100% on Monica Bellucci. I can't believe they passed over her for Hatcher - I blame the US zeitgeist from Lois & Clark, but it's a ridiculous choice.

Fun Fact: General Pushkin was in the very first draft of GoldenEye written by Michael France in January 1994. Likely Dimitri Miskhin took his place in the final film.

Out of all of the what ifs, I think Mark Strong would have been great as Renard. I love Robert Carlysle, but I think Mark would have made that role more memorable.

I once read that Ian Fleming specifically created "Dr. No" (a Fu Manchu knock-off) as a role for Christopher Lee! It was initially a script for a TV pilot ("Commander Jamaica"), but when the project fell thru, he turned it into his next Bond novel, revealing Bond had not died, but spent 6 months in hospital. Lee eventually played an Asian baddie in "TERROR OF THE TONGS", and later still, did 5 FU MANCHU movies. Funny thing-- when I look at photos of Lee from the 50s, I could easily see HIM as James Bond... if any producers had actually wanted to do Fleming's version, not the drastically-different one EON created. I've always assumed Lee's price was too high by the time they did "DR. NO", since it had the lowest budget in the series. I mostly remember Theodore Bikel as a COLUMBO murderer! He certainly looked right in that audition. I've SEEN the publicity photos of Raquel Welch wearing the one-piece swimsuit Claudine Auger wore in THUNDERBALL. The story I read was, Welch was under contract to 20th Century-Fox, they loaned her out to EON, and were happy for the publicity of having their new star in a Bond film-- but really wanted her in "FANTASTIC VOYAGE", and yanked her away at the last minute. Criminal. She was really into swimming and scuba-diving, and I feel would have brought so much more personality and presence to the Bond film than Auger did. I have "FANTASTIC VOYAGE" on DVD, and she looks great-- but, they DIDN'T really give her much to do, other than look great! Domino would have been such a better role for her. Welch, like Caroline Munro, was too often underestimated by producers, who tended to think she wasn't a good actress. See "MOTHER JUGS AND SPEED" for what I think was the best script she ever got! See SHERLOCK HOLMES: "The Three Gables" (1994) with Jeremy Brett for my favorite Claudine Auger role. It was years of being in the Adam West BATMAN tv series Facebook group that finally made me think, the biggest missed opportunity in the entire Bond series, was them not casting GEORGE SANDERS as Blofeld... in EVERY film Blofeld appeared in back then (FRWL, TB, YOLT, OHMSS, DAF). Nobody else even comes close... although I love Telly Savalas, HE would have actually been more appropriate... as Emilio Largo. And much as I enjoy Adolpho Celi in that role, Savalas would not have had to be dubbed by Robert Rietty. Jill St. John is probably the best (only good?) thing in "DIAMONDS". She was also the only good thing in the Frank Sinatra film "TONY ROME", which, like "DIAMONDS", looks good but just has a terrible script. (If Jane Fonda was asked, she probably read the script. Then again... "BARBARELLA" was nothing to brag about.) I've always believed Solitaire was black! And, very aggressive once Bond helped her escape Mr. Big. (In the movie, Bond practically rapes Jane Seymour-- in the book, it was nearly the other way... heh.) I've been trying to figure out for ages who would have been right in that part... and those pics of Diana Ross make me think she would have been a good fit. Jack Palance would have been cool (had they done something closer to the book). My choice, however, would have been Fernando Lamas. He's the one I picture in my head when I think of the novel, or the newspaper strip adaptation. (He did turn up as an UNCLE villain.) James Mason could have been very good as Drax. My personal choice, had they filmed the book back in the 50s, would have been Howard Marion Crawford, who, among many other things, played Dr. Watson in the 1954 tv series, and Dr. Petrie in all 5 Chris Lee FU film. But sadly, he passed away in 1969. I've also read that Broccoli saw "FLASH GORDON" and envisioned no less than 4 actors from that film for his next Bond film! Timothy Dalton as Bond, Ornella Muti as Melina, Topol as Columbo, and Max Von Sydow as Kristatos. I'm really glad they got Julian Glover-- he steals the film and is my 2nd-favorite Bond movie villain of the entire series. But I SO MUCH wish they'd gotten Dalton & Muti instead of Moore & Carol Bouquet. I've seen all 3 of Muti's English-language films (the others being "ONCE UPON A CRIME" and "OSCAR") and she's fantastic in all of them. Every time I watch "HOUSE CALLS" I fall in love with Glenda Jackson's character again. From the 90s-up, she was in British Parliment. If you go to my FB page, I posted a 6-minute ANGRY TIRADE she did shortly after Margaret Thatcher died. MY GOD, she was amazing! We need people like her over here.

