After appearing in 7 James Bond films as the titular 007 agent, it has been theorized that Sean Connery got one more run as the character decades later in a different movie: The Rock. Following the release of 1996's The Rock, directed by Michael Bay, a rumor sprung up concerning Connery and his lengthy Bond past, quite possibly trailing him in the previously mentioned movie.
Over the course of his time as 007, Connery became synonymous with the character. In many ways he became the archetype for those who would come after, establishing James Bond as the smooth-talking, suave British agent he is known to be today. His final official portrayal came in 1971 in the film Diamonds Are Forever, not including the non-canon Never Say Never Again in 1983. He brought in millions and made millions off of the character, and his historic run in the tuxedo will always be remembered as one of the best in the series.
In The Rock, Connery plays John Patrick Mason, an ageing British Special Air Service agent who was caught stealing microfilm containing some of the United States' most valuable secrets in the 1960s. He was imprisoned at Alcatraz Island 20 years prior to the events of the movie, however he somehow managed to escape, and was the only man able to do so. He remained in US custody for many years before being brought in to help Nicolas Cage's Stanley Goodspeed take down a band of rogue Marines who threaten to turn nerve gas missiles on San Francisco if they are not paid a hefty ransom. However, there might be even more to Mason than meets the eye.
Theory: Sean Connery Is Old James Bond In The Rock
The theory that Sean Connery is a much older James Bond in The Rock is a persistent one that fans have worked to either confirm or debunk for years. There are some subtle details, especially in regards to the timeline between this film and his last canon performance as 007 in Diamonds Are Forever, as well as when taking into account the subject matter of the movies in question. The theory, while out there, does make some compelling arguments.
First and foremost, the timeline of events lines up pretty well. In The Rock, it was noted that Mason was captured and sent to Alcatraz in 1962 for his crimes, escaping a year later in 1963. Dr. No, the film in which Connery made his big screen MI6 debut, was released in '62, leading to speculation that he could have escaped and returned to Britain to become the James Bond known and loved. His tenure in the franchise coming to an end in '71 can be construed as the time he was recaptured by the United States, as was implied in the film.
Evidence Connery Is Playing James Bond In The Rock
Aside from the explainable timetable between Connery's 007 run and the events of The Rock, a lot of character traits are similar between his renditions of both James Bond and John Mason. Both men claimed to have been trained by the very best in the British intelligence agency, despite that in The Rock neither the United States nor Britain have any idea who he is. This has been cited by many as a way for the MI6 to cover up ever having known who he was following his capture. This bit of information also supports the often debated code name theory, which sought to explain how so many actors have portrayed James Bond.
Also worth noting, although far less concrete, is the analysis of Mason's personality. The way he carries himself and speaks can easily be described as James Bond-esque. His cool delivery of the iconic "...but of course you are" line made famous in Diamonds Are Forever was believed to be so much more than a subtle wink to the audience. This evidence coupled with an interview in which Connery joked about the film giving him one last chance to play James Bond, something nearly seen in 2002's Die Another Day, only added fuel to the already growing fire.
Problems With The Rock's James Bond Theory
With all of that being said, this proposal isn't air-tight by any means. One of the biggest problems with it has to do with another fan theory, that James Bond is a code name. For years fan have debated that the name is simply a cover, and there isn't actually a man with the name James Bond. Time and time again it has been debunked, thanks to evidence such as Daniel Craig's version of the character having that name before joining MI6 for example. Much of this Mason/Bond theory is predicated on it being a fake name. Without it a lot of validity is lost.
To further diminish the likelihood of this scenario, the timeline only really works on paper. For Mason to have been taken in 1962, and escaped in '63 checks out, however his recapture is where things become a bit sketchy. Obviously Bond was in operation until the early 70s, nearly a decade after he became 007, however in The Rock it is never explicitly stated when Mason was recaptured by the United States. It's only said a few years went by before he was back in custody. This clearly also ignores his unofficial 1983 return to James Bond opposite Roger Moore's 007 run.
How The James Bond Theory Improves The Rock
The Rock, as its stands, it an objectively fine action flick. Michael Bay delivers in his usual style, not exactly reinventing the wheel for this one. Those who have seen it generally enjoy the experience, however few go out of their way to check it out, especially as it falls further and further into the past. One of the things that keeps people coming back to it, though, is the speculated James Bond connection it can be rationalized to have. The parallels can be written off as the creators having some fun with the fans, but at the end of the day their choices improved the film itself.
Attaching Sean Connery is a big enough deal as it is. In 1996 he remained a major name, as his legend loomed large over Hollywood. Though his career was winding down, the fans' desire to see him play James Bond one last time certainly hadn't. By linking The Rock to such a prolific run of films, which his successor George Lazenby couldn't quite replicate, made it feel as though it was much grander than it was. It is an industry-wide occurrence nowadays for movies to be marketed as an addition to other, very successful ones. This situation isn't too different.
Witnessing Sean Connery play John Mason with this theory in mind enhances not only the performance but the film as a whole. What could easily be ignored as a generic action romp becomes something more, an epilogue to one of the most revered and iconic protagonists in the history of the big screen. This speculation is far from perfect, but at the end of the day it is at the very least a neat concept to consider. Looking at The Rock through the lens of it being a swan song for the original James Bond makes it all the more entertaining.
