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Key Points

James Brolin almost became James Bond in 'Octopussy' before Roger Moore returned for one last film. The actor revealed he turned down Superman because he disliked the idea of wire work. Brolin prefers character-driven roles over traditional leading man parts, citing his performances as Reagan and Gable as favorites. These days, he focuses on directing diverse projects across multiple genres.

Key Points: James Brolin Reveals He Almost Played James Bond in Octopussy

  • Brolin was hired for Octopussy before Roger Moore returned
  • He turned down Superman due to discomfort with stunt work
  • Prefers diverse roles over traditional leading man parts
  • Now focuses on directing varied film projects
3 min read

James Brolin shares he was nearly cast as James Bond in 'Octopussy'

James Brolin shares how he was nearly cast as 007 in 'Octopussy' before Roger Moore returned, plus his thoughts on iconic roles he turned down.

"Roger decided to do one more, and I was out. – James Brolin"

Washington, DC, July 12

Actor and director James Brolin recalled having the opportunity to play James Bond in his early 40s, only for plans to change at the last minute, reported People.

Brolin shared that he was asked to sign on for 1983's Octopussy after Roger Moore "said he would never do another" 007 film.

"He was out, so I flew over and I met all the people. And I got my apartment, and I started working with the stuntmen, and Cubby Broccoli hired me," Brolin recalled, reported People.

'Octopussy' is a 1983 spy film and the thirteenth in the James Bond series produced by Eon Productions. It is the sixth to star Roger Moore as the MI6 agent James Bond and the second to be directed by John Glen. George MacDonald Fraser, Richard Maibaum and Michael G. Wilson wrote the screenplay.

"We hadn't signed any papers yet. I got back to L.A. to get my stuff because I was going to be gone for a year. And I got a call saying Roger decided to do one more, and I was out," he continued.

Brolin shared that he was trying to find his best project, unsure of what was next for him.

"Amityville was the biggest-grossing independent film of all time, and nobody knew what to do with me, because of the character," he said, as per the outlet.

"I got offered [the first] Superman and turned it down because I couldn't see myself being hung up on wires in a big red sock. It just wasn't the direction I wanted to go," he added, reported People.

"I really liked playing [Ronald] Reagan. I really liked playing Clark Gable. I really liked playing a guy that was going nuts in Amityville," he said. "And I've done a lot of different characters that people aren't familiar with. That's my favourite," reported People.

He continued, "To be a leading man and just looking your best and saying the words perfect, it's not interesting at all to me. And yet I'm stuck with it, or have been."

Time also brought Brolin to his love of directing, which is where his focus lies these days. He currently has several different projects in different stages of development, ranging widely in genre. It's something he's taken with him from acting into his directing career.

"I don't have any preferences. They're varied. It's hard to say I like a certain kind of thing," he said, reported People.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Brolin would have been a very different Bond! But honestly, Indian audiences have always loved Roger Moore's suave style. His Bond movies were huge hits in our single-screen theaters back in the day.
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Aman W
The article mentions he turned down Superman too! Imagine how different Hollywood history would be. Though I'm glad we got Christopher Reeve - his Superman was perfect for that era.
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Sarah B
As someone who grew up in India watching Bond films, I think the producers made the right call. Moore brought that perfect mix of sophistication and humor that worked so well for Octopussy's tone.
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Karthik V
Interesting trivia! But the article could have explored more about how these casting decisions impacted the Bond franchise globally, including its popularity in Asian markets like India.
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Nisha Z
Octopussy had some scenes shot in India right? Udaipur palace was beautiful! Maybe Brolin would have brought a different energy to those scenes. But Moore's chemistry with Indian actors was perfect 👌

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