Jurassic World Dominion actor Sam Neill explains why he didn't want to play James Bond. Neill is back as Dr. Alan Grant in the latest Jurassic franchise adventure, having starred in Steven Spielberg's original Jurassic Park, as well as Jurassic Park III. The actor has appeared in a number of notable film and TV projects throughout his career, including The Hunt For Red October, Event Horizon, A Cry in the Dark, Dead Calm, and In The Mouth of Madness, although his Jurassic Park role has been his only major franchise character.
James Bond is the British spy extraordinaire created by author Ian Fleming, who has been featured in live-action form since 1962. With 25 films to date on the series and counting, multiple actors have portrayed James Bond, all from the United Kingdom (minus George Lazenby, who was Australian and only played the character once). Iconic Bond actors include including Sean Connery, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and, most recently, Daniel Craig. Craig retired from the role in 2021, ending his run with last year's No Time To Die, and leaving the door open for a new Bond in the next feature entry after his character's tragic death. Countless actors have tried out for the role of James Bond throughout the years, including Henry Cavill, Hugh Jackman, Mel Gibson, and Clive Owen.
Now, it appears that Neill was also in contention for the role, as the actor reveals to CinemaBlend. Neill explained but says he auditioned reluctantly, as he feared being known as the Bond that people didn't like. The actor read for the role in 1986, when the part was transitioning from Roger Moore. It eventually went to Timothy Dalton, who had been pursued for years to play the character. Neill seems relieved it didn't work out, saying:
"I did that with extreme reluctance. I think that was the last thing I allowed my then agent to bully me into. Because I said to her, ‘Listen, I do not want to be James Bond. And I particularly don’t want to be that James Bond that everybody says, ‘Look, there’s James Bond in the corner of the restaurant. He’s the one I don’t like.’ So I turn up to Pinewood, I do this audition, the entire thing was mortifying, and luckily I never heard from them again."
While Neill would never be known as Bond, seven years later he would play Dr. Alan Grant in Jurassic Park, which is a name that has followed him throughout his career ever since as the role he is most recognized for. The actor has kept busy in between bouts of playing the famed paleontologist, starring in a long string of TV and mini-series (many of which are set in Bond's homeland of the UK) including The Tudors, Old School, Crusoe, Alcatraz, Harry, and Peaky Blinders. Neill is next set to star in the courtroom drama series The Twelve, and will join a major franchise once again to reprise his "Actor Odin" character for the MCU in Thor: Love and Thunder.
Neill is an esteemed actor in his own right and has seemingly forged a career out of projects that suit his sensibilities, rather than attempting to fit into a certain type. He has played the lead and supporting roles, been a character actor, and even a voice actor on a number of projects, creating a diverse filmography that feels unique to his personality and inclinations. While it would've been interesting to see how Neill's James Bond would've played out, it seems better that it didn't, as the actor's heart was never set on the role to begin with. Ultimately, being known as Jurassic Park's Dr. Grant is certainly a special title on its own.
Source: CinemaBlend