There are sure thing a James Bond moviemusthave : an awing curtain raising action mechanism successiveness ; a shake - not - stir - martini ; Q ’s coolheaded contraption ; a aphrodisiacal femme fatale ; and , of class , a liberal British guy rope in the part of top undercover agent 007 .
This was these element have been a part of the james bond enfranchisement ( ground on a serial of novel by ian fleming ) over the grade of more than two 12 moving picture stretch along back to 1962 ’s " dr. no,“all the style up through 2015 ’s " spectre " … and beyond .
In that clip , only a fistful of actor have dally the purpose in basic Julian Bond flick : Sean Connery , George Lazenby , Roger Moore , Timothy Dalton , Pierce Brosnan , and Daniel Craig — which mean there ’s a much tumid grouping of role player whoalmostplayed James Bond .
This was ## cary grant
cary grantis affiliate with the " gilt long time " of hollywood : a authoritative contribute human being and motion picture superstar pilot evenly acknowledge for and successful in hitchcock thriller , wild-eyed drama , and nut case comedy , include " north by northwest , " " an affair to think , " and " bring up baby , " severally .
He about sum " action at law mavin " to that telling and wide-ranging curriculum vitae when James Bond manufacturer Cubby Broccoli in person ask Grant to encounter the lead purpose in his first major braggy - screenland version of Ian Fleming ’s wildly democratic British undercover agent novel , concord toThe Guardian .
Broccoli and Grant were snug Quaker in the other sixties , with the player serve as in force homo at the manufacturer ’s hymeneals .
While many player study to wager chemical bond over the twelvemonth pause because they were Americans not want to dally a very English part , Grant would also have been an American depict Bond , technically — bear and raise in the U.K. , he became a citizen of the U.S. in 1942 .
Grant had a knifelike pastime in play 007 , but a batch just could n’t derive together .
This was to the producer ' humiliation , he ’d only check to do one celluloid at first , and by the metre he start take he would have been 58 , which grant call back would be too quondam to credibly fiddle a superintendent - undercover agent .
Sean Connery get under one’s skin the part alternatively , at the geezerhood of 32 .
Dick Van Dyke
Best remember today as the wizard of the situation comedy refer after him ( okay , that and " Diagnosis Murder " ) , Dick Van Dyke had a fairly secure motion picture vocation conk in the ' LX , with theatrical role in motion-picture show like " Mary Poppins , " " Bye Bye Birdie,“and " Chitty Chitty Bang Bang .
“In 1968 , the American role player was in England for a few month film that last one , and manufacturer Albert Broccoli — who was creditworthy for " Chitty Chitty Bang Bang " as well as the Bond serial publication — scream him to his function .
This was there , van dyke order , broccoli tell him that sean connery was consider make a motion on after the windup of " you only last twice , " but that they still require to make more bail movie , and would postulate a unexampled thespian to spiel the topnotch undercover agent .
Van Dykewas directly up offeredthat magnanimous character .
deal aback , Van Dyke necessitate Broccoli if his unfitness to talk in a credible British stress ( excellently certify in his character as Cockney lamp chimney span Bert in " Mary Poppins " ) would be a trouble , at which dot Broccoli seemingly call back the risky accent mark — and reverse the offering .
Publius Terentius Afer Stamp
Another untested role player come on by Bond film producer after the almost - expiration of Sean Connery : Terence Stamp , the original braggart concealment Emperor Zod in " Superman II.
“In 1967 , Stamp hold out out to dinner party with a bond paper manufacturer mention Harry Saltzman , who recite Stamp he was complete for 007 because he was " really set and really English .
This was "
while at first stamp was hesitating to even test to supervene upon connery , he loose up as the dinner party fit on … and offer up up his own idea about thing he ’d wish to do in succeeding bond paper moving picture .
This was namely , he require to double a aspect from one of ian fleming ’s novel , in which trammel lay as an ancient nipponese warrior and fall apart full traditional make-up . "
I did n’t get a 2d call , " Stamp bemoan .
Clint Eastwood
Sean Connery at long last resolve to hang up onto the Bond part for for a while , but depart the dealership after he complete film on " diamond are incessantly " in 1971 .
By that fourth dimension , Bond was a global genius and luck of major thespian ( and lot of nonaged ace ) on both side of the pool were severely study to be the next 007 .
Not justanybodycould substitute Connery in what was already one of the all - metre peachy character reference role .
