James Bond: ‘Overgrown stuntman’ Ian Fleming’s huge doubts over Sean Connery’s 007 casting

Back in 1961, American film producers Albert R Broccoli and Harry Saltzman purchased the rights to adapt Ian Fleming’s James Bond novels for the big screen. Having founded EON (Everything or Nothing) Productions, they set about work on Dr No with financial backing from United Artists. And it was 60 years ago today that they cast Sean Connery as the first big-screen 007.

The James Bond film franchise paid tribute to Sir Sean today via their social media accounts.

A picture of the star as Bond was captioned: “On this day in 1961, Sean Connery was announced as the first actor to play James Bond, in DR. NO.”

The official 007 Twitter account also put out some shots of the Scottish star’s Bond on the first anniversary of his death at 90 on Halloween.

This one read: “Remembering Sir Sean Connery who passed away on this day last year. Share your favourite memory of his time as 007.”

READ MORE: Bond producers talk next 007 and compare Daniel Craig to Sean Connery

In fact, Fleming was so impressed with Sean that he wrote Bond’s heritage as Scottish, having hailed from Glencoe in the Scottish Highlands, in his 1964 novel, You Only Live Twice.

This was also paid tribute to in the 50th anniversary Bond movie Skyfall when Daniel Craig’s 007 hides in his ancestral Scottish home of the same name with M.

Albert Finney played Kincade the Highlands estate’s gamekeeper in his last screen role.

However, Skyfall director Sam Mendes revealed that early on in pre-production, the Bond producers considered approaching Sir Sean to play the part, however they changed their minds as it was thought that such a cameo would take the audience out of the movie.