Timothy Dalton was supposed to be cast as Bond (again) in For Your Eyes Only and it's said that the movie has a darker edge because it was written with another actor in mind (possibly Tim). Too bad it hadn't come into fruition. Can you imagine Timothy Dalton raiding the port in Albania together with Topol or fighting Christopher Walken on top of the Golden Gate bridge?

Someone needs to do an international PSA to let everyone know that "casted" isn't a word. I hear it all the time, even from native English speakers.

Other uncasts: 1. Julie Christie was considered for the role of Honey Ryder and Domino, but rejected by the Producers because she's not buxom enough. 2. It's also worth mentioning that Akiko Wakabayashi was originally considered for the role of Kissy Suzuki (because she could speak English fluently), but Mie Hama threatened to kill herself, so Mie Hama was cast as Kissy Suzuki and Akiko was cast as Aki (the minor one) instead. 3. Catherine Deneuve also auditioned for the role of Anya Amasova, even her offering the Producers to reduce her salary because she wanted the role, but the Producers thought she's still deemed too expensive, so they went with the more affordable choice, Barbara Bach. 3. Pam Grier and Barbara Carrera are both offered the role of Octopussy, but Pam Grier rejected the role, and Barbara Carrera chosen to star with Connery in 'Never Say Never Again'. 4. Faye Dunaway was also considered for the role of Tiffany Case. 5. Angelina Jolie, Charlize Theron and Audrey Tautou were all offered the role of Vesper Lynd, Uma Thurman was also considered in the role had Tarantino directed Casino Royale 2006. 6. Samuel Jackson was Tarantino's choice for Le Chiffre (again, had he directed the film). 7. Gal Gadot was considered for Camille Montes. 8. Joan Collins was considered for the role of Jill Masterson in Goldfinger, she rejected but later on addressed her regret regarding her decision. 9. Tiffani Thiessen was considered for the role of Dr. Christmas Jones in TWINE. 10. Jan Werich was also considered for the role of Blofeld in YOLT.

Great list my guy, worth noting that one of Richard Johnson’s co-stars in Deadlier Than the Male, Elke Sommer, also nearly ended up in From Russia With Love… the world of Bond knock offs and homages is a goldmine with alumni.

Just a pedantic piece of constructive criticism here; the past tense of "cast" is also "cast" (although "casted" is commonly used, it is not proper usage). English is hard and I appreciate your efforts; even a lot of native English speakers get this wrong as well!

A reason Sam Neill didn't want to play Bond might have been that at the time, he was still so much associated with his portrayal of Sidney Reilly in _Ace of Spies_ , a _very_ Bond-like character. Taking the Bond part would certainly have carried the risk of type-casting.

David Bowie in a Bond film would have been awesome, but I guess he was sort of busy still with his music and pretty selective with his sporadic film career.

You forgot Roger Green playing James Bond in Diamonds are Forever ;) Good video though!

Essential viewing for a bond fan.well researched.

I once a fan poster featuring Yul Brynner as Blofeld in On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Now THAT is something I would have loved to have seen.

I love Christoph Waltz in a lot of films, but Chiwetel Ejiofor would've been a much more interesting and threatening Blofeld. Not that Eon gave Blofeld much to do in either of those films, though - maybe my biggest beef with the Craig era was how they handled Blofeld & Spectre. So maybe Ejiofor dodged a bullet on that.

The Mark Strong and Daniel Craig drunk night out connection makes sense as they had starred together in Our Friends In The North.

