This is a list of actors who were considered for the role of
James Bond
The ''James Bond'' series focuses on a fictional British Secret Service agent created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short-story collections. Since Fleming's death in 1964, eight other authors have ...
, both officially (auditioned by the film producers) and unofficially (supported by fans and celebrities) but did not play the role of agent 007. The separate list of
''James Bond'' films details the actors who have played the role of agent 007.
Considered but not chosen
Actors who have come under consideration for the role of James Bond but were not chosen.
Considered but declined the role
Actors who have come under consideration for the role of James Bond but have declined the offer for various reasons.
Both
Timothy Dalton
Timothy Leonard Dalton Leggett (; born 21 March 1946) is a British actor. Beginning his career on stage, he made his film debut as Philip II of France in the 1968 historical drama '' The Lion in Winter''. He gained international prominence a ...
and
Pierce Brosnan were linked to the role at least a decade before taking it but declined for various reasons.
Dalton was offered the role in 1967 at the age of 21 and finally took the role 20 years later. Dalton denied the offer again in 1979 because he felt the plot directions of the Bond films were becoming less realistic and more dependent on gadgetry and repeated plot formulas.
Both
Roger Moore and Dalton also did not accept the role for ''
On Her Majesty's Secret Service'', feeling that they did not want to be viewed as the man who replaced
Sean Connery. Pierce Brosnan was chosen as Bond for ''
The Living Daylights
''The Living Daylights'' is a 1987 spy film, the fifteenth entry in the ''James Bond'' series produced by Eon Productions, and the first of two to star Timothy Dalton as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. Directed by John Glen, the film's ...
'', but had to leave the role because the show ''
Remington Steele
''Remington Steele'' is an American television series co-created by Robert Butler and Michael Gleason. The series, starring Stephanie Zimbalist and Pierce Brosnan, was produced by MTM Enterprises and first broadcast on the NBC network from O ...
'' had been renewed, as Brosnan played the lead role. The role then went to Dalton. Brosnan made his debut as Bond in ''
GoldenEye
''GoldenEye'' is a 1995 spy film, the seventeenth in the ''James Bond'' series produced by Eon Productions, and the first to star Pierce Brosnan as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. Directed by Martin Campbell, it was the first in the se ...
''.
Considered but chosen for a different role in a ''Bond'' film
The following actors were considered for the role of James Bond, but were cast as supporting or opposing characters; in the case of Colin Salmon, consideration as Bond came after his appearances in the films.
Potential successors to Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig
Colin Salmon was also rumoured to be one of many actors to replace Pierce Brosnan as James Bond, a role that would go to
Daniel Craig
Daniel Wroughton Craig (born 2 March 1968) is an English-American actor who gained international fame playing the secret agent James Bond in the film series, beginning with '' Casino Royale'' (2006) and in four further instalments, up to '' ...
. Had he been chosen for the role, Salmon would have been the first black Bond. In 2013 Brosnan backed Salmon as a possible successor to Craig, but Craig kept the role until 2021. As Craig exited, Brosnan endorsed
Regé-Jean Page
Regé-Jean Page (; born Regererai Page on 27 April 1988) is a British actor. He is known for his breakout role in the first series of the Netflix period drama ''Bridgerton'' (2020).
Acting professionally since 2001, Page has also appeared in ...
, who if contracted would be the first actor of colour to portray Bond; British actors
Henry Cavill
Henry William Dalgliesh Cavill ( ; born 5 May 1983) is a British actor. He is known for his portrayal of Charles Brandon in Showtime's ''The Tudors'' (2007–2010), DC Comics character Superman in the DC Extended Universe (2013–2022), Gera ...
and
George MacKay were reportedly also being considered to succeed Craig.
See also
*
Outline of James Bond
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:List Of Actors Considered For The James Bond Character
Actors considered for the James Bond character
Bond, James