10 Actors Who Nearly Played James Bond

      It's time to reflect on some of the James Bond candidates from the past...

      As we anticipate (or perhaps not with much eagerness) the official announcement of who will assume the role of James Bond in the new Amazon era, guided by the artistic vision of Denis Villeneuve, various rumors and names have surfaced, including Tom Holland and Aaron Taylor-Johnson (who appears to be leading the pack).

      With around 25 official films released so far and six different actors portraying the iconic spy, numerous potential names have been associated with the role over the years. From actors heavily speculated about to those who were actually offered the role but declined, it’s time to explore some of the more intriguing candidates. Here are ten previous Bond contenders…

      James Mason

      James Mason was an actor who embodied a refined and ruthless Britishness when cast as a villain. While he may not seem like an archetypical Bond at first glance, he was indeed a top candidate during the casting of the first significant Bond film, Dr. No. One of the deciding factors that led producers to take a chance on relative unknown Sean Connery was that Mason would only agree to two films instead of the three they sought. While Mason would likely have brought something compelling to the role (just as his North by Northwest co-star Cary Grant, who was also considered), he seemed better suited as a villain. Ironically, Mason almost became the villain (Draxler) in Moonraker before being replaced last minute due to the co-French production's insistence on casting a French actor (Michael Lonsdale).

      Oliver Reed

      Just imagine it. Ian Fleming portrayed Bond as occasionally uncouth with a complicated relationship with alcohol, reflecting some rough edges absent from earlier films. However, it’s difficult (yet fascinating) to envision the unique Oliver Reed as 007. Picture Bond strolling into the casino, tie slightly askew, holding a large glass of a somewhat foreboding orange drink so potent it could strip paint off the walls. He slightly stumbles down the first step, yet defeats every henchman one-handed without spilling a single drop. Indeed, Cubby Broccoli might have overlooked a golden opportunity, feeling the effort to clean up Reed’s reputation was too great.

      Clint Eastwood

      Following Connery's initial departure, a variety of names were rumored for Bond, including Michael Caine, who did not wish to be typecast as a spy after portraying Harry Palmer in The Ipcress File. While Caine might be difficult to imagine as Bond, visualize Clint Eastwood in the role. Tough and stoic, Eastwood would have brought an icy demeanor to the character, but he might have lacked the quintessential British essence of Bond. He himself felt that a British actor was more appropriate for the role, which is also why Burt Reynolds bowed out of consideration.

      Terence Stamp

      The esteemed British actor, the late Terence Stamp, was well-acquainted with intense cult cinema and known for portraying tough guys alongside enigmatic and daring roles. During the time he was considered for On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, he was involved in a controversial Pasolini film (Theorem). While he had the right look and a certain volatile energy, producers ultimately believed Stamp would be too intense for Bond, and Harry Saltzman deemed his ideas for the character too radical. One can envision Stamp possibly bringing some choices to the role similar to what Daniel Craig did in Casino Royale. Interestingly, while Hollywood was trending towards darker, grittier action films at the time, the Bond franchise, moving into the 70s with Moore, went in a contrasting direction.

      Liam Neeson

      With this choice, Bond would have excelled at conveying threatening phone calls. When Bond needed a relaunch in the early 90s and Timothy Dalton hesitated to return, numerous names were considered before Pierce Brosnan eventually stepped in for a role he had previously declined. Sean Bean was among the contenders for GoldenEye (of course, Bean was later cast as 006), while Liam Neeson was also a candidate. According to Neeson, he was very close to landing the role, but his late wife, Natasha Richardson, was against him taking it due to the associated baggage. Nevertheless, Neeson would have made an excellent Bond during that time, even if it’s hard to envision anyone other than Pierce in GoldenEye.

      Ralph Fiennes

      Another actor in the mix around the time he was on the verge of stardom was Ralph Fiennes (ironically, both Neeson and Fiennes became big names thanks to Schindler’s List). Historically, the Bond producers tended to flirt with big names during the rumor phase but ended up selecting actors who weren’t necessarily top movie stars. Connery and George Lazenby were relatively unknown, while Brosnan and Roger Moore were famous but best known for their television roles. Though Dalton was a movie star, he wasn’t considered a box office draw. F