Summary
TheJames Bondfranchise has released 27 movies starring the iconic spy, but the franchise could have turned out very different if this unmade Bondfilm had come to fruition. James Bondhas come a long way since its beginnings as a book series by Ian Fleming. Since 1962, the film franchise has expanded massively and continues to grow. Theupcoming Bond 26is actively searching for its new M16 agent, with the film marking a new beginning for the franchise afterNo Time To Die’s ending.
Though James Bond has successfully made it to the big screen 27 times, there have been some failures and disappointments. More specifically, severalJames Bond movies went unmade. For example, the first James Bond movie was almost an early version ofThunderballdirected by Alfred Hitchcock. However, the famed director allegedly did not want to do a spy thriller so soon afterNorth by Northwest.Ultimately, the Bond franchise could have followed many different paths. This includes not only a third but also a fourth movie sarring Timothy Dalton.
7 Actors Considered To Play James Bond Before Sean Connery
Sean Connery quickly became synonymous with the role of James Bond, but producers also considered plenty of Hollywood icons for the part.
Reunion With Death Was Intended As A Timothy Dalton Bond Movie
The Fourth Timothy Dalton Film Explained
During the 1990s, a James Bond film calledReunion with Deathwas planned but never made. It was set to star Timothy Dalton. Notably, Dalton was the fourthactor to take on the role of James Bond. He appeared in 1987’sThe Living Daylightsand 1989’sLicense to Kill.For the most part,Dalton’s greatest strength as Bond was also his biggest weakness. By bringing a darker, more serious tone to Bond, Dalton made the franchise feel new after Roger Moore’s tenure. However, Bond’s sudden lack of humor was also damaging to Dalton’s portrayal.
1962-1971
1969
1973-1985
1987-1989
1995-2002
2006-2021
TBA
While many Bond viewers know that Timothy Dalton was supposed to be the star of a third Bond film, 1991’sGoldenEye,a fourth film was being developed as well. That isReunion with Death.According to the original plans,Dalton would have stayed on as Bond through the 90s, appearing in bothGoldenEyeandReunion with Death, which would have been released in the mid to late 90s. However, this objective did not work out. Pierce Brosnan stepped in after Dalton’s exit, starring inGoldenEyehimself. From there,Reunion with Deathnever ended up happening.
Reunion With Death’s Story & Premise Explained
Bond Travels To Tokyo
Reunion with Deathsees Bond embark on a new mission after the assassination of M’s friend, Sir Robert Grey. After setting his sights on the yakuza,Bond travels to Japan to take down the culprit. While there, he comes face to face with the mob’s leader, Yasuhiro Nakasone. He also meets Nakasone’s wife, Michiko, who becomes a Bond girl. Eventually, Bond learns of Nakasone’s destructive plan to kill Grey and make more money, and the spy takes him out. However, Michiko dies in the process, leaving Bond feeling more grief than pride at the end of the mission.
All in all,Reunion with Deathwould have been an interesting addition to the franchise because of its classic Bond themes, but also because of the new dynamics it would have created.
Although Bond’sReunion with Deathmission would have taken him across the world, the film still would have included ties to the rest of the franchise. In particular,Reunion with Deathcould have formed a connection with 1967’sYou Only Live Twiceby having Dalton’s Bond team up with the head of the Japanese Secret Service, Tiger Tanaka. All in all,Reunion with Deathwould have been an interesting addition to the franchise because of its classic Bond themes, but also because of the new dynamics it would have created.
How Reunion With Death Was Different From Other James Bond Movies
It is disappointing thatReunion with Deathnever happened because it would have planted seeds that didn’t come until much later in the franchise. For example, by including the assassination of Sir Robert Grey,M would have played a much larger rolein the film. At that time, M hadn’t really had the chance to shine in that way.Reunion with Deathwould have changed that. Furthermore,Reunion with Deathwould have continuedDalton’s dark take on Bond. In reality, audiences only experienced this portrayal twice before Daniel Craig sort of revived it over 20 years later.
Why Reunion With Death Never Happened
Dalton Exited Bond
First and foremost,Reunion with Deathnever happened becauseTimothy Dalton left Bond. As previously mentioned,Reunion with Deathwas slated to be Dalton’s fourth Bond movie. However, Dalton’s seven-year contract expired in 1993, and the actor decided not to return. The main reason for this was thatDalton only wanted one more Bond movie, not two or three. If he agreed to appear inGoldenEye,then he would have had to doReunion with Deathas well. His departure meant that the original Bond plan flopped.
Daniel Craig’sSkyfallis the highest-grossing Bond movie, earning $1.1 billion in 2012.
Weirdly,Reunion with Deathnever made a return to the franchise.WhereGoldenEyewas simply picked up by Pierce Brosnan after Dalton’s exit,Reunion with Deathwas abandoned for good. There are fewer answers about why that is. It could have to do with the fact that Albert R. Broccoli stepped down from Eon Productions just beforeGoldenEye.Perhaps his vision of the future of Bond was changed. There is also the chance that the franchise wanted to take a different direction with Brosnan. Either way,Reunion with Deathstill hasn’t happened all these years later.
How Reunion With Death Would Have Altered The Course Of James Bond
The Bond Actor Line-Up May Have Changed
IfReunion with Deathhad happened as it was planned, it would have completely upended the Bond line of succession. If Timothy Dalton had stayed on as Bond, thenother Bond films may not have happened.Reunion with Deathcould have replacedTomorrow Never DiesorThe World Is Not Enough.It could even be argued thatReunion with Deathwould have prevented Pierce Brosnan from playing Bond. If Dalton had stayed on, Brosnan may never have got his chance. On the other hand, maybe the entire franchise line-up would have been pushed into the future.
Regardless,Reunion with Deathis one of severalJames Bondmovies that never came to be. WithBond 26on the way, there’s a chance that the story could resurface, but it seems unlikely. The franchise has left behind its Timothy Dalton days. However, it may be for the better, especially after Craig’s incredible portrayal. Hopefully, viewers will get something as fresh and exciting for their next 007.
James Bond
The James Bond franchise follows the adventures of British secret agent 007 as he combats global threats. With a license to kill, Bond faces off against various villains and criminal organizations, employing high-tech gadgets, espionage, and charm. The series spans multiple films, featuring exotic locations, thrilling action sequences, and memorable characters. Bond’s mission to protect the world and uphold justice remains central, making the franchise an enduring icon in the spy genre.
