One may write a complete e-book on the lads who nearly grew to become 007. Right here at JoBlo, I’ve labored on dozens of movies masking each side of the tremendous spy’s historical past, however unusually sufficient, I by no means took a deep dive into the actors who very almost performed Bond… James Bond. Fact be informed, there are dozens—starting from international superstars, to individuals whose recognition briefly peaked, to finish unknowns. However it actually must be divided up into eras, as there have been eight particular intervals the place EON was actively in search of a brand new 007. Arguably, we’re within the ninth such interval now, with Amazon and Denis Villeneuve trying to find the person who will lead Bond into the following stage of his cinematic historical past.
So, in celebration of James Bond Day, let’s check out every.
Pre-Physician No: Earlier than Sean Connery was solid as James Bond, producers Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman solid a large internet for who can be the primary actor to play 007 on display screen. Whereas individuals typically say Cary Grant, James Mason, and David Niven (who later performed Bond within the spoof On line casino Royale) had been robust contenders, that’s not likely correct. The primary Bond movie was a glorified B-movie with a modest $1.1 million funds. They had been by no means going to solid a giant star. As an alternative, the function actually got here down to a couple comparatively unknown actors on the time. One was Roger Moore, who had a quick, unsuccessful profession in Hollywood as an MGM contract participant and even changed James Garner for a brief stint because the lead within the TV western Maverick. One other was Patrick McGoohan, who declined the function as a result of he was Catholic and didn’t approve of Bond’s womanizing. He would go on to play a way more chaste small-screen spy in Secret Agent/Hazard Man, earlier than creating The Prisoner and having fun with a protracted, distinguished profession—together with a memorable villainous function in Braveheart late in life. One other contender was Richard Johnson, who was gaining recognition in North America after starring in Robert Sensible’s The Haunting. He later performed a really Bond-like character within the Bulldog Drummond revival movies Deadlier Than the Male and Some Women Do. How shut any of those males truly got here to touchdown the half is debatable, because it appears the one one who ever actually received severe consideration was Connery.
On Her Majesty’s Secret Service: The draw back of hiring an unknown is that they sometimes signal multi-picture offers. Even after Connery grew to become a family identify, EON refused to make him an equal companion within the collection. Pissed off, he walked away after You Solely Dwell Twice, and the seek for a brand new Bond was on. This time, EON was clear: they wished one other unknown. No stars. They held cattle-call auditions, certainly one of which was even coated by Life Journal. The eventual winner was George Lazenby, an unknown Australian mannequin. Not one of the different profiled actors actually stood out, besides John Richardson, who had starred in Hammer movies comparable to She and One Million Years B.C.
Diamonds Are Endlessly: The general public didn’t embrace Lazenby, although the movie did nicely sufficient financially that EON thought he may develop into the half. Sadly, Lazenby—after taking some horrendous enterprise recommendation—determined the Bond franchise was outdated and fancied himself the following Clint Eastwood. He stop and promptly light into obscurity, although he later grew to become a cult favourite amongst Bond followers. At this level, EON thought of making Bond American, with a lower-budget movie set within the U.S. Broccoli wished Burt Reynolds, however Reynolds correctly declined, saying that making Bond American can be a mistake. Adam West (TV’s Batman) was additionally thought of and even befriended the Broccoli household. Finally, the half was given to John Gavin, greatest identified from Hitchcock’s Psycho. Contracts had been signed, however United Artists—Bond’s U.S. distributor—insisted this was a mistake and urged EON to lure Connery again in any respect prices. They provided him a then-astronomical $1 million wage (as a lot as Dr. No had value to supply) and a two-film deal. Connery agreed, donating his wage to charity, however swore it was a one-off. As soon as Diamonds Are Endlessly wrapped, Bond was as soon as once more with out a main man.
Dwell and Let Die: With Connery formally out, EON deserted the thought of constructing Bond an American. Diamonds Are Endlessly had been successful, so that they set their sights again on British expertise. Michael Gambon was briefly thought of however turned it down, claiming he was too unattractive and out of form. A younger Timothy Dalton was additionally approached however felt he was far too younger for the function. Finally, they provided the half to Roger Moore, who had already been thought of twice earlier than—as soon as earlier than Dr. No, and once more in the course of the On Her Majesty’s Secret Service casting course of, after they almost shot The Man with the Golden Gun in Cambodia (earlier than the Vietnam Conflict scuttled these plans).
1981–82: Regardless of Moore’s future as 007, he was almost changed twice. Earlier than For Your Eyes Solely, wage negotiations broke down and Michael Billington (who had appeared in The Spy Who Cherished Me) was critically thought of, even posing for promotional stills. In 1982, earlier than Octopussy, Moore once more appeared out, with Billington saved as a backup. Different contenders included Quebecois actor Daniel Pilon, Lewis Collins (The Professionals), and—most apparently—American actor James Brolin. Brolin filmed intensive display screen assessments, that are nonetheless out there on DVD/Blu-ray. He adopted a mid-Atlantic accent that was surprisingly efficient. The one motive he didn’t get the function was that EON couldn’t cease Sean Connery from making the rival movie By no means Say By no means Once more. They determined they wanted Moore to compete straight. Their gamble paid off—Octopussy outgrossed By no means Say By no means Once more. Moore loved making Octopussy a lot that he returned for one last movie, A View to a Kill, although he later admitted he was far too previous by that time.
The Residing Daylights (1986): This was essentially the most exhaustive seek for Bond but. Sam Neill screen-tested however got here throughout as too severe. Pierce Brosnan nailed his audition and was truly employed—just for NBC to dam him by reviving Remington Steele, hoping to profit from their lead actor turning into 007. Broccoli refused, and Brosnan misplaced the function, just for NBC to cancel Remington Steele shortly after. Frenchman Lambert Wilson and Australian Anthony Hamilton had been additionally contenders. Finally, Timothy Dalton was solid, resulting in a brief however revered tenure as Bond.
1994: Brosnan was as soon as once more the favored favourite, however different names had been floated, together with Mel Gibson, Ralph Fiennes (who would later play M), and Mark Frankel, a promising actor whose profession was minimize quick by a deadly automobile accident in 1996. Brosnan lastly secured the function and ushered in a profitable period for the franchise.
2003–2005: After Die One other Day, Brosnan was dismissed and EON selected to reboot the collection with a youthful Bond. Candidates included Julian McMahon, Goran Višnjić, Karl City, Antony Starr, Rupert Good friend, and Sam Worthington. The closest was Henry Cavill, who gave a powerful audition however was deemed too younger at 22. The function as an alternative went to 35-year-old Daniel Craig, whose casting reshaped the franchise.
And that, my mates, is a brief historical past of the lads who nearly performed Bond. Watching the leaked auditions is fascinating—you possibly can critique the performances and picture the alternate timelines. For my cash, Brolin and Cavill had been the one two who actually may have nailed the function of their eras. What do you suppose? Tell us within the feedback.
