I had been monitoring Mads Mikkelsen for quite a while and had seen him in a few Danish films and was really impressed with his versatility.
You always have to have your eyes open in case you have to replace somebody, which has happened many, many times. Having fought the battle for Daniel, Barbara felt she couldn't really push it any further. There was an actor very much in mind who I very much wanted, but in the end, the studio didn't want. Mads Mikkelsen was not in at all until the person who we originally wanted didn't go. Some people aren't cast even after we start shooting. 'Minds get changed quite long into the process. However, the studio didn't want the actor she had in mind for the role. While she had been a fan of Mikkelsen for some time, McWilliams didn't feel he was right for the part because he wasn't French. Although McWilliams doesn't share who her original choice was, she does let on that it was a French actor, something that was important to her considering the character's name and heritage.
However, according to comments from McWilliams in a new interview with EW, there was originally another actor she had in mind for the role of Le Chiffre. Related: Casino Royale Broke A Barrier No James Bond Movie Could Before
