Summary
- Steve Reeves, famous bodybuilder and star of Hercules, was considered for the role of James Bond in the first film, but turned it down due to the commitment and length of filming.
- The casting of Sean Connery as Bond set the precedence for a stylish and charismatic spy, rather than a hulking and menacing presence like Reeves.
- If Reeves had played Bond, the franchise's history would have been wildly different, potentially featuring actors like Arnold Schwarzenegger or Jason Statham in the role instead of Timothy Dalton or Pierce Brosnan.
When the creators of the James Bond franchise of books and films were considering who should be the first person to play the role of famous British spy in the 1950s, the first choice would have completely changed the character. When director Albert Broccoli and the producers of the first Bond movie considered the archetype of 007, it was far from many of the actors that appeared on-screen during the 1960s through the 1990s. Only after initial conversations fell through did the focus of the character change.
In the initial James Bond books, the character was conceived to be a combination of secret agents and military commandos that author Ian Fleming came to know in World War II. This iteration of James Bond was never too old for the position and still wore nice suits and drove luxury cars, but was much more of a warrior than a negotiator or diplomat. If the first film's directors had gotten their wish, the next 60 years of James Bond in movies would have looked wildly different.
Steve Reeves Turned Down The Role Of James Bond In Dr. No
When the directors of the first James Bond movie, Dr. No, were looking for the titular character, Steve Reeves, world-famous bodybuilder and star of the Hercules movie, was one of the first names that they considered. The thought was that the British super-spy should be a hulking, menacing presence that would frighten all of his future enemies. Reeves was famous for playing Hercules, an Avar warrior, and the biblical strong man Samson on screen. His height, bodybuilding physique, and global fame led Reeves to be a natural first choice for the directors.
Reeves, however, was reluctant to take on a role that would commit him to multiple movies that would have taken years to film. He only played Hercules twice, and although he would gain international fame for the role, was ready to move on to other projects. That ultimately led to director Albert Broccoli settling on Sean Connery, but not before several others turned down the role and Broccoli had to be convinced by his wife that the debonair Connery was the right fit for the film series.
What James Bond's Legacy Would Be If Steve Reeves Played Him First
Perhaps more than any other character in cinema history, the casting of James Bond always comes with heightened levels of scrutiny and criticism. After Connery's legendary turn as the spy, the precedence was set that 007 would be more stylish than superhuman. While he could fight and easily deploy the latest gadgets Q bestowed upon him, his confidence, charisma, and charm are just as important weapons as his licensed-to-kill handgun.
When Daniel Craig was cast in the role, there was criticism that he was too muscular and brooding to play James Bond, but his Bond career spanned five movies, and he is largely considered one of the best Bonds ever even in Sean Connery's shadow. If Steve Reeves ushered in the era of Bond in 1962, things might have been wildly different throughout the movies' history. Instead of Timothy Dalton, Arnold Schwarzenegger could have played 007 from the mid-1980s until the mid-1990s. Instead of suave but slim Pierce Brosnan, the more action-focused Jason Statham might have been cast.
Rumors state that the hulking Henry Cavill was in the running for Bond alongside Daniel Craig in 2006. While Cavill still could play the role, there is a world where Cavill's turn as Bond is coming to a close instead of speculation of whether it will ever come. Steve Reeves turning down the role of James Bond eventually ushered in an era of style and sophistication instead of biceps and brute strength. It is a pattern that has existed now for more than 60 years of James Bond movies.
