My wife-to-be said ‘If you play James Bond, we’re not getting married’: Can you believe these actors said no to 007?
The countdown to the next James Bond is on. For over 60 years, actors have circled the coveted role — but not everyone says yes to 007. Some walk away due to fear of typecasting, or even love. Here are five stars who turned down — or stepped away from — the chance to play the iconic spy...
The countdown to the next James Bond is on. For over 60 years, actors have circled the coveted role — but not everyone says yes to 007. Some walk away due to fear of typecasting, or even love. Here are five stars who turned down — or stepped away from — the chance to play the iconic spy...
The countdown to the next James Bond is on. For over 60 years, actors have circled the coveted role — but not everyone says yes to 007. Some walk away due to creative differences, fear of typecasting, or restrictive contracts.
Case in point: Tom Holland reportedly won’t don the tux, as his Marvel deal blocks roles that could rival Spider-Man.
Here are the stars who turned down — or stepped away from — the chance to play the iconic spy...
Before Pierce Brosnan got his licence to kill, Liam Neeson revealed he turned down Bond in the ’90s - all because of love. The Taken star said on The Late Late Show: “My wife-to-be, Natasha Richardson, said, ‘If you play James Bond, we’re not getting married.’”
Neeson laughed: “I had to take that seriously - I’d rather have Natasha than a Walther PPK.”
At the height of his X-Men fame, Hugh Jackman was approached about replacing Pierce Brosnan - who officially left the role in 2004 after four films.
But the Aussie actor told Variety that he didn’t want to do “the same things” over and over, fearing he’d be “typecast as an action hero".
Instead of sipping martinis, he chose Wolverine's mutant claws — and it’s safe to say, it worked out for Hugh.
Following Pierce Brosnan’s departure, Ewan McGregor was among the favourites to don the tux in the early 2000s. But the Star Wars actor told The Sun newspaper he passed because he “didn’t want to be typecast as an action star". Ironically, he’d already spent years wielding a lightsaber across galaxies far, far away.
While never officially offered the role, Idris Elba has spent years dodging speculation that he’d be the next Bond.
In 2022, he told The Guardian: “It’s not a goal for my career. I’m flattered, but I’m not that guy.”
In the early 1970s, Clint Eastwood was offered the chance to play Bond - but turned it down instantly.
He said: “It was meant for a Brit. That’s the right way to do it.”
The Dirty Harry legend said he couldn’t imagine an American playing 007, proving sometimes even Hollywood tough guys know when to step aside.
