6 TV Shows Actors Wanted To Fail

Can you imagine having the chance to play the most famous secret agent ever to grace the big-screen, only to have the part ripped away from your hands due to some pesky contractual obligations?

Well, that's the frustrating situation none other than Pierce Brosnan found himself in back before he ever officially sipped a martini in an MI6 suit or went by the name of "Bond, James Bond".

After appearing on NBC's Remington Steele as the titular suited figure for four seasons, the show ultimately being cancelled in 1986 paved the way for Brosnan to accept the part of 007 in the upcoming The Living Daylights Bond outing. But with the increased attention being sent the star's way on the back of these reports being made public, ratings began to improve for Steele and the show was saved from cancellation just hours before the network's 60-day option on the show would've expired.

This meant that Brosnan was now contractually obligated to stay put in Steele's world, with Bond producer Cubby Broccoli instead going for Timothy Dalton in the role upon hearing of the news.

Brosnan would recall to The Guardian even getting as far as being photographed doing the iconic pose in a suit and being on the verge of popping some Cristal with his wife as the news was about to become official when his agent informed him about the late Remington Steele-induced change of plans.

And one of his co-stars on Steele would later admit that Brosnan was "devastated" by the news of Remington Steele pulling him back in after initially failing to the point of cancellation.

Thankfully, Brosnan would finally get his shot in the iconic suit a few years later after Steele eventually fizzled out one shortened season on.