It was recently revealed that director Renny Harlin, known for Die Hard 2 and Cutthroat Island, was offered the chance to direct Timothy Dalton’s second Bond movie, but had the gall to demand that Dalton be replaced. Given that The Living Daylights had already established Dalton as 007, replacing him for movie number two and pulling a Lazenby would’ve been a bold request (Licence To Kill with the Die Hard 2 director sounds spicy), so much so that I have to wonder whether Harlin had some ulterior motive. I’m not sure what that motive would have been, and I certainly cannot agree with his claim that, “to me, being a big James Bond fan, he was not the right guy.”

Hindsight may be 20/20, but Dalton’s Bond has aged remarkably well, despite his movies ultimately posting the weakest box office totals of any Bond actor. Perhaps Harlin’s opinion was influenced by Dalton’s lack of box office muscle, although if that was his main concern, you’d think he would have simply said so rather than making the casting change an ultimatum. As a director, I can understand considering the commercial appeal of your leading man, but surely that is not enough reason to throw out an established 007. Just take the job!