Skip to main content
  • TotalFilm
  • Edge
  • Newsarama
  • Retrogamer
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • More
    • PS5
    • Xbox Series X
    • Nintendo Switch
    • Nintendo Switch 2
    • PC
    • Platforms
    • Tabletop Gaming
    • Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Newsletters
    • About us
    • Features
Trending
  • Best Netflix Movies
  • Movie Release Dates
  • Best movies on Disney Plus
  • Best Netflix Shows
Don't miss these
Cillian Murphy as Tommy Shelby in Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man
Crime Movies Cillian Murphy says Netflix's Peaky Blinders movie is the "natural conclusion" for Tommy Shelby
Rebecca Ferguson as Kaulo Chirklo standing in front of a fire in Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man
Crime Movies Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man star Rebecca Ferguson says the Netflix movie works as a "standalone film"
Christian Bale in The Dark Knight
Crime Movies Christian Bale promises Heat 2 will be "something great", and he came close to working with Leonardo DiCaprio before
Matthew Lillard as Stu Macher in Scream
Horror Movies Matthew Lillard has addressed his rather confusing Scream 2 cameo, all but confirming that it's not Stu Macher
Arnold Schwarzenegger in Predator
Action Movies Arnold Schwarzenegger says he'll be in the next Predator movie and a Conan the Barbarian sequel
Ralph Fiennes as Dr. Kelson in 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
Horror Movies 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple review: "The wildest and weirdest entry into the franchise yet"
Frodo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Fantasy Movies Elijah Wood says he "wouldn't want anybody else to play Frodo", and now we're thinking he's in The Hunt for Gollum
Kylo Ren in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Star Wars Movies Steven Soderbergh says he is "very disappointed" by the decision to cancel The Hunt for Ben Solo
A screenshot of James Bond in 007 First Light's reveal trailer.
Games 007 First Light: Everything we know so far about IO Interactive's new Bond game
Ghostface in Scream 7
Horror Movies Original Scream 7 directors reveal plans they had to “f*** you up” with the sequel they never got to make
A young James Bond smirks in 007 First Light with the GamesRadar+ Big in 2026 branding frame
Action Games 007 First Light will do something no Bond game has done before – slow down: "Players might be surprised"
Cillian Murphy as Edward Dillinger Jr. in Tron: Legacy
Sci-Fi Movies Tron: Ares concept art shows Cillian Murphy as Sark, with artist admitting it was to "lure him" to "reprise his role"
Ralph Fiennes as Dr. Kelson and Jack O'Connell as Jimmy Crystal in 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
Horror Movies 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple reviews, cast, and everything there is to know about the zombie horror sequel
A screenshot of James Bond in 007 First Light's reveal trailer.
Hitman 007: First Light will be less stealthy than Hitman because IO is pushing "forward momentum gameplay all the time"
Erin Kellyman as Jimmy Ink in 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
Horror Movies 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple director Nia DaCosta made sure the return of that character was not “a big return of the superhero”
  1. Entertainment
  2. Movies
  3. Action Movies
  4. James Bond Movies
  5. Skyfall

Sam Mendes says Sean Connery Skyfall cameo was discussed

News
By Matt Maytum published 7 November 2012

But admits return of former Bond would have been ‘problematic’

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Get the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
Subscribe to our newsletter

[brightcove]1763077002001[/brightcove]

Skyfall flirted with a Sean Connery cameo, according to director Sam Mendes in an interview with The Huffington Post .

Be warned that this story contains minor spoilers for Skyfall .

As unlikely as it sounds, it seems the return of the original James Bond was considered (as if there wasn’t enough 50th anniversary nostalgia in the film as it stands).

Although it would have meant the actor would have to take a retirement-sabbatical, Connery’s name was mentioned in connection with the Albert Finney role.

When THP asked Mendes if there was any thought of approaching Connery for the role of Kincade, the gamekeeper on Bond’s Scottish family estate, the director responded:

“There was a definite discussion about that - way, way early on. But I think that's problematic. Because, to me, it becomes too... it would take you out of the movie. Connery is Bond and he's not going to come back as another character. It's like, he's been there.

“So, it was a very brief flirtation with that thought, but it was never going to happen, because I thought it would distract.”

