Follow us on Google News
Get the latest updates directly in your Google News feed
Becoming James Bond is a huge responsibility and a serious commitment. The lead actor is expected to reprise his role several times, but for George Lazenby, once is enough. There had been a lot of controversial stories surroundingBondactors, but the 1969’sOn Her Majesty’s Secret Servicestar seemed to be the most perilous.
Lazenby’s tenure as the famed British spy was short-lived following a landslide of drama that took place while filming the movie. From dealing with heated arguments to making ill-advised decisions, he had certainly a lot of reasons not to return to the franchise anymore.
RELATED:“I think it’s a good idea”: Step Aside Henry Cavill, Former James Bond Star Wants Margot Robbie to Become Next 007 Agent for a Surprising Reason
Why George Lazenby Refused A Second Shot AtJames BondFranchise
The shooting forOn Her Majesty’s Secret Servicewas a challenging one, and it caused a massive falling out between directorPeter HuntandJames BondstarGeorge Lazenby. The actor was reportedly difficult to work with, had problems dealing with stress and boredom on the set, and messed around a lot with women.
In a 2015 interview viaDaily Mail, Lazenby revealed that producer Harry Saltzman wanted him back in the franchise, but his manager convinced him to refuse the offer:
“He was saying to me, ‘What do we have to do to get you to sign? How about $1 million to go anywhere in the world?’ But my manager, Ronan O’Rahilly, wasn’t keen. He said, ‘Don’t do it. There’s a guy called Clint Eastwood over in Italy making Westerns for $500,000 a time. You could do two of those instead.’”
Even before the premiere ofOn Her Majesty’s Secret Service, Lazenby was so over his role and wanted to move on from being the image of James Bond. He also made controversial comments about his role (viaSpyscape):
“Bond is a brute… I’ve already put him behind me. I will never play him again. Peace – that’s the message now.”
Aside from the $1 million offer to travel the world, there was also a promise of six moreJames Bondfilms on the table. Lazenby made sure to express that he was done with the 007 role and would show up in the most un-Bondfashion: he sported a beard and grew his hair long.
RELATED:“They wanted me to strip down to my panties”: Daniel Craig Was Against Filmmakers’ Wish to Undress Bond Girl in His $594M James Bond Movie
George Lazenby Regretted ScrewingJames BondRole
On Her Majesty’s Secret Servicewas a raging box-office success, but it was not enough to pull Lazenby back to the franchise. When asked if he had regrets passing up on the opportunity to make one moreBondmovie, he said:
“It was the late 60s – bell bottoms and long hair were in, and Bond had short hair and wore a suit. We thought Bond was over. We were wrong. Sometimes I wish I’d done one more just to shut the people up who think I failed.”
FellowJames BondveteranRoger Moorerevealed that Lazenby admitted he made a mistake. In his 2008 autobiographyMy Word Is Bond, Moore said:
“George took some bad advice. I knew George then and have met him many times since. He admits he made a mistake.”
Lazenby said he learned from the experience and even tried to return to theBondfranchise, but the producers had already moved on. Even Albert Broccoli told him that they would get in touch only to show him the door.
On Her Majesty’s Secret Serviceis available on Amazon Prime.
Sources:Daily Mail,Spyscape
RELATED:James Bond: Every Actor Who Played The Role Ranked
Ariane Cruz
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3533
Ariane Cruz is a Senior Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on TV shows with over 3,000 articles published. Her love for pop culture and the creative arts fuels her passion to deliver engaging and informative stories. Her daily consumption of films, shows, and books keeps her energized for the day, along with her mission to serve as the bridge between fans and their favorite franchises.
