He did not want to be typecast in spy films, having previously starred in the three Harry Palmer spy films. Prior to becoming a Blue Peter presenter, Purves auditioned for the role of 007 but was unsuccessful. He feared the role would harm his career. He was Ian Fleming's first choice for the role, but scheduling conflicts prevented him from getting it. He was turned down in favor of Connery (later played Bond in the 1967 parody Casino Royale) (Fleming's personal choice). He would not commit to a three-picture contract. Ian Fleming disagreed feeling Howard, at 43 years, was too old for the role. He was first considered by Kevin McClory for the abandoned Longitude 78 West film project, which was later revamped into the novel Thunderball. The separate list of James Bond films details the actors who have played the role of agent 007.Īctors who have come under consideration for the role of James Bond but were not chosen. This is a list of actors who were considered for the role of James Bond, both officially (auditioned by the film producers) and unofficially (supported by fans and celebrities) but did not play the role of agent 007. ( April 2023) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message) See Wikipedia's guide to writing better articles for suggestions. This article's tone or style may not reflect the encyclopedic tone used on Wikipedia.
