of its most respected voice and performance capture actors. His work in Final Fantasy XVI required him to deliver hundreds of lines of dialogue while also performing complex motion capture sequences that translated into the game’s cinematic combat and cutscenes. That role demanded a level of physical endurance and emotional range that closely mirrors the demands of playing a franchise icon like James Bond.
The audition for 007 First Light places Starr in a long lineage of actors who have tried out for the Bond role without ultimately securing it. Historically, the casting process for James Bond has been notoriously secretive and competitive. Actors as varied as Sam Neill, Mel Gibson, Hugh Grant, and Henry Cavill have all been linked to the role at various points, with some auditioning and others being considered but ultimately passed over. Starr’s revelation adds his name to that list, but it also highlights the extent to which video game acting has become a legitimate proving ground for major franchise talent.
What Is 007 First Light?
007 First Light was a proposed video game project that aimed to tell the origin story of James Bond. Unlike the mainline film series, which typically features Bond as a fully formed MI6 operative, First Light was intended to explore his early missions, his training, and the formative experiences that shaped him into the world’s most famous secret agent. The project was in development at a time when the Bond video game license was being re-evaluated by MGM and its partners following the mixed reception of 007 Legends and the absence of a substantial Bond game for several years.
While details about 007 First Light remain scarce, the concept of a prequel story is not new for the franchise. The films themselves, particularly Casino Royale (2006), served as a soft reboot that showed Bond earning his 00 status. A game dedicated to those early years could have offered players the chance to experience Bond’s first kills, his first encounters with key allies and enemies, and the psychological toll of becoming a government-sanctioned assassin. The decision to audition an actor like Starr suggests that the developers were looking for someone who could bring a fresh energy to the role while also anchoring it in a believable human performance.
It remains unclear whether 007 First Light</
