20 Things You Didn’t Know About You Only Live Twice (1967)
3. And Twice Is The Only Way To Live
It is sometimes evident onscreen in You Only Live Twice that Sean Connery had tired of playing James Bond.
Not only had other elements of the franchise reduced the focus on Double-0 Seven, but his image as Bond was overshadowing him. The Scottish actor wanted to move on to other things and the media focus on him in Japan was the last straw.
He and Diane Cilento were hounded by the paparazzi, being forced to eat in their hotel room for privacy. Connery was allegedly even photographed in a toilet and accused of suggesting that Japanese women were not attractive.
Out of respect, the Bond producers removed his contractual obligation to do one more film, but offered him $1 million to make it. Connery showed his lack of interest in returning as Bond by attending an interview in a T-shirt and baggy trousers, leading one journalist to ask if that was how James Bond dressed. Connery replied that he was not James Bond but an actor who dressed how he wished.
He announced his resignation from the franchise shortly afterwards, creating a race to cast a new Double-0 Seven. No one expected Connery to return to the role of James Bond four years later...