OMG I laughed so hard with the Connery clip about "your best" 😂 one of my favourite quotes from him from a non-Bond film, some say he's a retired James Bond in The Rock! Excelent choice of clip hahaha 😂

3:14 I read somewhere that Raquel Welch was actually signed for Domino but Cubby owed the producer of Fantastic Voyage [Richard D. Zanuck] a favour and let her go to do that instead. She was also wanted for Tiffany Case in 'Diamonds are forever' but Connery's salary eating up the budget meant Jill St. John, originally cast as Plenty, got the part.

In Fleming's book, Solitaire is clearly described as a white Frenchwoman. "Her face was pale, with the pallor of white families that have lived long in the tropics." "Her eyes were blue." "The face of the daughter of a French Colonial slaveowner."

Quoting a friend I just talked with about Sam Neill as Bond: ‘The Bond….from beyond the pond!”

Great video as always ! I learn things so thanks.

Someone else considered for the role of Domino was Julie Christie And Gal Gadot auditioned for the role of Camille Montes in Quantum of Solace

Wow really enjoyed this well here's to more One in every an amazing seires

Great episode! Lots of gems that have not encountered before, thank you for all the hard work with these

As far as Licence To Kill goes, I could've seen Armand Assante as Franz Sanchez.

Phyllis Davis was also considered for (and signed a contract) to play Plenty O'Toole in "Diamonds are Forever" but that role ended up going to Lana Wood. Since Davis was under contract, she reportedly still got paid and earned royalties from the movie. In addition to a few B- or C-grade movies in the 1970s, Phyllis Davis was a television regular - best known for her three seasons as Dan Tanna's (Robert Urich) secretary Beatrice Travis in Vega$ (1978-1981).

Love the video keep them coming

Sorry but the Solitaire story of Diana Ross was how the scriptwriter envisaged the character, not the producers. Mankiewicz had thought of turning Solitaire into a black woman when writing the script, and Diana Ross was his first choice, but the producers decided to stick with Fleming's description, so the idea was nothing more than an afternoon muse. The other real contenders for the role of Solitaire were Lynne Frederick and Olivia Hussey. Also, Roger Moore only had a three picture Bond deal with Eon, so he renegotiated on a one-picture-basis after TSWLM. Basically, we as Bond fans didn't know whether Roger Moore would be returning for Moonraker or FYEO let alone Octopussy.

This is quickly becoming one of my favorite Bond channels.

Great video DBF, i didn't know a lot of these. Its so interesting to try to picture other versions of movies you know so well.

Good day to you DBF007, thanks for another great video! 👍👍👍👍

Bowie as Zorin is the best thing I've ever heard

My most memorable is that Adam West was offered the role of James Bond in Diamonds are Forever, but he turned the role down, saying he felt James Bond should only be played by a Brit. Given that DAF was trying to get back to the the British feel of Goldfinger (not successfully since most of it is in the US), he made a good choice.

Well if you’re going to try and outdo Teri Hatcher looks wise I think Monica Bellucci is the way to do it. Plus she’s a much better actor.

Nice idea for a video as 'alternative casting' for Bond is a fascinating subject

As good as Gert Frobe was as Goldfinger, Theodore Bikel made for a very intriguing Goldfinger. Plus he could’ve done the film in his original voice, no need to re-dub all the lines

You missed the most intriguing 'what if' in the history of the franchise - Lord Lucan was asked to do a screen test for Bond in OHMSS. He attended the same casino as Cubby Broccoli which might have given him an advantage. He turned it down because he had failed his previous screen test for another movie part. Instead, of course, he became a famous murderer.

Great video!!

For whatever reason I can’t see Monica as Paris. I think she was too early in her career at that point to give a good performance, and I think Teri is perfectly fine in the role, I never got the complaints about her. I thin the Whitney as Junx rumors are bogus, I find it much more believable they wanted Salam Hayek for Jinx, which when you look at her… well, her looks match the crazier tone of DAD to me lmao. Gal Gadot was also looked for Camille in Quantum, which I also can’t see, but ig auditioning for it inspired her to leave law school and outsource acting full time. I also know they REALLY wanted Lupita Nyong’o for Nomi, which I’m both disappointed and relieved by, cos I’d LOVE to see Lupita as a Bond girl, but Nomi was such a nothing character in that movie and an actress of Lupita’s talent really needs something way more interesting and emotive to play, otherwise she’d have been wasted as Nomi if you ask me. I think an awesome video you could do is DIRECTORS who were considered for Bond cos that’s a major “what if” treasure trove in of itself, they people wanted for TWINE alone is so fascinating

Bowie as Max Zorin would've been cool but I'm glad they choose Walken He's the best thing about View

Weereens dankie! Groete uit Suid-Afrika. Hou so aan asseblief!