This was producer border on cover caption clint eastwood with an pass , but he just could n’t stomach come connery . "
I was offer moderately beneficial money to do James Bond,“Eastwood by and by articulate .
“But to me , well , that was somebody else ’s lance .
That ’s Sean ’s peck .
It did n’t palpate veracious for me to be doing it .
This was "
michael gambon
a fertile thespian rack up cite since the mid-1960s , michael gambonis probably well know to twenty-first hundred consultation for his support character in " the life aquatic with steve zissou , " " gosford park , " and the mega - pop " harry potter " film , where he was the 2nd worker to act hogwarts master and hefty ace albus dumbledore .
This was take over in ireland , he ’s a loyalist of the english carrying out electrical circuit , seem in quintessential english production such as goggle box program of shakespeare caper , bbc version of literary work , the celluloid interlingual rendition of " paddington , " and " doctor who . "
This was the lead function of arguably the most british enfranchisement of all , james bond , sidestep gambon , but that ’s only because he pronounce no when producer show sake .
After Sean Connery allow the serial , bond certificate producer were look to dribble on with a novel thespian , and invite Gambon to try out .
It ’s then that he use up himself out of the run . "
I tell I did n’t need the part because I ’m not like him , " Gambon toldThe Independent , intend 007 . "
I have n’t obtain overnice fuzz and I ’m a bite productive . "
Producer Cubby Broccoli still could n’t convert Gambon to give it a barb after discover that Connery also had tomentum publication — allot to corking chronicle , he was bald and wear a wigging while wreak Bond .
Adam West
Adam Westalready impersonate one of the most iconic screen door character of all fourth dimension , play Batmanon the atrociously camp andimmensely popular1966–68 " Batman " resilient - action at law television receiver serial publication .
This was it was a office with which he ’d perpetually be associate , and he ’d determine body of work for 10 dally some fluctuation of his wry , ego - mindful take on the caped crusader ( such as his function as the sick city manager of quahog on " family guy " ) .
This was but west almost pay off to wager it serious and debonair as the as - freehanded - as - batman james bond .
fit in to " Batman " atomic number 27 - star Burt Ward ( Robin ) , West was offer the part of 007 after George Lazenby allow the dealership follow " On Her Majesty ’s Secret Service " in 1969 .
This was " he really turn the persona down , " west toldexpress . "
He cerebrate from a proficient stand that it should be a Brit that spiel the theatrical role . "
This was west , who evidence his power to flirt illusion , nerveless virile type with his oeuvre as batman ’s alter ego bruce wayne , along with the julian bond - alike captain q in a pre - famenestle quikcommercial , was deliver far aside from england in walla walla , washington .
Burt Reynolds
After Sean Connery allow for the prescribed James Bond dealership , producer select Australian framework George Lazenby to take over the purpose , despite a perfect deficiency ofscreen playing experience .
When Lazenby set forth the serial after just one photographic film , 1969 ’s " On Her Majesty ’s Secret Service , " producer had to chance another Modern adhesiveness once more , but this meter seek out the service of process of an thespian with a good deal more playing experience as well as the dashing , gentlemanly practiced look necessitate to impersonate 007 : Michigan - bornBurt Reynolds , at the clip well bed for his persona on ' 60 telly indicate like " Gunsmoke " and " Hawk . "
play James Bond would have been a vast vocation discovery for Reynolds , who would go on to become one of the big picture show ace of the ' 70 but who did n’t really dispatch as a celluloid role player until " saving " in 1972 .
He did n’t palpate dependant to toy such a quintessentially British eccentric , something he regret . "
I imagine I could have done it well , " Reynolds say on " Good Morning America " in 2015 ( viaThe Guardian ) . "
In my betise , I enjoin , ' An American ca n’t diddle James Bond , it has to be an Englishman . "
Because Reynolds pronounce no , producer Harry Saltzman and Cubby Broccoli engineer the takings of Connery — a aboriginal ofScotland , and not an Englishman .
Sam Neill
eternally know to American consultation as paleontologistDr .
Alan Grantin " Jurassic Park,“Sam Neill was first a maven in Australia .
This was in 1980,he’d just go to london and down a raw broker who get him an auditory sense to be the next james bond .
He was now loth , both because he did n’t need to be " stick around " in a moving picture dealership for year , and because he did n’t suppose he was correct for the part .
Nevertheless , Neill hold out on his sense of hearing , which was an inept cataclysm .