As smile-inducing as thought of Connery returning to the franchise is, we have to agree with Mendes on this one. It’d have been a meta-step too far.

Skyfall is currently smashing box-office records in the UK, and will open in the US on 9 November 2012.

Read our official Skyfall review .

Sign up for the Total Film Newsletter

Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
Matt Maytum
Matt Maytum
Social Links Navigation
Former Editor of Total Film magazine

Matt Maytum is the former Editor of Total Film magazine. Over the past decade, Matt has worked in various roles for TF online and in print, including at GamesRadar+. Bucket-list-ticking career highlights have included reporting from the set of Tenet and Avengers: Infinity War, as well as covering Comic-Con, TIFF and the Sundance Film Festival.

Read more
Spider-Man 3
Sam Raimi would be open to making a Spider-Man sequel, after all
 
 
007 First Light
007: First Light is "not a role-playing game" because it's James Bond's story
 
 
Spider-Man director Sam Raimi gives thoughts on returning to the franchise
 
 
007: First Light
GoldenEye 007 is "a fantastic game," but 007 First Light has "a far wider and more expansive offering" says IO dev
 
 
Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker, Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia, and Harrison Ford as Han Solo
Mark Hamill asked for a Luke, Han, and Leia reunion in the Star Wars sequels, but was told "it's not Luke's story"
 
 
A young James Bond smirks in 007 First Light with the GamesRadar+ Big in 2026 branding frame
007 First Light will do something no Bond game has done before – slow down: "Players might be surprised"
 
 
Latest in James Bond Movies
Austin Butler in The Bikeriders
Elvis and Dune star Austin Butler says it would be "sacrilegious" to play James bond, but wouldn't mind being a villain: "No calls as far as that goes, but I love that man"
 
 
Glen Powell in Hit Man
As a new 007 movie gets closer, one actor has taken himself out of the running in the funniest way: "A Texan should not play James Bond"
 
 
Uncharted
Spider-Man star Tom Holland downplays speculation that he could be the next James Bond while being grilled by Gordon Ramsay
 
 
Cillian Murphy in Peaky Blinders
Dune director Denis Villeneuve's James Bond reportedly finds its writer in Peaky Blinders creator, and now I can't stop thinking about Cillian Murphy as 007
 
 
Taron Egerton in Tetris
Kingsman star Taron Egerton shrugs off James Bond fan-casting in new Denis Villeneuve movie because he "wouldn’t be good at it": "Nobody’s asking me to do it"
 
 
Caesar from the Planet of the Apes reboot
The 32 greatest movie reboots ever made
 
 
Latest in News
Pickmon
Pokemon fan artist alleges new Palworld clone Pickmon "stole one of my designs"
 
 
Life is Strange
Join Chloe and Max on a "fiery weekend" for a better glimpse into Life is Strange: Reunion at the Future Games Show this week
 
 
Mortal Kombat movie
Mortal Kombat 2 star joins in with Street Fighter movie beef after Game Awards dig because he "loves a good rivalry"
 
 
Mackenyu as Zoro in One Piece season 2
One Piece season 2 actor Mackenyu says he learned Roronoa Zoro's 15-minute 1 vs 100 fight in just 6 hours
 
 
Fujino and Kyomoto eating in Look Back
Live-action adaptation of Chainsaw Man creator's Look Back will escape Japanese cinemas and come to the west
 
 
Luigi and Mario slot cars on a racetrack
I never played with Scalextric as a kid, so I'm making up for it with this Mario Kart set
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Virtual Boy for Switch 2 sitting on coffee table with TV in backdrop displaying Wario Land gameplay.
    1
    I respect the Virtual Boy as a collectable Switch 2 gadget, but it’s not exactly a retro console remake
  2. 2
    Bizarre Lineage codes (March 2026) for free Stat Point Essence, Rare Chests, and more
  3. 3
    The Thrustmaster T248R is making me question where a sim racing wheel with no direct drive and no modular wheelbase fits in the market in 2026
  4. 4
    These Mario Day-inspired Switch 2 accessories will power up your console more than a super star
  5. 5
    Pokemon fan artist alleges new Palworld clone Pickmon "stole one of my designs," saying "they didn't even try to change something and make it a bit less obvious"

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...