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James Bond has been portrayed by seven different actors over 27 films spanning nearly six decades. Among these stars, the most popular portrayals include Sean Connery, Pierce Brosnan, and more recently, Daniel Craig. Craig became the first Blonde Bond after Pierce Brosnan’s exit with the 2006 film,Casino Royale. Since then, Craig played the character in a total of five films before retiring from the role in 2021 withNo Time to Die.
With Daniel Craig announcing his departure, numerous speculations arose regarding who would be the next 007. The same was the case when Pierce Brosnan announced his exit, and several actors were rumored to take on the iconic role.
Also Read:“An American can’t play James Bond”: Just Like Clint Eastwood, Oscar Nominee Rejected License to Kill for Eerily Similar Reason
This English Actor Refused To Play James Bond Multiple Times
In a public poll in the U.K.,Clive Owenemerged as the people’s number one choice to play James Bond followingPierce Brosnan’s departure. Owen gained global recognition with roles inSin City,Derailed,Children of Men, andThe International. Owen received an Oscar nomination for his performance in the 2004 romantic drama,Closer. More recently, he played Bill Clinton in an episode ofAmerican Crime Story.
However, during the time of these speculations, Owen denied the rumors that he was being considered as Brosnan’s successor. In a 2012 interview with Glamour Magazine, Owen revealed that he had turned down the role multiple times, more than any other actor. He shared that he did not want to get stuck in the role and firmly believed that no one could play it better thanSean Connery. Owen told Glamour (via Evening Standard):
“Playing James Bond would have been like entering a golden prison, and I doubt that would have suited me. I may be the only actor who consistently said, ‘No, no, and no’. I never understood what I would have been able to add to the role, or how I could play a character who has already been defined in the past. For me, Sean Connery is the real James Bond.”
However, Clive Owen made contradictory statements in an interview withDetails Magazinein 2007. He told Details that he was never approached for the Bond role.
Also Read:“I’ve been going to gay bars”: James Bond Actor Daniel Craig Devised the Most Brilliant Way To Avoid Being Involved in Bar Brawls
Clive Owen’s Another Movie Role Included James Bond Reference
Despite Clive Owen’s refusal to play the role of 007 in theJames Bondfilm series, he did play a secret agent, Agent 006, but not in aJames Bondmovie. Owen played a cameo role in the 2006 comedy-mystery film,The Pink Panther. When Owen’s character introduces himself toSteve Martin’s Inspector Clouseau, Martin makes a humorous remark that Owen is“one short of the big time”.
Owen was partially correct in assessing Sean Connery’s portrayal as the best James Bond ever. However,Daniel Craigcould offer more to the character with a distinguished portrayal, unlike Owen stated. Craig is often regarded as the next best Bond after Sean Connery. TheKnives Outactor’s Bond films alone grossed nearly $4 billion at the box office.
Another consideration for the role before Craig’s casting wasSean Beanwho had already played a rogue agent inGolden Eye. Following Daniel Craig’s exit, the speculations are now favoring actors likeAaron Taylor-JohnsonandHenry Cavill.
Also Read:James Bond Reportedly Rejected Dick Van Dyke for Same Reason Robin Williams Couldn’t Get into Harry Potter
All Daniel CraigJames Bondfilms are available for streaming on Prime Video.
Source:Evening Standard,Details (Web Archives)
Hashim Asraff
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3018
Hashim Asraff is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, with over 2,800 articles published on celebrity culture, comic book movies, and major TV franchises. With a background in Sociology and a keen interest in pop culture, Hashim brings a unique lens to breaking news stories, character deep-dives, film rankings, and fan-driven perspectives.His coverage often includes the MCU, DCU, hit network shows, and celebrity profiles, giving readers a rich blend of entertainment and analysis. A longtime fan of crime and investigative series, Hashim has watched thousands of episodes of NCIS, Criminal Minds, Law & Order: SVU, Bones, Blue Bloods, and The RookieA passionate storyteller and wordsmith, Hashim has also worked as a ghostwriter and managed multiple social media handles. He brought his writing expertise to FandomWire to also pursue his lifelong love for cinema and television.
