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The 8 actors who turned down Bond

There are not many actors who would say 'no' to James Bond, but, apparently, there are more than you think.

Jul 23, 2015 3:49pm
As Daniel Craig prepares to step down from the role of Bond (and we prepare to say goodbye to those little blue swimming trunks), Hollywood has been a-buzz with news of who will be cast in his place.
Will it be the suave Idris Elba? Or the serious Damien Lewis? Or maybe it will be the rugged Michael Fassbender?
Whoever it will be, we know it probably won’t be our favourite Aussie hunk Hugh Jackman.
The actor revealed in 2011 that, after being offered the part years ago, he turned it down because he didn’t want to “be boxed in”.
“I got a call from my agent saying, 'There's some possible interest in you for Bond, are you interested?'” said Jackman, “At the time, I wasn't. I was about to shoot 'X-Men 2' and Wolverine had become this thing in my life. But I think every male at some point thinks about playing Bond. So it was not right then, but it may be right if it comes back.”
“I thought it would box me in too much,” Jackman explained to The Hollywood Reporter, “My natural instinct is to keep as many doors open as possible.”
As we mourn the loss of hearing Hugh Jackman says “Bond, James Bond”, take a look at the 8 actors that turned down Bond.
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Heartthrobs don't get much bigger than Clint Eastwood, who could pull any movie back in his day. But Bond wasn't one of them. Clintwood reportedly didn't want to step on Sean Connery's toes: "He came and said, “They would love to have you”. I was offered pretty good money to do James Bond if I would take on the role. 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."

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Ian Fleming was reportedly inspired to write Bond after seeing a Cary Grant film, so it came as no surprise when he asked Cary to play the role. But at 59, Grant thought himself 'too old' and 'too American' to play Bond.

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Richard Burton was also offered the role of Bond but declined because he felt the series "lacked potential" and was an "untested concept".

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Rod Taylor's refusal to play Bond was one of the things that haunted him throughout his career, stating, "Producer Cubby Broccoli wanted me to screen test for James Bond when he was preparing Dr. No in 1961. I refused because I thought it was beneath me. I didn't think Bond would be successful in the movies. That was one of the greatest mistakes of my career! Every time a new Bond picture became a smash hit, I tore out my hair. Cubby and I have laughed about it ever since."

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Dominic West was reportedly offered the role but took himself out of the running, "My audition went well, but I've since heard rumours that Pierce Brosnan got it. It's old hat now, anyway, and besides, I'm enjoying working in the theatre".

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According to an earlier interview, Ewan McGregor turned down the role because he didn't want to be typecast as an action hero.

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In an ironic move, Liam Neeson turned down the iconic part because, at the time, he wasn't interested in starring in action movies, "I was approached very heavily, but I wasn't really interested," he said. He's since changed his tune.

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Similarly, Jackman declined the role because he didn't want to be "boxed in". There were rumours that Jackman wasn't happy with the direction of the film, as well.

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