Did David Niven Regret Declining Bond?

DavidJones

David Niven was Fleming's personal choice for Bond. However, it seems he turned the offer down.

Later, he starred as Dr Jason Love, the amateur secret agent, in 1965's Where the Spies Are, and, of course, played Bond in '67's Casino Royale.

Does this mean he regretted his decision?

Napoleon Plural

I'm not sure there's any evidence he was offered the role.

He would have been getting on a bit in 1962 anyway. Yes, he and Niven got on, due to their shared operations in World War 2 (I believe Niv took part in the Dieppe raid fiasco, a dry run for Normandy, which was planned by Fleming) and Niven got namechecked in You Only Live Twice but I'm not sure the American producers thought he had the physique for the role.

It's not so much he took those other roles because he regretted anything... Niven simply took anything that was going, he wasn't picky. Hence, I can't believe he turned down Bond, he just wasn't in a position to, ever.

DavidJones

Yes, I think you're right.

Revelator

Niven was mentioned by Fleming as a possible choice back when the latter was working on what became Thunderball with McClory, but nothing went beyond that. It should also be noted that Fleming's first recorded choice for Bond was Richard Burton.