James Bond creator Ian Fleming nearly saved the silliest 007 film, 23 years before it was even released. Fleming wrote 12 James Bond novels and two books of short stories about the famed secret agent, but died only two years after the very first Bond film – 1962’s Dr. No was released. While the film series was an instant hit, it’s a shame that Fleming never got the chance to see just how colossal the entire franchise would become. Today the Bond series is revered by fans around the globe and it continues to push itself in new directions.

Despite its popularity, however, the Bond series is not without its problems. Over the years 007 has been lambasted for everything from sexism and misogyny to taking downright ridiculous liberties with the source material. The arrival of Roger Moore as Bond created an era of the series that could often be described as tongue-in-cheek. Arguably no other Bond film fits this mold quite so precisely as 1979’s Moonraker. The film was actually Fleming’s third Bond novel, which he completed in 1955 and one which he wanted to see made into a film.

Fleming Wrote A Script For Moonraker In 1956

Surprisingly enough, although there were no immediate plans in the mid-1950s to adapt any of the Bond novels as feature films, Fleming was moving in exactly that direction. With no screenwriting experience and nothing more than a solid desire to see his creation come to life on the big screen, the author set out to write his own adaptation of Moonraker. Of course, Moonraker wasn’t actually adapted until 1979 and today it remains a highly divisive entry in the Bond canon. For some it’s the definitive point where the Bond franchise jumped the shark, offering an absurd version of James Bond with laser guns and space travel.

Yet the film could have been something completely different had Fleming succeeded in his efforts to get it off the ground. By 1956, Fleming had written a 150-page Moonraker script and was ready to move forward. Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be. At the time the biggest film company in the United Kingdom was the Rank Organisation and Fleming’s work failed to interest them. The script was tucked away and forgotten, putting an immediate end to the great author’s first and only foray into screenwriting. It wasn’t until 2015 when the script went to auction and was purchased by a private collector that anyone took notice of it.

Everything Moonraker Changed From Ian Fleming's Original

For those who felt irritated or let down by the actual Moonraker adaptation, Fleming’s unused screenplay may have been a welcome relief. Within the script’s 150 pages, the Bond author had some considerably different views of what the film would be like. For starters, Fleming’s Moonraker script did away with calling the head of MI6 “M” and rather than make the character a tough, no-nonsense chief, he’s presented as a friendly, good-natured fellow. Miss Moneypenny, a consistent source of flirtation for Bond, is completely absent, and a Cockney hustler called Tosh joins Bond in taking on the villainous Hugo Drax.

In terms of the Bond character, he’s left relatively the same, but the overall script is far more serious in tone than what Moonraker ultimately became. This is due primarily to the time period in which Fleming wrote it. The Cold War was very much the issue of the day, and the seriousness of this real-life standoff found its way into the pages of the script. It’s difficult not to think about what Moonraker would have been like if Fleming’s original draft had been used. There’s no changing this now, obviously, and James Bond’s foray into space will forever showcase the goofy side to Ian Fleming’s beloved tale.

Source: The Guardian