20 Things You Didn’t Know About Octopussy (1983)
16. The Non-Battle Of The Bonds
The media-coined “Battle of the Bonds” occurred in 1983.
Having agreed not to make a rival Bond film for ten years after Thunderball (1965), Kevin McClory tried to produce his own Bond film in 1975, but Eon Productions repeatedly blocked it to protect their Bond franchise. Restricted to remaking Thunderball, McClory hired former Bond, Sean Connery to star in the film, which was retitled Never Say Never Again in reference to Connery's previous announcement that he would never play Bond again.
Although personnel such as stuntman, Vic Armstrong worked on it, they were welcomed back on future official Bond films. Additionally, when footage of Never Say Never Again was mistakenly sent to Eon at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire, Cubby Broccoli forwarded it to his competitors without viewing it. However, composer John Barry made liberal use of Monty Norman's The James Bond Theme in Octopussy as the rival film could not use it.
In January 1983, Roger Moore and Sean Connery dined together in London, highlighting their friendship; indeed, Connery had originally wanted Moore to cameo at the end of Never Say Never Again, but this was prevented.
Ultimately, Octopussy made $187.5 million at the box office against its $27.5 million budget, whilst Never Say Never Again earned $160 million against a larger budget of $36 million.