Nicely done, putting the other Bond film The Rock in there...

Loved Brolin's "Bond" cameo in Pee Wee's Big Adventure though...he nailed that!

My personal rejected actors/actress: Angela Lansbury as M in Pierce Brosnan’s Living Daylights Clifton James as Brad Whitaker in Roger Moore’s Living Daylights Dieter Laser as Ouromov in Timothy Dalton’s Goldeneye Jason Statham as Renard in Daniel Craig’s The World is Not Enough

Fun Fact: Elvis' then-wife Priscilla Presley (well-known to me as Jane Spencer in the *"Naked Gun"* trilogy with comedian legend Leslie Nielsen) was considered to play Stacy Sutton in *"A VIEW TO A KILL",* before they went with Tanya Roberts; best known for the 1984 film adaptation of *"SHEENA",* *"Charlie's Angels",* and *"That '70s Show".* Imagine if the classic 1985 Bond film was different with Timothy Dalton (beginning his three-film contract here) as James Bond, Priscilla Presley as Stacy Sutton, and David Bowie as Max Zorin.

Good video DBF as always Tania mallet would’ve been really interesting to see.

I have read/heard that in the early 2000s, the producers had a plan to show(probably in "DAD" 2002) all 5 Bond actors together! It would have been some sort of "high-level military-secret intelligence meeting" scene. Pierce Brosnan would have been in the same room with all of them: Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton. In that case, I think DAD would have been a much better movie! Probably with a radically different scenario! Why this thing didn't happen, I don't know..............................

"Casted" is not a word. It should be "cast".

Love this series! I'd be interested to see you highlight your favourite stunt in every Bond movie?

The producers of Dr. No wanted Audrey Hepburn for Honey Ryder, but the studio wanted to cast an unknown.

Rod Steiger in a blonde wig would have been hysterical. This re cast of Bond is a new list.

We all want Monica Beluchi.

Another great video DBF! Christopher Lee as Dr No? YES! Diana Ross would have been amazing as Solitaire! (Whether or not she had the acting chops the physical casting would have been great)

15:11 NOW THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN CRAZY!!!! for Sean Connery that would have been Full Circle for him!

I would have loved a David Bowie villain. Such a great and talented guy!

I also recall Domino as black.

Good video

Very nice job! All these possible ‘almost’ castings really makes you wonder how they might’ve affected the films. Which ones could’ve made them better or worse?

16:02 There was a leaked casting calling for Boyle's Bond which had a male Russia villain along with a Russia woman [described as 'a survivor' so presumably the Bond girl] and a Maori henchman which other than the odd hint from Boyle or writer John Hodge might be the most we hear about the plans [at least until the NDA's expire]. I think like the constant Angelia Jolie rumours around Bond, the Helena Bohnam-Carter story was more tabloid talk or maybe pre-dated Boyle's involvement.

and as for Helena Bonham Carter being a Villain I would go for that since I did like her Performance as Belatrix Lastrange in the Harry Potter Films!

btw could you consider doing a listing episode of the countries james bond has not yet been in and give your ranking/comment which of these could be great new bond locations based on your view. Perhaps the Bond production team will stumble upon the video before the new locations/plot is set...

David Bowie as Zorin would have been superb!

I heard a rumor that they where considering Finnish actor Jasper Pääkkönen from BlacKkKlansman as the main villain in No Time To Die.

Now I am curious about your top 10 actors and actresses that you personally wish to see in a future Bond movie

I would say that Theodore Bikel does top Gert frobe and Michael collins (not the irish rebel leader or third man in space) because he's much more serious for an almost perfect bond film. And he would've been more closer to the fleming Goldfinger.