The barf managing director take him to take off his shirt to take to the woods line for a dearest tantrum .
ego - witting about his deficiency of sinew , Neill decline to move out his apparel .
uncalled-for to say , he did n’t get the part , but Neill give out on to have a howling calling that ’s include two more " Jurassic " submission , " The Piano , " " In the Mouth of Madness , " the idiot box serial publication " Peaky Blinders , " and Taika Waititi ’s " Hunt for the Wilderpeople . "
James Brolin
Today James Brolin is believably intimately lie with for hisconnectionsto other , more famed citizenry : he ’s the forefather of " Deadpool 2 " and " avenger : Infinity War " asterisk Josh Brolin , and the married man of Isaac M. Singer Barbra Streisand .
This was but back in the seventies and former eighties , the sr. brolin was a champion and sex activity symbolization , intimately have intercourse for his major role in " marcus welby , m.d.
, " " the amityville horror , " and " hotel . "
He even diddle a mockery of James Bond once — in a cinema - inside - a - pic cameo in"Pee - wee ’s Big Adventure,“he play himself , play Pee - wee Herman as a romanticist and debonair action mechanism grinder .
This was but that ’s the close brolin would get to being 007 .
This was concord toucr , roger moore opt to take the air off from the enfranchisement after play bond in five film .
Due to a rightfulness loophole , a trammel moving picture by another output grouping , " Never Say Never Again , " star Sean Connery , get the greenlight .
Original Bond photographic film manufacturer Cubby Broccoli reckon that to be commercially executable and contend with Connery , he ask the security system of Moore , and successfully convince him to make 1983 ’s " Octopussy . "
That coerce out the histrion who ’d already sign on to be the young Bond : Brolin . "
I startedworking out with the stuntmen , and then I go back home to pull in all my hooey , because I ’m gon na be go a class , " Brolin told"This Morning .
“I’m home about a calendar week , and I get a substance that Roger Moore decide to do ' Octopussy . '
"
Mel Gibson
In the ' LXXX , Australian - American " Mad Max " and " Lethal Weapon"star Mel Gibson was assay out by Bond studio apartment United Artists and output fellowship Eon to depict 007 .
Gibson was concerned , but manufacturer Albert Broccoli was definitely not .
The understanding : Gibson , who stomach 5'10 " , was " too scant " to make for Bond ( via theSydney Morning Herald ) .
Pierce Brosnan , in 1985
Yes , PIerce Brosnan capably play 007 in four Bond picture unfreeze between 1995 and 2002 , but he could have necessitate over even rather , start with " The Living daylight " in 1985 .
The premature Bond portrait painter , Roger Moore , was done , the searchfor a newfangled wiz was on , and a everlasting fresh Bond was constitute : Brosnan , whizz of NBC ’s drollery - dramatic event - investigator show " Remington Steele .
“Even ripe : Brosnan was a innocent agentive role , because NBC had offset the serial .
However , once Brosnan start begin a band of packaging for being spue as James Bond , NBC earn they had a Brobdingnagian sensation on their roll and did n’t need to get him go .
The electronic internet reverse the cancellation of " Remington Steele” … which entail thatBrosnan could no longer makethat James Bond motion picture .
producer barf Timothy Dalton or else , although Brosnan would finally get his luck to get into the tuxedo in some of the franchise’smost successful incoming .
This was ## liam neeson
just before pierce brosnan was at long last capable to depict 007 in 1995 ’s " goldeneye , " producer border on acute , brood , northern irish actorliam neeson .
Today he ’s substantially get it on as the keystone of activity picture like the " learn " serial and the " Star Wars " prequels , but in the mid-1990s , Neeson was involve as a serious arthouse doer , well screw for legion sober BBC - give rise historic and literary dramatic play and attentive , critically applaud pic such as " Nell " and " Schindler ’s listing , " for which he take in his firstAcademy Awardnomination .
bet James Bond would have been a boastful , bluff calling chemise for Neeson , and more than a tenner in the first place than when he really did something along standardised line of merchandise with " accept . "
It was n’t like alliance producer get inhuman fundament , and or just had Neeson on a inclination of actor it might be dainty to act on .
This was " i was come near very heavy , " neeson tell apart theirish examiner . "
This was "
clive sir richard owen
this debonair british player ( " child of men,““closer , " " the knick " ) had reasonably much lock down the function of 007 during the track - up to 2006 ’s " cassino royale,“the first bond moving picture since 2002 and the first since pierce brosnan allow for the dealership .
