The rumour mill continues to churn out names as to who might be playing James Bond when the spy returns for his 26th outing.
The likes of Callum Turner, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Tom Hardy have been bandied around, but we're still no closer to knowing who's next in line to order their martinis shaken not stirred.
Six actors have taken the reins, those being Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig. However, the stars faced stiff competition ahead of securing the role of a lifetime.
It will be an entirely different era whenever the franchise does finally return to screens, with Amazon taking over the name. Previous producer Barbara Broccoli has previously claimed that while the character could be any race, they needed to be British, but with Amazon now in charge, could that mean an American Bond?
Bond has always reinvented itself, with some stars who thought they might have been shoo-ins previously disregarded as the franchise shifted tone.
While we wait for the official confirmation to come through, meet six actors who were nearly cast as the super spy…
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© Getty ImagesCary nearly played the original Bond
Cary Grant
James Bond burst onto our screens in 1962 with Dr. No. While fans fondly remember the late Sean Connery as the first-ever 007, producers were originally eyeing up a heavyweight titan in the acting world for the role.
By the time casting for the first Bond film began, Cary Grant was an established actor, having appeared in four Alfred Hitchcock films, including To Catch a Thief, and several screwball comedies that are now referred to as some of the best in the genre.
His handsome and suave demeanour certainly would have embodied that of the secret agent, and Albert 'Cubby' Broccoli, who was producing the film, was close friends with the actor.
However, despite winning over the producers, Cary was insistent that he wouldn't be starring in a franchise. The book James Bond: The Legacy revealed that producers were hoping for a three-film contract for the star.
Had Cary taken on the role, then he would have been the eldest person to step into the role, as he was 58 when the first Bond film was released in 1962.
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© Getty ImagesJohn starred opposite Bond Girl Ursula Andress in She
John Richardson
After Sean Connery stepped away from the franchise, the race was on to find his replacement, with reportedly 400 actors auditioning. Life magazine photographed snaps from the audition process, which included a re-enactment of a scene in From Russia With Love where Bond first meets Tatiana Romanova.
One of the stars who was being considered was English actor John Richardson, who at that time was best-known for Black Sunday and One Million Years B.C. Despite being one of the leading men of the 1960s, the British actor was pipped to the post by George Lazenby, who reportedly secured the role after breaking a stuntman's nose during a fight scene.
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© Getty ImagesBurt regretted his decision
Burt Reynolds
George Lazenby only stayed for one Bond film, and while Sean Connery was coaxed back to the role for Diamonds Are Forever, he refused to go further, meaning the search was back on. Despite the character's British roots, producer Albert R. Broccoli was keen on casting American actor Burt Reynolds.
By the time Live and Let Die came around, Burt had starred in Deliverance, as well as having leading roles in series like Hawk, so he certainly had the action credentials necessary for the role.
However, when Albert approached him for the role, Burt turned the offer down. Speaking on Good Morning America in 2015, the iconic actor expressed his regret at turning the role down. "I think I could have done it well," he said. "In my stupidity, I said, 'An American can't play James Bond, it has to be an Englishman – Bond, James Bond. Nah, I can't do it.' Oops. Yeah, I could have done it."
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© Getty ImagesSam admitted to not wanting the role
Sam Neill
Although he's now known as Dr Alan Grant in the Jurassic Park franchise, Sam nearly played James Bond instead of Timothy Dalton. However, it has since transpired that despite auditioning for the role, Sam never wanted to play the super spy.
Speaking to Men's Journal in 2023, he recalled being "bullied" into the audition by his management team. "And so I found myself auditioning for a part that I never really wanted to do because no one wants to be the James Bond nobody likes," he explained. "That's an unenviable position."
He also hoped that his close friend, Pierce Brosnan, would end up taking on the role instead. Sam added: "I wanted Pierce to do it. So I did this ridiculous audition, and it was excruciating."
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© Ron Galella Collection via GettyHugh nearly wore the iconic tuxedo
Hugh Grant
It was nearly a shoo-in that Pierce would play James Bond after Timothy Dalton left the franchise, with the actor previously being one of the favourites to take on the role after Roger Moore left.
However, another British actor was reportedly in contention as well, that being Hugh Grant. The star's iconic romcom, Four Weddings and a Funeral had just been released, so he certainly would have been swoon-worthy enough for the role, but a 1995 report in Entertainment Weekly revealed that the actor turned down the role.
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© AFP via Getty ImagesHenry just missed out on playing the spy
Henry Cavill
The last time that the role was up for grabs was back in 2006, and while Daniel Craig secured the role, it was nearly Superman star Henry Cavill that became the stylish spy.
Speaking on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Henry revealed: "They told me I was close. It was down to me and Daniel. I was the younger option."
In an interview with Men's Health in 2019, Henry also reflected that at the time of his audition he wasn't in shape. "I probably could have prepared better," he told the publication. "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 truth. It helps me get better."