There are some I wish happened, others I'm glad that it didn't. I always wished Teri Hatcher was never in a Bond movie. Her acting was never that great, but neither were some other Bond girls, however, they had an exotic feel about them that got past that. Teri didn't have that...in my opinion anyway. David Bowie would have killed it. And I'm surprised they concentrated on a certain look for the villain of Moonraker, Drax. Because in the book they made such a point about his red hair. Thanks for the video!! I love this stuff!!

I think Mark Strong would be great as Blofeld

Great video again. It could be me but even though you try to hide it, I still get the feeling that you kinda like Claudine Auger.

11:25 I do wonder when that offer was made because Glenda Jackson became an UKMP in 1992 and retired from acting to concentrate on politics. Funny enough without knowing this I suggested Glenda Jackson or Vanessa Redgrave for a female M for the Dalton era last year!

Jeroen might I ask, how come you didn’t upload any videos for weeks?

BRAVO! and BOND 26?

14:51 I am glad I was right!!! My friends said that I am a weirdo!

Love your content! One thing however: how can you, as a Dutch, pronounce the great Gert Fröbe‘s name that badly?

Next for your eyes only book

And Jacklyn Smith, one of the original Charlie’s Angels on the Tv series, turned down the role of Holly Goodhead in Moonraker. It’s in a actress’ biography.

I love all your Bond reviews, etc. I just want to point out though that the past tense of “cast” is “cast” not “casted”.

Michael Lonsdale is actually Anglo-French. It's also interesting the casting stories of Bond, Roger Moore was originally the front runner to get the role instead of Sean Connery, but was contracted to the TV series 'The Persuaders', so Connery got the role. Before Moore actually got the role, in Live and let die, Timothy Dalton was considered for the role of Bond in OHMSS (when he was 25/26) and again as Bond in 'For your eyes only'. Before Dalton did get the role, Pierce Brosnan was considered, but due to his commitments to 'Remington Steele' he had to back out, giving Dalton a shot.

I would have been totally on board with Sam Neill as Bond!👍👍

I heard that Catherine Deneuve was in the running for Anya Amasova in The Spy who loved me - no offence to Barbara Bach, but how I wish Deneuve had landed the role instead of her, it might have made one of the best Bond films even better...

The late great Glenda Jackson as M is a fascinating casting possibility. She would have been excellent.

Lee is a great Scaramanga, no doubt, but I really want to see the Jack Palance version.

I always thought that they begged Roger Moore to come back once they learned that someone was making an unofficial Bond movie with Sean Connery, the original Bond.

Albert R. Broccoli and John Glen had a breakfast meeting with Cybill Shephard for her to play Octopussy. Broccoli told Glen he thought she was too old. They instead with Maud Adams (who was older). I heard this via an interview with Glen in 2020.

I have read that when EON was having trouble with Living Daylights, Roger Moore offered to come back and was turned down by Cubby. Also, Christopher Reeve was approached by Cubby with a million dollar offer and Christopher Reeve turned it down, which would have been interesting and could have reignited his career post Superman IV. Also, Simon MacCorkindale was approached to play Bond at one point and wasn't cast, but it would've been interesting as he looked like a younger Roger Moore to an extent and could've kept the lightheartedness that had been associated with the Moore era to an extent

Vin Diesel is perfect roll as Blofeld

@5:39 the photo you have up is not Diana Ross, it's Zoe Saldana

Javier Bardem was offered the part of Renard but turned it down. Funny since there are sooo many parallels between The World Is Not Enough and Skyfall.

If this is known already, then we apologise: concerning the tension between Brosnan and Hatchet. . .before shooting was over the two gradually warmed up to each other.

Polish actor Tomasz Kot was chosen by Danny Boil to play villian, but he was turned down by Craig and then Boil was gone too.

Whilst Christoph Waltz was great as Blofeld in the Daniel Craig era, I still think it was a missed opportunity to have casted Arnold Vosloo in the role as Blofeld, I think he would have had vibes of Donald Pleasence and Telly Savalas whilst bringing his own take to the role.

Good video. For me Bond 26. Should star Matt Smith as Bond. He was the 11th Doctor in Doctor Who. I also think they should adapt some more f the non Fleming Bond books. Maybe they could adapt the John Gardener or Raymond Benson books or maybe the Jeffrey Deaver Bond book. Not sure why they have not done this.

