Roger Moore Fleming's first choice for Bond

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ROGER MOORE - MOORE WAS FLEMING'S FIRST CHOICE FOR 007

ROGER MOORE was author IAN FLEMING's first choice to play JAMES BOND - and he almost landed the superspy role ahead of SEAN CONNERY.
Moore eventually replaced the Scottish star and portrayed 007 for 12 years, but he could have been Bond for much longer, had producers listened to Fleming as they were casting Bond's 1962 debut Dr. No.
The actor reveals he was considered as the lead for the film.
He tells Entertainment Weekly magazine, "That's what they told me, at least. They also said I was Ian Fleming's first choice. But Ian Fleming didn't know me from s**t. He wanted Cary Grant or David Niven."
Niven actually played Sir James Bond in 1967's Casino Royale. The film is not considered one of the 22 official Bond films.

www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/article/moore%20was%20flemings%20first%20choice%20for%20007_1088650

[adam]

This has been a long term rumour that Moore was nearly made Bond in 1962. I thought Flemings Bond was supposed to be 37. Niven and Grant would have been too old. What Fleming wanted was perhaps neither here or there. Brocoli and Salzman had bought the film rights and could choose whoever they wanted. They choose Connery. Moore has said he could'nt sign up for Bond in 1962 anyway as he was contracted to 'The Saint'.

Moore was 34 in 1962, a good age for Bond. But Connery was a great choice to kick start the seris. The public could spend the next decade watching Moore play Bond esq characters in 'The Saint', 'The Persuaders' & the flop film 'Crossplot'.

[mh4213]

Roger Moore was linked with Bond in the 1960's. Brosnan was linked in the 1980's. Tim Dalton was linked in the 1970's. Was Daniel Craig linked to Bond anytime before 2005/6?

[octopussy]

Barbara Broccoli must have been the only person to put forward Daniel's name as a Bond candidate. If someone can find a link which advocates Craig as Bond before 2005, then please post it to prove me wrong.......

As you said MH Brosnan and many other were obvious candidates for Bond. Their names cropped up on numerous occasions before they were cast.

It proves that Barbara is very powerful at the moment at the head of Eon.

[Stockslivevan]

The rumor of Ian Fleming choosing Roger Moore is false. It all started back in 1973 as a desperate plant by EON to prop Moore as a legitimate choice. Think of the context of that time. Connery was the only successful Bond actor and his replacement ended as an utter failure. When choosing a third actor in the role with audiences still looking at Connery as the one and only Bond in their eyes, how are you going to sell him to that audience? You give it your all as a producer.

Even if Moore was Fleming's first choice, I doubt straying from the source material by turning Bond into a eyebrow raising dandy dick-quipster was something Fleming had on his mind.

[harrypalmer]

Roger did say: "But Ian Fleming didn't know me from s**t. He wanted Cary Grant or David Niven.", so he agrees that the producers may have been overdoing it a bit when pitching the part to Roger.

Ian Fleming wanted a matinee idol and mentioned many actors working in the 50/60's for Bond. Roger was a matinee idol in the 50's, so Fleming would have mentioned him. Is Daniel Craig a matinee idol type? If he is, then Peter Lorre is too!!! ;D

[adam]

Fleming was not happy with the choice of Connery. He referred to him as 'that lorry driver'. However by the time of 'Goldfinger' Fleming admitted he could'nt imagine anyone else in the role. Fleming's books were so famous and popular he probably thought that only a big star should play Bond. However Grant was too old and Niven makes Roger Moore look like 'Rambo'.

Moore does play it tough in some of 'The Saint' episodes. He's a lot more muscular than when he became Bond in 1973 and at over 6 feet looks quite intimidating. However Connery was the right call.

Craig was never mentioned as a potential Bond prior to 2005. Either by the media or the producers. Craig looked as surprised as everyone else during the infamous river thames photoshoot and press conference.

[adam]

Everyone knows 'Craig', 'Cavill' and 'Worthington' were screen tested for CR. No doubt these will pop up on Youtube one day.

Anyone have info on some of the big boys - 'Owen', 'Jackman', 'Bale', Dougray Scott etc. Were they approached, screen tested etc. I've read that 'Jackman' was approached but BB would'nt let him read the script. So discussions never got off the ground. However I then read that 'Craig' was allowed to read the script. 'Owen' has denied he was offerred the part, but was he screen tested and interviewed ? It seems that Scott's main chance came after TWINE when Brosnan was stalling. However I also remember reading an article in 2005 saying that Scott had become the new Bond ! I've read nothing at all about Bale.

I

[Kadov]

Fleming's ideal actor for Bond is a fascinating thing to look into. Recent publications lend some insight into what Fleming had in mind. Fleming's biographer, Andrew Lycett, explains that the author wanted "his friend David Niven and then Roger Moore, who was enjoying some success as The Saint on television" (pg. 392, Ian Fleming by Andrew Lycett). Ben Macintyre, who did extensive research for his For Your Eyes Only: Ian Fleming + James Bond, the companion book to the Fleming exhibit at the Imperial War Museum in London, states that:

"[Fleming] also suggested that david Niven, another friend, should play Bond, or Richard Burton, whom he much admired, or else a young actor named Roger Moore" (pg. 202).