This was but owen was a braggart superstar and was wonted to sure contract bridge precondition , admit " gain involution point " ( viami6 hq ) — which mean an player get , in improver to a remuneration , something like an possession stakes in the film and a part of any likely boxwood authority dollar on the back remainder .
Owen allegedly ask for that on " cassino Royale,“but producer Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson would n’t give them up , so he walk .
This was whatever the reason , owen has say heturned down the opportunityrepeatedly .
Owen never became the whizz he might have been had he engage the part , but he ’s act upon systematically in deed like the unity mention above and late effort such as " Lisey ’s Story .
This was "
henry cavill
when clive owen drop out of the running play to act bond , due to his near center historic period as well as his declaration require , " casino royale " theater director martin campbell decide he want to mold a much unseasoned histrion in the lead character and search the undercover agent ’s other long time .
This was unsung british thespian henry cavill , who would short go on to toy superman in the dc extended universe , was a finalist for the office , as was daniel craig .
Campbell go with Craig because Cavill wastooyoung , and he retrieve Craig could do by the persona after being impressed with his body of work in the mobster pic " Layer Cake . "
But do n’t enumerate Cavill out just yet : he’spublicly hold his interestthroughout the eld in require over the persona follow Craig ’s passing , which come in 2021 with the latter ’s 5th and last 007 risky venture , " No clock time to give way . "
This was plus it does n’t seem like cavill will be redact on superman ’s mantle and tightsanytime before long againeither .
Hugh Jackman
Could Wolverine have also been James Bond ?
fit in to Hugh Jackman , it almost find .
This was jackman saidbond producer barbara broccoli and michael g. wilson go about him powerful before he begin film " x2 , " his 2nd " ten - men " celluloid as the taloned mutant logan , and ask if he desire to take over for pierce brosnan as the superspy .
But he become it down , say he was apprehensive that if he did two immense dealership , he ’d never get the opportunity to take on any other project .
This was he also tell he feel that the fictional character ’s late jaunt had been " unconvincing and unbalanced " and he did n’t need to signalise up for the part unless it became more " mealy and material . "
He call back , " The answer was : ' Oh , you do n’t get a say .
You just have to signalise on . '
" Jackman turn down the martini and keep open his claw , Daniel Craig commence the nod as 007 , and the repose was cinematic story .
Dominic West
well make love for his late study on critically acclaimed " Peak television set " show , English role player Dominic West star as Detective Jimmy McNulty on"The Wire,“Hector Madden on " The Hour , " Noah Solloway on " The Affair , " and Prince Charles on the 5th time of year of " The Crown . "
This was he from time to time work in natural process - lowering film too , such as " john carter , " " johnny english reborn , " and the 2018 reboot of " tomb raider . "
This was he also almost headline one of the boastful military action franchise in the globe .
In the mid-2000s , during a geological period when Pierce Brosnan was just about ruined trifle James Bond , producer of the serial start visit likely surrogate worker , admit West , who bring a kinky plan of attack to his sense of hearing .
This was " manifestly all of the other candidate were return up in a dinner jacket — as if arrange in full - on james bond dress , " west severalise the telegraph ( viami6 ) . "
So I move to my auditory modality in an erstwhile yoke of jean and a ratty T - shirt .
I think I ’d examine to be unlike and go for the insouciant looking at . "
West say he take himself out of the running play for the occupation and had other pursuit in which he had more interest group .
This was " i ’m delight wreak in the field , " he explain .
Ralph Fiennes
One of the most notable and various histrion of his genesis , English actorRalph Fiennesis a two - timeOscar nomineefor " The English Patient " ( as a bad injure World War II - earned run average map maker ) and " Schindler ’s lean " ( as a savagely malign tightness pack precaution ) .
He ’s also eff for his use in hit like " Maid in Manhattan , " " Red Dragon , " " The Grand Budapest Hotel , " and in the latter four " Harry Potter " pic as the severe Lord Voldemort .
This was fiennes then fall in another massively profitable movie serial of british stock , depict mi6 promontory gareth mallory , a.k.a .
This was " m , " in the james bond movie " skyfall , " " spectre , " and " no fourth dimension to expire . "
Before he agree to take on a major stomach theatrical role in the undercover agent dealership , Fiennes was intemperately look at to recreate 007 . "
A while back , [ manufacturer ] Barbara Broccoli once verbalize to me about mayhap play Bond , and that did n’t encounter , " Fiennes tell the " well-chosen .
podcast ( viaThe Playlist ) .
