Never Say Never Again

Paul Newman

Could have been Bond in: "Live and Let Die" (1973)

Case file: When Sean Connery exited the official series for good after "Diamonds Are Forever" (although he did return in the nonofficial "Never Say Never Again"), studio United Artists warned producers that they ... moredidn't want an unknown like George Lazenby taking the role again. Apocryphal reports suggest that the studio wanted superstar Paul Newman to take a crack at the part. It is unknown whether the late, great Newman was ever even approached (Burt Reynolds was apparently the other marquee name the studio suggested), but it's hard to imagine him, with his underlying sensitivity, as the ruthless, cold secret agent. The part ended up going to Roger Moore, who wisecracked his way through seven entries for 12 long years. (David Sutton/Retna)