James Bond: You won't BELIEVE which 007 villain was almost played by David Bowie
DAVID BOWIE almost starred as a James Bond villain in Roger Moore’s A View to a Kill as Max Zorin.
Roger Moore stars in James Bond thriller, A View to a Kill
Back in 1985 the late Sir Roger starred in his seventh and final James Bond movie at the age of 57-years-old.
While Christopher Walken played the villainous Max Zorin, it turns out the role was originally offered to Bowie.
A View to a Kill’s script was even written with the pop star in mind.
Speaking with NME in 1984, Bowie revealed why he turned down playing a Bond villain.
James Bond: You won't BELIEVE which 007 villain was almost played by David Bowie
Bowie said: “Yes, I was offered that. I think for an actor it’s probably an interesting thing to do.
“But I think that for somebody from rock it’s more of a clown performance. And I didn’t want to spend five months watching my double fall off mountains.”
While Bowie turned the role down, 80s pop star Grace Jones was cast as Bond girl May Day.
The singer later revealed in her autobiographer that Mick Jagger and Sting were offered the role of Max Zorin too, but also turned it down.
Bowie also almost played Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings, instead of Sir Ian McKellen.
In the end, Christopher Walken played Max Zorin in A View to a Kill
Back in January 2016, Dominic Monaghan, who played Merry the Hobbit, said he remembered seeing Bowie at casting.
Speaking with The Huffington Post, he said: “David Bowie came in and signed his little list and went in.
“I’m assuming he read for Gandalf. I can’t think of anything else he would’ve read for.”
The Labyrinth star had been rumoured to have desired the part of Elrond, the half-elven Lord of Rivendell, portrayed by Hugo Weaving in the trilogy.