Every Actor Who Turned Down James Bond (& Why)

The role of super-spy James Bond remains one of the most highly coveted parts in Hollywood history even after twenty-five cinematic outings for the character, so why have a handful of actors actually turned down the opportunity to play 007? With Daniel Craig finishing his time as James Bond with 2021’s long-awaited No Time To Die, the world is wondering who will take on the part of 007 once the actor departs the role he has held for over a decade since 2006’s Casino Royale.

Tom Hardy is rumored to be the next Bond, although some commentators have called for a more diverse revamp of the franchise to feature non-white, non-male presenting actors in the role of 007. As it stands, only six actors have ever played the part, with all but one lasting longer than one movie outing in the role. It’s a role that many actors wait for their entire career for the opportunity to take on but believe it or not, some thespians have been offered the part of James Bond and opted to turn it down.

To be fair to the actors that turned down the opportunity to play Bond, most of them had good reason to avoid the James Bond franchise at the time. Sure, there are a small handful of names here who went on to regret their decision (like Adam Sandler missing out on Inglorious Basterds) and realized their concerns were unfounded. But by and large, the actors who were offered the part of 007 and declined the role had real concerns about their place in the series. Whether they wanted to avoid typecasting, they knew the producers wanted someone else more, they were simply too expensive, or their personal lives were more important at the time, every actor who has turned down the chance to play James Bond has a story to tell as to why they came close to the role, only to opt-out.

Hugh Jackman

This one is a little ironic, although the actor in question has done so well since that it’s unlikely he holds a grudge over losing out on the part of Bond. When Logan star Hugh Jackman was offered the part of James Bond, he turned down the role due to disliking the campy, fun tone of the Bond franchise during the later, sillier Brosnan years. Presumably judging the series based in the disastrous Austin Powers-esque outing Die Another Day, Jackman said he wanted to be guaranteed a modicum of creative control over the franchise so he could play an edgier, darker Bond if he took on the part. As such, he was passed over for the role and the producers hired Layer Cake breakout star, Daniel Craig… to play an edgier, darker Bond.

Richard Burton

An iconic of classic Hollywood, screen legend Richard Burton was offered the role of Bond before it ended up going to the relatively unknown star of Darby O’Gill and the Little People, the now immensely influential original Bond Sean Connery. However, Burton didn’t have any faith in the project and considered Bond an “unproven concept,” a claim which may seem silly given the franchise’s now-apparent staying power, but which was understandable when the producer’s wanted a multi-film commitment from the actor before the first film entered production. As a result of his skepticism, Burton demanded too high a salary for the producers to match with an offer, resulting in him being passed over for the role.

Cary Grant

Ever the charmer, Hitchcock hero Cary Grant was polite enough to break the bad news to Bond producers who sought him out for the role of the famous secret agent. In his late fifties at the time, Grant was “too old” to play the role in multiple movies and as such couldn’t be considered for the part, according to… himself. The producers listened and his offer was rescinded, although the same impediment didn’t stop Roger Moore from remaining in the role into his sixth decades when he starred in Moonraker years later.

Liam Neeson

Taken star Liam Neeson likely had the easiest time turning down Bond out of the names seen here, as the love of his life gave him an ultimatum that put the allure of the famous part in perspective. Wary of becoming typecast as an action hero, Neeson was unsure about taking on the role and becoming the first Irish Bond a year before Pierce Brosnan would take up this mantle instead. When then-fiancee Natasha Richardson informed Neeson she wouldn’t marry him if he took the part, Neeson dropped out of negotiations and never looked back, resulting in a long marriage and a fruitful tenure in the role for Brosnan.

Clive Owen

A perfect fit for James Bond thanks to his mix of action hero muscle and borderline sleazy charm, Shoot ‘Em Up star Clive Owen came close to taking on the role before it went to Daniel Craig. The Derailed antihero had even entered into negotiations for the part at the time. However, he eventually turned down the chance to play Bond for what must be the most blandly sensible reason listed here, as the producers refused to offer gross profit points for any movies Owen made in the role.

Clint Eastwood

Bizarrely, western icon Clint Eastwood was once offered the role of suave British super-spy James Bond in the early seventies. At this stage of the series, only Sean Connery had played the part to date (not including David Niven’s unofficial parody Casino Royale), and Eastwood wasn’t fond of the pressure that would come with following Connery’s class act. He turned down the role and continued in the world of westerns, eventually transitioning into directing in his later years.

Burt Reynolds

The recently deceased Burt Reynolds admitted to very few regrets throughout his long career onscreen, but the Cannonball Run star did concede in his memoir that he should have given the role of James Bond a second thought when he was offered the part. That said, Reynolds had good reason to reject the role, as he claimed he couldn’t see audiences accepting such an all-American actor in such a specifically British part. Maybe he was right on that one.

Mel Gibson

Another unexpected name to see on here, Mad Max star Mel Gibson almost became Bond in the mid-80s after Roger Moore’s tenure in the role ended. However, in a more brash move than most of the actors offered the part ever considered, Gibson simply turned down the role because he simply did not want it. Thus the producers moved on to Timothy Dalton, and so began a multi-decade streak of Gibson’s unpredictable career moves which continues into his current role as Santa Claus in an R-rated action movie.

Ralph Fiennes

Although Voldemort himself Ralph Fiennes would go on to play Bond’s boss M, the actor’s fear of committing to a franchise in the mid-90s led him to turn down the role of 007 himself. However, Fiennes did also note that he felt the producers wanted Pierce Brosnan more for the part of James Bond even as they approached him. As such, it may have been more than mere uncertainty that led Fiennes to turn down the opportunity, since the creators did indeed eventually opt to go with Brosnan.

About The Author

Cathal Gunning
(1446 Articles Published)

Cathal Gunning has been writing about movies and TV online since 2020. His obsessions include The Simpsons, Stephen King, the Scream series, and the horror genre in general. He has spent more time thinking about Stranger Things than the writers of Stranger Things, and he has never seen a Star War.

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