WI: Moore Becomes Bond Earlier

Sean Connery was done with Bond after You Only Live Twice, so what if Roger Moore was chosen to take on the role after that?

How do you think becoming Bond earlier would impact how Moore was seen in the part? How would it impact the series based on the above information?
 
It depends on when he was chosen (or rather accepted since Cubby Broccoli always coveted him for the role). If Moore took over instead of Lazenby with "On Her Majesty's Secret Service", that film (which is widely regarded already by Bond fans as one of the best ever Bonds) would probably be regarded up there with Casino Royale as the best. Diana Rigg might not get hired as Tracy (they hired her to give Lazenby an experienced name actress to work with) and an unknown might have the part of Mrs. Bond. "Diamonds are Forever" (sans Connery) is probably a MUCH, MUCH better film since it would be continuation of OHMSS instead of Eon trying to forget that since there was another change in actors. Everything else is pretty much the same, except maybe Moore does call it quits with "For Your Eyes Only" (when he wanted to quit) or "Octopussy" and either Brosnan or Dalton (or Sam Neil, who impressed Cubby's kids back in the 80s auditions) take over for "A View to a Kill".
 
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Moore can't be Bond as early as 1969 because of his commitment to the Saint. The Saint ended in 1969-which would leave him available for 1971's Diamonds Are Forever had Sean Connery refused to return and the studio considered Moore for the part at that point. Diamonds Are Forever does fit the Roger Moore era aesthetic as well as Live and Let Die did-so imagining that film with Moore instead of Connery is not much of a stretch. If you want Roger Moore to be Bond in the 1960's you need him to be cast instead of Sean Connery for Dr. No prior to his commitment to the Saint which might just be within the realm of possibility.
 
It depends on when he was chosen (or rather accepted since Cubby Broccoli always coveted him for the role). If Moore took over instead of Lazenby with "On Her Majesty's Secret Service", that film (which is widely regarded already by Bond fans as one of the best ever Bonds) would probably be regarded up there with Casino Royale as the best. Diana Rigg might not get hired as Tracy (they hired her to give Lazenby an experienced name actress to work with) and an unknown might have the part of Mrs. Bond. "Diamonds are Forever" (sans Connery) is probably a MUCH, MUCH better film since it would be continuation of OHMSS instead of Eon trying to forget that since there was another change in actors. Everything else is pretty much the same, except maybe Moore does call it quits with "For Your Eyes Only" (when he wanted to quit) or "Octopussy" and either Brosnan or Dalton (or Sam Neil, who impressed Cubby's kids back in the 80s auditions) take over for "A View to a Kill".

That's interesting, how do you think they would handle Diamonds Are Forever and future iterations? Would they touch on Bond's wife?

Moore can't be Bond as early as 1969 because of his commitment to the Saint. The Saint ended in 1969-which would leave him available for 1971's Diamonds Are Forever had Sean Connery refused to return and the studio considered Moore for the part at that point. Diamonds Are Forever does fit the Roger Moore era aesthetic as well as Live and Let Die did-so imagining that film with Moore instead of Connery is not much of a stretch. If you want Roger Moore to be Bond in the 1960's you need him to be cast instead of Sean Connery for Dr. No prior to his commitment to the Saint which might just be within the realm of possibility.

For the purposes of this, we can have it be that he negotiates by season/can withdraw at any point in his contract (the former of which might have been OTL, I'm not sure). Either way, it won't be an issue for this.
 
That's interesting, how do you think they would handle Diamonds Are Forever and future iterations? Would they touch on Bond's wife?

The original plan was for DAF to be a strict follow-up to OHMSS and more of a serious revenge flick against Blofeld. Once the continuity between actors (and directors as Peter Hunt was not asked back as intended),Connery came on board again (and they knew this was probably a one-time deal from him for money), Lazenby's film wanted to be forgotten and so DAF became a campy film set in Las Vegas with Jimmy Dean of sausage fame as a Howard Hughes type and Blofeld in a dress.
 
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