13 Movie Villains You Didn't Know Almost Played The Hero

10. Sean Bean Was Almost 007 Before He Was 006

Despite playing the most Daniel Craig-like Bond of all the pre-Craig Bonds, Timothy Dalton was ultimately pushed away from the role after just two movies when MGM and the film's producers locked up in a law suit for five years, and the actor lost interest. In his place, MGM eventually announced that Pierce Brosnan - an actor twice linked to the role previously, and the rest is history, but had EON got their way, Brosnan would have merely been a suitor for the role again.

Sean Bean, who was making waves on Sharpe after Paul McGann injured himself out of that role, was EON's choice to replace Dalton, but MGM over-ruled them in favour of Brosnan. He still impressed enough to gain a part though, and was cast as Bond's mirror - rogue agent Alec Trevelyan, who was originally intended to be Bond's mentor. And Bean flourished, clearly more comfortable with the more complex character dynamic, which he would revisit again with Boromir for the LOTR.