Roger Moore was the original choice for James Bond, says son

Jeffrey Moore, son of actor Roger Moore, has revealed that his father was the original choice for the role of James Bond, rather than Sean Connery. According to Moore, the producers and author Ian Fleming had Roger Moore in mind due to his work in “The Saint” and his close personal friendships with producers Albert R. “Cubby” Broccoli and Harry Saltzman.

However, Moore was unable to take the role at the time because he could not be released from his contract with the television company ITC. Roger Moore eventually debuted as the third actor to play 007 in the 1973 film “Live and Let Die,” a role he held for 12 years across seven films.

Jeffrey Moore noted that the casting evolution benefited the franchise, as each actor reflected their specific era. While Connery remained faithful to Fleming’s original novels, the character was later adapted to suit Moore’s more empathetic and lighthearted style, which better matched the changing cultural landscape of the 1970s.