James Brolin came close to joining the long list of actors who have donned a tuxedo to portray the English spy James Bond over the years. He went in for an audition when makers were looking for someone to replace Roger Moore as a British secret agent, who was reluctant to play the character.
However, the Westworld actor, who has earned praise for his outstanding performances throughout the years, allegedly failed to meet the film’s (Octopussy) commercial viability requirements.
For those who are unaware, Brolin is the husband of EGOT-winning singer-actress Barbra Streisand and the father of Josh Brolin, Deadpool 2 star. Moreover, the elder Brolin was a s*x icon and superstar in the 1970s and early 1980s. He is best known for his leading roles in Marcus Welby, M.D., The Amityville Horror, and Hotel.
James Brolin Was Almost Cast In The James Bond Movie
After five films, Roger Moore reportedly made the decision to leave the series, according to UCR. Given his reluctance to reprise his role for Octopussy, the producer launched a somewhat transparent search for the next Bond, conducting screen tests with American actor James Brolin.
But when the rival Bond film Never Say Never Again was revealed, the producer ( Albert R. Broccoli) persuaded Moore to stay in the role because they believed the seasoned actor would perform better against former Bond Sean Connery.
This prompted Brolin to resign, even though he had already agreed to play the new Bond. Two-time Golden Globe winner recalled this in a 2019 interview with This Morning:
“Roger Moore had said, ‘I’m not doing any more Bond. So, Cubby Broccoli [Albert R. Broccoli] starts interviewing people and flies me over [to the U.K.] and takes me to all the great spots, then finally decides. … We talked about having an intercontinental accent – I’m not British and a lot of people are gonna object. Anyway, I got my flat, I started working out with the stuntmen, and then I went back home to collect all my stuff, because I’m gonna be gone a year. I’m home about a week, and I get a message that Roger Moore decided to do Octopussy.”
The actor, 83, responded when asked about his reaction at that time:
“I’m a fatalist, in a way. I just went, ‘Okay, all right.’ But I look back and I think it could have been a great gig.”
Also Read: Not Pedro Pascal, A Major Fan-Favorite Game of Thrones Actor Could Have Been the Next James Bond
James Brolin Was Devastated When He Lost His 007 Role
Producer Albert R. Broccoli twice screened James Brolin because Roger Moore was considering retiring from the role. Although the producer chose the latter to be the new Bond, Roger Moore eventually came back to play the role in 1983’s Octopussy. The Skyjacked actor recalled in an earlier interview with Express.co.uk:
“I literally left [Albert R.] Cubby Broccoli in London, came home to get all my stuff to live in England for a year, when Roger Moore said, ‘Oh I’ll do one more!’”
When questioned about how disappointed he was to lose the acclaimed role, he responded:
“Yeah! I really was up for that.”
The actor continued by revealing information about the egregiously lost chance as he went on to add:
“When I heard I was going to go over and meet with [Cubby], I dressed to the hill. I spent more money on clothes than I ever thought I would, all at the wrong places. But I looked good! I showed up there and I did two screen tests, which I think are both available on YouTube now. Anyway, good or bad I got the job and Cubby took me to his clubs and I thought, ‘This is the life here in London!’ Just that was terrific whether I got it or not. This business is a crapshoot and a bit of luck anyway, so…”
Despite mixed reviews from critics, Octopussy went on to become a financially successful film, earning $187 million; Never Say Never Again, on the other hand, earned $160 million. Nevertheless, it did not perform as well as the Octopussy film, which was released earlier that year.
Stream Octopussy on Amazon Prime Video and Never Say Never Again is available on Max.
