'Skyfall' Bisexual Scene: James Bond Screenwriter Reveals Impetus Behind Homoerotic Interrogation

Javier Bardem's "Skyfall" villain doesn't appear until almost an hour into the film, but he's given quite an entrance. After regaling a captive James Bond (Daniel Craig) with a story about cannibal rats (true), Bardem's Silva begins lasciviously flirting with 007. Bond's quick retort: "What makes you think this is my first time?"

The scene raised eyebrows at early "Skyfall" press screenings because of the implication that the dashing MI6 agent is bisexual. According to screenwriter John Logan, however, that isn't the case.

"Some people claim it's because I'm, in fact, gay but not true at all," Logan told THR at the New York premiere of the film, held by Tribeca Film Institute. "Sam and I were discussing, there were so many scenes where Bond goes mano-a-mano with the villain, whether it's Dr. No or Goldfinger or whatever, and there’s been so many ways to do a cat-and-mouse and intimidate Bond, and we thought, what would truly make the audience uncomfortable is sexual intimidation; playing the sort of homoerotic card that is sort of always there subtextually with characters like Scaramanga in 'Man With the Golden Gun' or 'Dr. No.' So we just decided that we should play the card and enjoy it."

When asked about the moment last month, star Craig shot down any thought to Bond being bisexual.

"What are you going to do?" Craig said at a press conference for the film. "I don't see the world in sexual divisions." Craig then added that while some have suggested Bardem's Silva might be homosexual, he didn't agree. "I'm like, I think he'll f--k anything."

For his part, Bardem has kept the sexual preference of his villain oblique.

“You could read it that way," Bardem said to EW.com when asked about Silva's sexuality. "That option was there in the script. The word that [director Sam Mendes] kept using was ‘uncomfortableness’. Beyond the sexuality, he wanted it to feel like you don’t know if Silva’s joking or not.”

For more from Logan, including how he rebooted the iconic character for "Skyfall," head over to THR.

[via THR]

