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Roger Moore is back on TV screens today in A View To A Kill. It was his seventh and final outing as the British secret agent but his run almost ended after 1981’s For Your Eyes Only.
Cubby Broccoli and Eon Productions were looking for a new star to replace the suave Brit and perhaps rather shockingly had lined up a well-known American. But they wanted to make sure he was the right fit, so they flew in one of the most iconic Bond actresses of all time to put him through his paces. You can watch his screen test below.
Ironically, she would be the one who ended up bagging a major leading role in the franchise and starring opposite Moore in the next 007 outing.
Maud Adams holds the record for a Bond Girl appearing in the most films – three. She debuted as Andrea Anders in 1971’s The Man With The Golden Gun, alongside fellow Swedish bombshell Britt Eckland.
Years later, she said: “I was lucky to have Roger Moore as ‘my’ Bond… He was always very supportive, a real team player and kept everybody in good spirits during the filming.”
It might not be regarded as ‘team spirit’ to try and replace the iconic actor and his dancing eyebrows. Ironically, it would be a previous Bond, Sean Connery, who would ensure Moore stayed in the Aston Martin driving seat.
Hollywood is filled with tales of missed opportunities and lost roles, but the man who later became Mr Barbra Streisand came so close to this career-changing role.
Josh Brolin was brought in to audition for the lead role in 1983’s Octopussy and actually fought off Timothy Dalton, who would have to wait another four years before taking over in The Living Daylights. You can see his screen test below.
Broccoli signed the American on, but then it was announced that Connery was returning to the role in a rival studio remake of Thunderball, to be called Never Say Never Again, to be released the same year. Eon panicked, worried that Connery’s star power and Bond legacy would sink a new actor in the main franchise.
Moore’s initial three-picture deal meant that he renegotiated his contract (and fee) for each subsequent film. He’d declared he was done with the role after 1981’s For Your Eyes Only but suddenly found himself in a very powerful bargaining position.
At 55, Moore was able to secure an increased pay-day as well as a share of the profits. Connery, meanwhile, had negotiated $3million and a profit share for the rival film. The two actors later admitted they had privately discussed how to play the whole situation to their advantage.
Adams, herself, was surprised to find herself offered the titular role in Octopussy. Broccoli had wanted Faye Dunaway but her fee was too high. He’d also pursued Barbara Carrera, but she had decided to star opposite Connery.
Adams later said: “It was such a treat to be able to once again work with Roger Moore, the producer Cubby Broccoli and the crew I had come to like so much. Being offered the title role of Octopussy also was a real honour.”
John Glenn, the director of Moore’s final 007 film A View To A Kill, famously stated that Adams visited the set while they were filming the fisherman’s wharf scenes and was an extra, securing her own unique place in the franchise’s history.
