Mel Gibson ‘too short’ for 007

[Gambit]

sify.com/movies/fullstory.php?id=14919028

Mel Gibson missed Bond role because he was ‘too short’

Mel Gibson wanted to play the coveted role of James Bond but was turned down by legendary 007 producer Cubby Broccoli, scriptwriter Tom Mankiewicz has revealed.

Speaking at a Bond convention in Los Angeles, Mankiewicz, who scripted Live And Let Die and The Man With The Golden Gun, said Gibson’s 5ft 9in frame took him out of the race for the spy’s role.

“At one point Mel Gibson wanted to play Bond,” the Daily Express quoted Mankiewicz, as saying.

He added: “And Cubby was against it. Cubby first of all had a thing about tall people. Bond had to be tall. And so Mel Gibson was too short. But he was a big star. Somebody at United Artists said to me, ‘Call him and tell him Mel Gibson would be great.’ And Cubby said, ‘I don’t want to make a Mel Gibson movie, I want to make a James Bond movie.’”

[harrypalmer]

So Cubby would not have chosen Daniel Craig!

[adam]

There have been other articles over the years regarding this.

One of them has Gibson claiming he was offerred the part several times, firstly after Moore quit and then in the 90's after Dalton quit. It states Gibson turned down the part saying he thought Bond was yesterdays man & boring.

Anyone else got any information on this ?

[009]

www.klast.net/bond/pb_road.html

Media speculation continued that MGM wanted Dalton out as Bond, if and when another James Bond film would be made. In the spring of 1992, Die Hard producer Joel Silver said he would like to acquire rights to the Bond films, and cast Mel Gibson as Bond. This was the start of Gibson-as-Bond rumors, which continued for the next 2 years.

The litigation that had been holding up production was finally settled in late 1992, and everything was clear for a new Bond film to begin, amidst contradictory signals. In June 1993, the British magazine Film Review reported that Brosnan was "back in favourite's frame" for the role, but 2 months later reported that Dalton was in negotiations for his 3rd outing as Bond. In October 1993, it was reported that MGM offered Mel Gibson $15 million to play Bond, which Gibson had turned down. Meanwhile Dalton was still telling the press that he was still James Bond.

[adam]

They were about to start shooting 'Goldeneye'. Cubby Brocoli had asked Dalton to star in it and needed an answer. Dalton politely declined & quit. After a string of duds and T.V. movies Brosnan was desperate and available. He was annonced as the new Bond shortly after Dalton quit.

Can't see Gibson committing to a seris of Bond films. I read in the 80's that he would love to make 'one' Bond movie, probably just for hell of it. But Cubby Brocoli would have wanted half a doze from him. As previously stated Gibson was short and is'nt British. He's handsome but more in a rugged way. I don't recall ever seeing him in a tux.

Gibson was a big star in the 80's and had already starred in the 'Mad Max' film seris. He was mentioned as a possible Bond in the 80's, along with about 20 other actors, but he did'nt need Bond. He was an even bigger star in the 90's. Was'nt he getting on a bit by 95 as well ?

[FormerBondFan]

Mel looks pretty British to me.

[Cpt. Sir Dominic Flandry]

Mel would have been better off playing Bond in an unofficial Bond, preferably a one-off. Was he ever considered for the Sony/McClory rival Bond series?

[jaws7]

He was born in New York but grew up in Australia he was doing one of the Lethal Weapon films at the time

[FormerBondFan]

Mel was considered for Bond in TLD.

[009]

[alex]

I'm not sure Mel would have been a great Bond. He's a bit of a ham sometimes.

[FormerBondFan]

At least Mel's hair is dark.

[adam]

I thought Dalton was the tallest of all the Bonds.

[FormerBondFan]

Nov 12, 2009 19:20:11 GMT -5 adam said:

I thought Dalton was the tallest of all the Bonds.

He is.

[Gambit]

I'm not sure that height chart is correct. Dalton is taller than 6' and Cubby's autobiography says Roger Moore was 6'2.