Dick Van Dyke Almost Played James Bond! Here are 4 Other Actors Who Turned Down the Role
From Dick Van Dyke to Clint Eastwood—the stars who said no to 007 and their surprising reasons
There have been many James Bond stars over the years—from Sean Connery to Daniel Craig to Pierce Brosnan—but there have been quite a few other familiar actors who almost took on the role. Recently, one big star revealed that he was considered for the role but decided to turn it down for one main reason. Find out which actors had the opportunity to portray the 007 character and why they ultimately didn’t.
Dick Van Dyke
The Mary Poppins star was almost in the 007 universe. Dick Van Dyke recently revealed in an interview that he was indeed asked to portray James Bond but he wasn’t exactly sure he was the right fit.
“I almost did,” Van Dyke shared in an interview with TODAY host, Al Roker. “Cubby [Albert] Broccoli came to me and said, ‘Would you like to be Bond?’ And I said, ‘Have you heard my British accent?’
Henry Cavill
The Man of Steel actor almost portrayed the legendary James Bond. Henry Cavill once auditioned for the 007 character for 2006’s Casino Royale but the actor told Men’s Health that he wasn’t exactly ready to take on the iconic role.
“I probably could have prepared better,” Cavill recalled. “I remember the director, Martin Campbell, saying, ‘Looking a little chubby there, Henry.’ I didn’t know how to train or diet. And I’m glad Martin said something, because I respond well to the truth. It helps me get better.”
While Cavill was the second choice for the role, he ultimately lost out to Daniel Craig.
Clint Eastwood
“The Man with No Name” almost had the pretty popular name of James Bond. Clint Eastwood revealed that he was once offered the role of the character and that he was offered a large sum.
“I was also offered pretty good money to do James Bond if I would take on the role. This was after Sean Connery left. My lawyer represented the Broccolis [who produce the Bond franchise] and he came and said, ‘They would love to have you.’ But to me, well, that was somebody else’s gig. That’s Sean’s deal. It didn’t feel right for me to be doing it.”
Richard Burton
Did you know Richard Burton almost starred in a James Bond film? The Cleopatra actor shared in an interview that he almost took on the role after Sean Connery but ultimately Connery stayed on for the part.
“I almost replaced Sean Connery as James Bond in Thunderball. This was before Sean played Bond,” Burton said in a 1991 interview. “I wonder sometimes how it might all have turned out.”
Hugh Jackman
As it turns out, Jackman and Cavill were up for the same role. The Wolverine star had the chance to star as Bond in 2006’s Casino Royale but he decided against it for a few reasons.
“I had a look at it [the role],” Jackman said. “I was like, ‘If I’m doing that and Wolverine, I’ll have no time to do anything else.’ I clearly find it more interesting to play people who color outside the lines.”
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