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Skyfall Royal World Premiere - London
Daniel Craig arriving for the Royal World Premeire of Skyfall at the Royal Albert Hall, London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday October 23, 2012. See PA story SHOWBIZ Bond. Photo credit should read: Yui Mok/PA Wire
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Britain's Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall (R) shakes hands with British actor Daniel Craig (L) as Craig's wife British actress Rachel Weisz (L) at the royal world premiere of the James Bond film 'Skyfall' at the Royal Albert Hall in London on October 23, 2012. AFP PHOTO / POOL / KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH (Photo credit should read KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH/AFP/Getty Images)
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Britain's Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall (R) meets British actors Daniel Craig (L) and Judi Dench (C) as she arrives with the Prince of Wales to attend the royal world premiere of the James Bond film 'Skyfall' at the Royal Albert Hall in London on October 23, 2012. AFP PHOTO / POOL / KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH (Photo credit should read KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH/AFP/Getty Images)
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Britain's Prince Charles, Prince of Wales (R) and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall (2R) meet British actors Daniel Craig (L) and Judi Dench (2L) as they arrive to attend the royal world premiere of the James Bond film 'Skyfall' at the Royal Albert Hall in London on October 23, 2012. AFP PHOTO / POOL / KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH (Photo credit should read KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH/AFP/Getty Images)
Skyfall - Royal World Premiere - Arrivals
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 23: Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall attend the Royal World Premiere of 'Skyfall' at the Royal Albert Hall on October 23, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Eamonn McCormack/Getty Images)
Skyfall - Royal World Premiere - Arrivals
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 23: Tulisa Contostavlos attends the Royal World Premiere of 'Skyfall' at the Royal Albert Hall on October 23, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Eamonn McCormack/Getty Images)
Skyfall - Royal World Premiere - Arrivals
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 23: Sam Taylor-Johnson and Aaron Taylor-Johnson attend the Royal World Premiere of 'Skyfall' at the Royal Albert Hall on October 23, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Eamonn McCormack/Getty Images)
Skyfall - Royal World Premiere - Arrivals
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 23: Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall attend the Royal World Premiere of 'Skyfall' at the Royal Albert Hall on October 23, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Eamonn McCormack/Getty Images)
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Britain's Prince Charles, Prince of Wales (L) and Camila, Duchess of Cornwall (R), greet members of the crowd as they arrive to attend the royal world premiere of the new James Bond film 'Skyfall' at the Royal Albert Hall in London on October 23, 2012. AFP PHOTO / LEON NEAL (Photo credit should read LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images)
Skyfall - Royal World Premiere - Arrivals
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 23: Valentino attends the Royal World Premiere of 'Skyfall' at the Royal Albert Hall on October 23, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Eamonn McCormack/Getty Images)
Skyfall - Royal World Premiere - Arrivals
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 23: (L-R) Jade Ellis, Tulisa Contostavlos, Ella Henderson and Lucy Spraggan attend the Royal World Premiere of 'Skyfall' at the Royal Albert Hall on October 23, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Eamonn McCormack/Getty Images)
Skyfall - Royal World Premiere - Arrivals
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 23: (L-R) Jade Ellis, Tulisa Contostavlos, Ella Henderson and Lucy Spraggan attend the Royal World Premiere of 'Skyfall' at the Royal Albert Hall on October 23, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Eamonn McCormack/Getty Images)
Skyfall Royal World Premiere - London
The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall meet James Bond actor Daniel Craig (left) and Dame Judi Dench (2nd left) as they arrive for the Royal World Premeire of Skyfall at the Royal Albert Hall, London.
Skyfall Royal World Premiere - London
John Logan arriving for the Royal World Premeire of Skyfall at the Royal Albert Hall, London
Skyfall Royal World Premiere - London
Christopher Biggins and Neil SInclair arriving for the Royal World Premeire of Skyfall at the Royal Albert Hall, London
Skyfall Royal World Premiere - London
Bear and Shara Grylls arriving for the Royal World Premeire of Skyfall at the Royal Albert Hall, London
Skyfall Royal World Premiere - London
Kathy Lett and Stephen Fry arriving for the Royal World Premeire of Skyfall at the Royal Albert Hall, London
Skyfall Royal World Premiere - London
Sam and Aaron Taylor-Johnson arriving for the Royal World Premeire of Skyfall at the Royal Albert Hall, London
Skyfall Royal World Premiere - London
Jordan Stephens and Harley Alexander-Sule from Rizzle Kicks arriving for the Royal World Premeire of Skyfall at the Royal Albert Hall, London
Skyfall Royal World Premiere - London
Marvin Humes, Aston Merrygold, Ortise Williams and JB Gill from JLS arriving for the Royal World Premeire of Skyfall at the Royal Albert Hall, London
Skyfall Royal World Premiere - London
Maryam D'Abo arriving for the Royal World Premeire of Skyfall at the Royal Albert Hall, London
Skyfall Royal World Premiere - London
Naomie Harris arriving for the Royal World Premeire of Skyfall at the Royal Albert Hall, London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday October 23, 2012. See PA story SHOWBIZ Bond. Photo credit should read: Yui Mok/PA Wire
Skyfall Royal World Premiere - London
Emeli Sande and husband Adam arriving for the Royal World Premeire of Skyfall at the Royal Albert Hall, London
Skyfall Royal World Premiere - London
(Centre left to right) Ralph Fiennes, Daniel Craig and Berenice Marlohe arriving for the Royal World Premeire of Skyfall at the Royal Albert Hall, London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday October 23, 2012. See PA story SHOWBIZ Bond. Photo credit should read: Yui Mok/PA Wire
Skyfall Royal World Premiere - London
Daniel Craig arriving for the Royal World Premeire of Skyfall at the Royal Albert Hall, London.
Skyfall Royal World Premiere - London
Chris Evans and wife Natasha arriving for the Royal World Premeire of Skyfall at the Royal Albert Hall, London
Skyfall Royal World Premiere - London
The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall arriving for the Royal World Premeire of Skyfall at the Royal Albert Hall, London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday October 23, 2012. See PA story SHOWBIZ Bond. Photo credit should read: Yui Mok/PA Wire
Skyfall Royal World Premiere - London
Tulisa Contastavlos with Lucy Spraggan, Ella Henderson and Jade Ellis arriving for the Royal World Premeire of Skyfall at the Royal Albert Hall, London
Skyfall Royal World Premiere - London
Kelly Brook arriving for the Royal World Premeire of Skyfall at the Royal Albert Hall, London
Skyfall Royal World Premiere - London
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Skyfall Royal World Premiere - London
District3 arriving for the Royal World Premeire of Skyfall at the Royal Albert Hall, London
Skyfall Royal World Premiere - London
Union J arriving for the Royal World Premeire of Skyfall at the Royal Albert Hall, London
Skyfall Royal World Premiere - London
Christopher Maloney, Kyle Sones, James Arthur and Jahmene Douglas arriving for the Royal World Premeire of Skyfall at the Royal Albert Hall, London
Skyfall Royal World Premiere - London
Ellie Simmonds arriving for the Royal World Premeire of Skyfall at the Royal Albert Hall, London
Skyfall Royal World Premiere - London
Victoria Pendleton arriving for the Royal World Premeire of Skyfall at the Royal Albert Hall, London
Skyfall Royal World Premiere - London
Victoria Pendleton arriving for the Royal World Premeire of Skyfall at the Royal Albert Hall, London
Skyfall Royal World Premiere - London
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Skyfall Royal World Premiere - London
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Skyfall Royal World Premiere - London
Katie Price arriving for the Royal World Premeire of Skyfall at the Royal Albert Hall, London
Skyfall Royal World Premiere - London
His Royal Highness The Prince of Cornwall and the Duchess of Cornwall arriving for the Royal World Premeire of Skyfall at the Royal Albert Hall, London
Skyfall Royal World Premiere - London
Bear Grylls arriving for the Royal World Premeire of Skyfall at the Royal Albert Hall, London
Skyfall Royal World Premiere - London
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Skyfall Royal World Premiere - London
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Skyfall Royal World Premiere - London
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Skyfall Royal World Premiere - London
Minnie Driver arriving for the Royal World Premeire of Skyfall at the Royal Albert Hall, London
Skyfall Royal World Premiere - London
Ella Anderson arriving for the Royal World Premeire of Skyfall at the Royal Albert Hall, London
Skyfall Royal World Premiere - London
Lucy Spraggan arriving for the Royal World Premeire of Skyfall at the Royal Albert Hall, London
Skyfall Royal World Premiere - London
Tulisa Contostavlos arriving for the Royal World Premeire of Skyfall at the Royal Albert Hall, London
Skyfall Royal World Premiere - London
Jade Ellis arriving for the Royal World Premeire of Skyfall at the Royal Albert Hall, London
Skyfall Royal World Premiere - London
Victoria Pendleton arriving for the Royal World Premeire of Skyfall at the Royal Albert Hall, London
Skyfall Royal World Premiere - London
Rylan Clark arriving for the Royal World Premeire of Skyfall at the Royal Albert Hall, London