Jane Fonda as a Bond girl... ugh... she was about as popular as the plague at the time because of her actions in Vietnam... Hanoi Jane as a Bond girl would have been immensely unpopular.

I can see David Bowie in A View To A Kill even though Walken was perfect. Priscilla Presley was going to be in the same film but couldn't get out of Dallas. It might have been a better film with Roger playing opposite Priscilla rather than goofy girl like Tanya Roberts.

My idea for a new 007 franchise of movies or tv-series is as follows: 007 has gotten the ability from q to travel forth and back in time with a timetravel machine.There he starts to stop the begining of Spectre.But Spectre has duplicated q's timetravel machine, so they goes further back in time,and changes lots of historical happenings,so that the present is quite different when 007 comes back to present time.007 must therefore stop Spectre before they manages to duplicate q's timemachine.

There whant Sharon Stone for Elektra, she don't get it because of chacter turn. Bjork was ask for title song Tomorrow Never Dies and Jan Decleir for Gupta so that also have somebody from Belgium. There whant 100% Madonna for title song, doubt story about Whitney playing Jinx and not been ask for doing song. If Pushkin return in Goldeneye we haven't got Valentine.

1. Honestly, Sam Neill honestly has the same looks as Sean Connery. 2. Had David Bowie played Zorin, the performance probably wouldn't have been as memorable as what we got since Christopher Walken is a national treasure. 3. Who would've thought Superman was almost going to be James Bond? :P 4. For a future film, may I nominate Daniel Brühl (Zemo from the MCU) as a Bond villain, especially after watching his performance in Falcon and the Winter Soldier? 5. What's next for the seventh installment? Maybe something special for 007? :3

Raquel Welch as Domino?! Hell Yes Bridget Bardot and Jane Fonda as Tracy and Tiffany… Hell No Also a then unknown Faye Dunaway was considered for Domino. She was then later considered for the role of Octopussy. I absolutely love looking at trivia casting and one casting rumour that always left me pondering is Kim Basinger, who was considered for both Dr Goodhead in Moonraker and Melina in FYEO. It is known that Sharon Stone was considered for Elektra in TWINE, but rumour has it a decade earlier she was the runner to play Pam Bouvier in LTK. Another actor who was considered for Elektra in 98/99 was the then unknown Vera Farmiga, who was again considered for the role of Vesper Lynd in 05/06. As for M, IMO both Dench and Jackson were wrong for the part, surprised the producers didn’t consider Helen Mirren. However the one casting rumour that always left me pondering what if and laughing was for Dalton’s unmade third Bond film ‘Property of A Lady’ Catherine Zeta Jones was on call to play the henchwoman, and either Elizabeth Hurley as the main Bond girl. However what always made me laugh and ponder is that Lucy Liu and Sandra Bullock was supposedly up for the main Bond girl and the producers also entertained thoughts of giving the role to Julia Roberts… don’t know if these are true or not but either of these three would have been better than Hurley. I heard about the Bowie rumour, but also Rutger Hauer was supposedly considered for Zorin as was surprisingly Spaghetti Western legend Lee Van Cleef. Heard about the Pacino rumour, some say he was supposed to have been revealed as Blofeld?!?! Speaking of Blofeld rumour has it the producers considered gender swapping the character and casting Meryl Streep… would that have worked?! As for NTTD thank heavens Bonham Carter was not the villian, always wanted to see her as a Bond leading lady for a fifty something 007. Would be nice and hilarious to see Bond fall for an eccentric and funny persona like what Bonham Carter has.

I think the biggest missed opportunity of them all was the fact Dalton was offered the role in 1969 but turned it down because he felt he was too young, if he'd taken it the whole canon would've turned out different with no lazenby and possibly none of the corny Moore years which have left a legacy the character will never shake off. Yes Dalton came back later but by then he only got two films before the whole franchise got stuck so we could've got more had he taken it in 1969.

better than one of them

I don't know where to write this, so why not here. I just realized that Tony Robbins, looks like the brother of RIchard Kiel (the guy who plays Jaws). Am I the only one who sees this? I wrote this because Tony Robbins keeps showing up in the commercials.