The Richard Burton connection goes back to Fleming's early days of interacting with Kevin McClory in the late 1950s, during the proposed Thunderball project. Robert Sellers, in his The Battle For Bond, has an excellent deeply researched account of the pre-production work that went on for that project and covers the actual litigation that ensued. He uncovered letters from Fleming to his friend and co-producer Ivar Bryce that state Fleming thought "Richard Burton would be by far the best James Bond!" (pg. 59). Burton, of course, had the brooding dark Celtic features that foreshadow Connery, Dalton, and Brosnan. I'd say that even Moore and his sandy-colored hair and overall dashing charisma somehow fit that image. Moore, of course, went on to work with Burton in The Wild Geese (1978?), and whenever I see it, I'm always amused to see two Bondian guys in the film.

These accounts suggest that those involved in the initial days of starting a Bond film, including Fleming, were all aware of Moore because he was a familiar figure at the time and they thought the actor could be a potential Bond. Of course, when he was finally cast in Live And Let Die, Eon hyped his casting (understandably since they're selling a new actor) and perpetuated the notion that he was always on Fleming's mind, the first choice, etc.--a hype ultimately no different than what they did to Craig, touting him a gritty realistic version closer to Fleming's vision, etc. One thing that strikes me from all my reading, though, is that in those early days no one envisioned a James Bond with a pale craggy mug.

[Stockslivevan]

I recall Owen saying that not only was he never approached for the role but that he was never interested in the first place. Then of course he backed Daniel Craig as the proper actor.

[Stockslivevan]

Dec 14, 2008 15:27:02 GMT -5 Kadov said:

These accounts suggest that those involved in the initial days of starting a Bond film, including Fleming, were all aware of Moore because he was a familiar figure at the time and they thought the actor could be a potential Bond.

Sounds like a result of the plant EON made in the 70s. Moore wasn't a "familiar figure" until he had a hit with The Saint which premiered right when Dr. No did (funny coincidence!). Even Moore himself debunks these rumors. But of Moore fans want to comfort themselves thinking he was Fleming's first choice, have your cake.

[adam]

Moore would still had been considered as Bond even if 'The Saint' was'nt on T.V. He was'nt completly unknown and had appeared in several films in the 1950's and in the 'Ivanhoe' T.V. seris.

It was Brocoli's and Salzman's job to investigate every avenue before choosing their Bond. This would involve looking at dozens of actors, either big stars or complete unknowns. Connery was unknown prior to 1962. Moore would have been considered as he had the attributes required. It seems the big stars like Burton, Niven and Grant were'nt interested in signing for a seris of films. So Brocoli and Salzman started looking at lesser known actors.

I suppose what everyone really needs to know is the actual dates Moore signed his contract for 'The Saint' and Connery signed up for 'Dr No'. If both actors were available for 'Dr No' then Brocoli and Salzman simply choose Connery as their number 1 choice. If Moore had already signed up for 'The Saint', then Connery may have been their second choice as Moore was unavailable.

What Fleming wanted during all this was neither here nor there as Brocoli and Salzman had the film rights. Fleming could just advise and he was unhappy when Connery got the gig.

[Jake]

Dec 14, 2008 11:54:02 GMT -5 adam said:

Everyone knows 'Craig', 'Cavill' and 'Worthington' were screen tested for CR. No doubt these will pop up on Youtube one day.

Anyone have info on some of the big boys - 'Owen', 'Jackman', 'Bale', Dougray Scott etc. Were they approached, screen tested etc. I've read that 'Jackman' was approached but BB would'nt let him read the script. So discussions never got off the ground. However I then read that 'Craig' was allowed to read the script. 'Owen' has denied he was offerred the part, but was he screen tested and interviewed ? It seems that Scott's main chance came after TWINE when Brosnan was stalling. However I also remember reading an article in 2005 saying that Scott had become the new Bond ! I've read nothing at all about Bale.

I

This page has a collection of articles about the contenders to replace Brosnan: www.klast.net/bond/newbond.html. I can't believe out of all those names they ended up with Daniel Craig!

[Kadov]

Dec 15, 2008 12:03:51 GMT -5 Stockslivevan said:

Dec 14, 2008 15:27:02 GMT -5 Kadov said:

These accounts suggest that those involved in the initial days of starting a Bond film, including Fleming, were all aware of Moore because he was a familiar figure at the time and they thought the actor could be a potential Bond.

Sounds like a result of the plant EON made in the 70s. Moore wasn't a "familiar figure" until he had a hit with The Saint which premiered right when Dr. No did (funny coincidence!). Even Moore himself debunks these rumors. But of Moore fans want to comfort themselves thinking he was Fleming's first choice, have your cake.

First of all, I'm not a Moore fan, so it's ridiculous of you to make generalizations. I do respect what he accomplished and, as a Bond fan, I've always been interested in the casting of Dr. No.

You actually missed my entire point. What I'm saying is that Moore had some notoriety at the time and, like the other known British actors at the time, was obviously in the public eye. Unless studio executives and Fleming himself were complete morons who never paid attention to what was going on around them, they all probably had heard of Moore. He already had some notoriety wiht the Ivanhoe and Maverick series. Whether Fleming actually wanted Moore off the bat, we'll never know. But recent publications such as the ones I pointed out are opening the door to the idea that Fleming had paid attention to the actors of the day. As for Moore debunking these rumors, of course he'll do that. He wasn't involved in the casting. One thing is certain: Fleming and Cubby and those involved in the early days of making a Bond movie envisioned a dashing, dark romantic figure, not an actor with a pale craggy mug. I'll raise a glass of Bollinger and celebrate to that.

[Jake]

Didn't Fleming like the idea of Stewart Granger also? It seems like all the names the creator of James Bond liked were as far away from Daniel Craig as it's possible to get.