Actor David Harbour has reflected on director Marc Forster's decision to cast him in Quantum of Solace (2008), the James Bond film. According to Harbour, Forster enthusiastically championed the role despite producers' concerns about his youth, crediting the director's willingness to take a chance on him as meaningful for his early career.

Harbour recalls that Forster was immediately enthusiastic about him at their initial meeting, even though studio producers were sceptical about his suitability. The director was so determined to hire Harbour that he disregarded industry doubts entirely. Forster, a German director known for diverse films including Monster's Ball and Christopher Robin, apparently appreciated Harbour's distinctive look, with Harbour remembering Forster "just loved" him despite—or perhaps because of—the "weird moustache" he was wearing at the time.