The timeline here is a fun one. Ben Starr recorded a self-tape for a James Bond role years before most people knew his name. Then Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 came out and turned him into one of gaming's most talked-about performers. Now, sitting at Summer Game Fest, he's reflecting on that audition with a very specific kind of relief.
The audition that almost was
Starr was candid about the whole thing. He taped the Goldeneye scene, got recalled to meet the development team at IO Interactive, and then, by his own account, completely fell apart.
"I really kind of crumbled under the pressure. I didn't deliver what they wanted," he said. At the time, he was a couple of years into recording Final Fantasy 16, which hadn't released yet, making him a relative unknown in the space. The Bond role in 007 First Light was always going to be a long shot.
Here's the thing: the story doesn't end with disappointment. It ends with genuine admiration for the actor who did land the part.
Why Starr is genuinely glad Patrick Gibson got the role
"I'm so fucking happy I didn't get anywhere near it, because my god, Patrick Gibson is so fucking good. He's unbelievable," Starr said.
That's not a gracious-loser line. Starr clearly means it. Gibson's performance in 007 First Light has drawn widespread praise from players, and the game itself has been described as a 14-hour globetrotting Bond fantasy that lands the spectacle, humor, and romance the franchise demands. Starr recognizing that someone else simply fit the role better is a refreshingly honest take in an industry where actors rarely discuss the parts they didn't get.
What this means for gamers following Starr's career
Starr has quietly become one of the most compelling voices in games. Final Fantasy 16 put him on the map, and Expedition 33 cemented it. The Bond audition story is a useful reminder that careers in this space are shaped by near-misses as much as wins, and that the right role at the right time matters more than getting every part you go for.
His candor at Summer Game Fest also signals that he's comfortable enough in his current position to talk openly about past stumbles. That's the kind of performer who tends to keep landing interesting work.
For anyone still working through Expedition 33, our in-depth review covers exactly why Starr's performance there resonates so strongly, and why Sandfall Interactive's debut turned out to be one of the more emotionally affecting RPGs in recent memory.
