Back in 1986, New Zealand actor and beloved icon Sam Neill was up for the role of James Bond. The actor had broken through in Gillian Armstrong’s “My Brilliant Career” in 1979 and a few years later played a grown-up Damian Thorne in “Omen III: The Final Conflict”.
In 1983 he delivered a Golden Globe-nominated turn with the “Reilly, Ace of Spies” mini-series in which he played Russian adventurer turned British spy Sidney Reilly who was the real-life inspiration for Bond author Ian Fleming.
It caught the attention of the Bond producers who were looking for a new 007 in the wake of Roger Moore’s exit with 1985’s “A View to A Kill”. By 1986, three names rose to the fore as potential replacements – 39-year-old Neill, 33-year-old Pierce Brosnan, and 40-year-old Timothy Dalton.
Neill was wanted for the part by most, except long-time producer Albert Broccoli who wasn’t a fan. Pierce Brosnan was then tested and offered a deal before an NBC contract option for “Remington Steele” stopped his chances. Ultimately Dalton was cast in the role for 1987’s “The Living Daylights” with Brosnan eventually coming back around to it in 1995 with “Goldeneye”.
A few years ago, an audition reel for the role emerged online – one which Neill has been asked about in the last year or two and has previously stated that he had never wanted the 007 role.
Now, in a new interview with The Telegraph, Neill reiterated he’s glad he didn’t get it but has some idea about whom he’d like to see take on the part:
“It was one rather excruciating moment in a long career but people keep asking me about the Bond thing, and I can only say I’m very glad I’m not an ex-Bond but I do have a couple of recommendations.”
Neill then goes on to make two suggestions – the first is Australian actor Robert Collins (“Cleverman,” “The Drover’s Wife”) with Neill saying: “He’s an indigenous actor, extremely handsome, and really good. He’d shake things up a bit”.
The other is Scottish actor Jack Lowden who already stars as British spy River Cartwright in the acclaimed Apple TV+ series “Slow Horses”.
Neill will soon be seen in the upcoming Australian courtroom drama series “The Twelve”.
Source: The Telegraph
