Burt Reynolds Almost Became James Bond Until Producer Said No

Burt Reynolds made a career out of passing on roles that would later become legendary, and for years he insisted that James Bond was among his biggest missed opportunities. But just how realistic were his chances of actually becoming the world's most famous secret agent?

The Bond Franchise's American Consideration

Throughout its six-decade run, the 007 franchise has featured only six actors in the lead role across 25 official films. While none have been American, producers at Eon Productions did explore the possibility. James Brolin was actually cast to replace Roger Moore at one point, only to lose the part when Moore decided to return. Clint Eastwood also received an approach after Sean Connery's departure following "You Only Live Twice," but he declined, believing a British actor should play the character.

Reynolds shared similar sentiments, claiming that when producers approached him, his American identity and personal reservations made turning down the role straightforward. However, the reality of his candidacy may have been more complicated than his version of events suggested.

Inside the Selection Process

Tom Mankiewicz, who penned "Diamonds Are Forever," "Live and Let Die," and "The Man with the Golden Gun," was deeply involved in the franchise's creative decisions during the early 1970s. He provided insight into Reynolds' actual prospects in the book "Nobody Does It Better."

"Burt Reynolds almost played Bond," Mankiewicz stated definitively, noting that director Guy Hamilton was his strongest advocate. During the production of "Diamonds Are Forever," producer Cubby Broccoli and Hamilton met with Reynolds, who was then starring in the TV series "Dan August." Hamilton found him incredibly charming, and Reynolds' name surfaced again during "Live and Let Die" discussions.

"As a matter of fact, the choice was between Burt Reynolds and Roger Moore," Mankiewicz revealed. Reynolds had just completed "Deliverance" and was considered "the hottest actor in the world" at the time, making him a viable candidate from both star power and box office perspectives.

The Final Verdict

Despite serious discussions between Reynolds' agent Dick Clayton and the production team, one crucial figure remained unconvinced. Mankiewicz explained that while Reynolds' team was genuinely considering the opportunity, "Cubby was the one who nixed it."

The Broccoli family patriarch "really put his foot down and said James Bond has to be English," immediately eliminating Reynolds from consideration. Once the boss declared "you can't do this," the 007 team had to abandon their pursuit of what they considered the era's biggest movie star.