As the world awaits the announcement of the seventh actor to play James Bond, the shortlist has reportedly narrowed to a handful of contenders. Names like Jack Lowden, Callum Turner, and Josh O'Connor have been floated, but only one will ultimately secure the licence to kill. The rest will join a long list of actors who came close—some auditioned, some were offered the role, and some turned it down.
Here's a look back at the performers who nearly donned the tuxedo, with a few screen tests having leaked online over the years.
The early years: from Cary Grant to Michael Caine
When the first Bond film, Dr. No (1962), was being cast, many thought Cary Grant was the perfect fit. The British-American star was the epitome of suave, but at 58, he felt he was too old for the role. He also wanted to commit to only one film, while producers sought an actor for a multi-picture deal. Grant's decision paved the way for Sean Connery.
After Connery stepped down following You Only Live Twice (1967), the producers approached Michael Caine. The actor, known for his everyman roles, declined, telling the Daily Express: "I was always very much more ordinary. Bond was a glamorous, imaginative creation. I've always played real people."
Clint Eastwood was also considered, but the Dirty Harry star turned it down, believing Bond should be British. He told the Los Angeles Times: "My lawyer represented the Broccolis, and he came and said: 'They would love to have you.' But to me, that was somebody else's gig. That's Sean's deal. It didn't feel right for me to be doing it." Connery eventually returned for Diamonds Are Forever (1971).
The 1970s and 1980s: near misses and American auditions
Michael Gambon, later known as Dumbledore in the Harry Potter films, was approached for Diamonds Are Forever but turned it down, feeling he wasn't good-looking enough. He later shared the screen with Daniel Craig in Layer Cake (2004), just before Craig was cast as Bond.
British actor Michael Billington auditioned three times—for On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969), Diamonds Are Forever, and Live and Let Die (1973)—but was never chosen. He did appear in The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) as a KGB agent, getting shot by Roger Moore's Bond in the opening ski sequence.
In the early 1980s, with Roger Moore nearing retirement, the producers seriously considered an American: James Brolin. He screen-tested for Octopussy (1983), but Moore agreed to return for two more films, and Brolin's Bond never materialised.
Sam Neill, a New Zealander, was another contender to replace Moore. He auditioned for Cubby Broccoli, who overruled director John Glen's preference and chose Timothy Dalton. Neill later recalled to Den of Geek: "It was the last time that I was bullied into doing a screen test. My agent insisted that I go and do it, [saying] it would be rude otherwise." Dalton's grittier portrayal paved the way for Daniel Craig's iteration.
Mel Gibson was also in the mix, with MGM reportedly offering him the role. Depending on the account, Gibson either declined due to the length of commitment or was rejected for not being British enough. Instead, he starred in Lethal Weapon (1987), launching a new franchise.
As the casting race narrows, these near-misses remind us that the path to 007 is fraught with what-ifs. For every Bond who made it, there are countless others who almost did.
