Sam Neill, who died on July 13 at the age of 78 following pneumonia, came remarkably close to playing James Bond before his career became defined by roles in Jurassic Park, Event Horizon, and The Hunt for Red October.
In 1986, the New Zealand actor was among the leading candidates to replace Roger Moore as 007 in what would become The Living Daylights, released in 1987 with Timothy Dalton in the role. Neill completed an official screen test for the part, which later appeared as a bonus feature on the film’s DVD release.
The search for a new Bond was lengthy and drew several contenders, including Pierce Brosnan, Lambert Wilson, and Michael Praed. Brosnan was initially chosen and even signed a conditional contract and completed costume fittings, but the unexpected renewal of his television series Remington Steele forced him to step aside.
Neill then moved to the front of the queue. His portrayal of spy Sidney Reilly in the miniseries Reilly: Ace of Spies had impressed much of the production team, and his screen test received strong praise from producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli and director John Glen. Betting houses reportedly listed him as the top candidate.
Ultimately, producer Albert Broccoli opted for Dalton, an actor he had previously considered for the role.
What made the near-miss notable was Neill’s own attitude toward it. In his memoir Did I Ever Tell You This? and in later interviews, he said he only agreed to audition because his agent insisted. He also admitted he felt uncomfortable throughout the process because Brosnan, a close friend, had desperately wanted the part. Neill said he felt relief when someone else was cast, having feared becoming what he described as the Bond nobody liked, a fate he called worse than death.
