Sam Mendes directed Skyfall, an addition to the James Bond franchise, was one of the most well-received movies of the franchise. It saw actor Daniel Craig take on the role of the 007 agent for the third time, after Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace. Daniel Craig is the longest-running James Bond, having been attached to the franchise for over fifteen years.
However, no one can deny that late actor Sean Connery was the O.G. when it comes to James Bond movies as he is the actor who started the franchise. He has seven James Bond movies to his name and it’s been years since he was last seen in the role. Still, fans cannot seem to get over his portrayal of Bond. Sam Mendes revealed that there were talks about bringing Sean Connery to play a role in Skyfall.
Sean Connery Was to Have a Cameo in Skyfall?
While Skyfall was early in its production days, rumors found whirlwind stating that Sean Connery was all set to have a small cameo in the twenty third James Bond movie. Apparently, the idea was for Connery to play Kincade – the groundskeeper of Skyfall Lodge.
According to the script’s early drafts, Skyfall Lodge was supposedly the retirement home for 00 agents. The residence would be attacked by Silva played by Javier Bardem, and Connery would join forces with Daniel Craig to fight off the bad guy. Well, as we now know, this did not come into fruition.
When the idea was dropped, Kincade’s entire character was re-written to fit into the new storyline and the retirement home plot was dropped simultaneously. In a 2012 interview with The Huffington Post, director Sam Mendes stated that even though there were discussions about brining Connery back, it was let go of because the actor wouldn’t be interested in playing a different character after having ruled as 007.
“There was a definite discussion about [Connery playing Kincade] way, way early on. But I think that’s problematic. Because, to me, it becomes too… it would take you out of the movie. Connery is Bond, and he’s not going to come back as another character. It’s like, he’s been there. So, it was a very brief flirtation with that thought, but it was never going to happen, because I thought it would distract.”
Connery retired from acting in 2006 after The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Since, he even refused to return for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull in 2008, Skyfall producers apparently didn’t even approach him, worried about getting turned down.
It does seem like a positive thing because Mendes is right, it would have been distracting, as well as confusing for fans. It’s doubtful that fans would want to see Connery play anything else in a James Bond movie other than the spy himself.
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Sean Connery’s James Bond Legacy
Connery gave life to the 007 agent in the 1962 movie Dr. No. His incredible acting skills and presence on the screen mesmerized the audience so much so that people still haven’t forgotten his part in making the franchise a hit.
The original 007 actor left a mark so deep in the industry, that even after his death, fans still haven’t let go of him. The success of the James Bond franchise is tremendously owed to Connery. After he was done playing Bond, the bar was set so high that the actors succeeding him had to give their best and then some to live up to the expectations set by Connery.
“My name is Bond…James Bond.” Connery will always be associated with this quote, no matter how many more actors play James Bond.
Source: The Huffington Post
