Exclusive: Inside Secrets and Wild Casting Stories of James Bond Creator Unveiled

Summary

Icons Unearthed: James Bond is the latest installment in the series, exploring the iconic James Bond franchise with brand-new interviews and deep research.

The series delves into the casting process for James Bond, exploring the influence of these decisions on the franchise. George Lazenby's interview offers captivating perspectives and illuminates the intriguing dynamics surrounding his casting.

Icons Unearthed returns with Icons Unearthed: James Bond, delving into the iconic franchise with fresh interviews, thorough research, and dynamic editing. With the James Bond series at a pivotal moment following the groundbreaking conclusion of No Time to Die, Icons Unearthed: James Bond takes a retrospective look at the renowned franchise as a whole.

Leading the charge is Nacelle Company CEO Brian Volk-Weiss, the driving force behind Icons Unearthed since its inception starting with Icons Unearthed: Star Wars. Volk-Weiss, a passionate lover of pop culture, has successfully transformed his passion into media gems, having previously brought forth The Toys That Made Us and The Movies That Made Us for Netflix. With a background in comedy management, Volk-Weiss skillfully wears multiple hats as a company builder, interviewer, and the mastermind behind selecting the subjects that Icons Unearthed will explore next.

Brian Volk-Weiss On Icons Unearthed: James Bond

Screen Rant: Marvel's Icons Unearthed is usually composed of six episodes per season, but surprisingly, the eighth season focused on Marvel. With a staggering 25 Bond movies to choose from, selecting the topics to cover must have been a daunting task.

Brian Volk-Weiss focuses on the originality of the topics covered in his documentaries. When creating a documentary about Star Trek toys, he felt little pressure because no one had done it before. However, when it comes to James Bond, which has had numerous documentaries, Volk-Weiss seeks unique angles to explore. In this case, he delves into the process of casting and the implications it has on the franchise. Rather than focusing on individual actors, the question becomes why certain actors were chosen for the role. This approach forms the basis for the six episodes of the documentary.

I am aware that you have George Lazenby, who succeeded Sean Connery. Did you get a sense of their feelings either during or after their time as Bond? I can imagine it must have been quite an exhilarating experience.

Brian Volk-Weiss: I'm not sure how much you already know about him, but I have interviewed at least 500 people, possibly even over 1,000 – and out of all those interviews, the one that stands out the most in my career is George Lazenby. It was by far the craziest interview I've ever had. He is truly one-of-a-kind. Despite making one of the best Bond films ever, consistently ranking high on any Bond rankings, he's a bit eccentric. Even when they were offering him millions of dollars in today's money to return, he declined. What he did in Hollywood has to be one of the most peculiar stories in its history.

We spoke with Martin Campbell, who played a significant role in casting Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig. Despite his influential role in the decision-making process for both actors, it was interesting to observe the familiar and cohesive atmosphere during the casting meetings. They would all gather for dinner, vote, and remarkably reached a unanimous verdict on both occasions. On par with iconic figures like Superman, Batman, and Mickey Mouse, James Bond holds a prestigious status as one of our society's most recognizable names. Therefore, it's quite astonishing that such a significant decision was made over casual conversation and cannoli after dinner. Although you aim to remain impartial, there must have been some anticipation regarding how the story would unfold. How did the actual events align with your expectations?

Brian Volk-Weiss: Often, our expectations in the field are not aligned with reality, probably around 60% of the time. As a result, we have to be prepared to adjust our approach. This was exemplified in our experience with The Toys That Made Us episode on Star Wars. It was commonly believed that George Lucas made the majority of his wealth from the toys, but this turned out to be completely false. Consequently, the entire episode had to be revamped. The same happened with Icons Unearthed: Fast & Furious, where many of our preconceived notions were proven incorrect.

However, the situation was different with Bond. I was already quite knowledgeable about Bond and was aware of the numerous documentaries that had been made on the subject. Therefore, I intentionally chose a specific aspect of the James Bond story to explore further. As a result, much of the information we uncovered during the research phase, about 90%, was previously unknown to me.

Was there anyone's casting that had a particularly wild story, where maybe it wasn't as unanimous as you said the other ones were?

Brian Volk-Weiss stated that the actor with the craziest story is George Lazenby because he lied throughout the entire process to obtain the role. He believes that the filmmakers were aware of his dishonesty and actually appreciated it, as it added to the James Bond persona. This is the most extraordinary story from his perspective.

Apart from Lazenby, Sean Connery also had an unusual journey to becoming James Bond. He was not initially considered for the role and had to overcome many obstacles. Connery's receding hairline was a major concern and was extensively discussed during the casting process. Interestingly, this was also a concern with William Shatner when he portrayed Captain Kirk. What makes Connery's story remarkable is that he was just a year and a half away from doing manual labor before being cast in what Volk-Weiss considers the first franchise.

Have you noticed any common thread among all these actors who have portrayed James Bond? Although the character remains the same, Daniel Craig and Sean Connery are individuals with distinct differences.

Brian Volk-Weiss: Indeed, they are very dissimilar individuals, and their portrayals of Bond are also distinct. One of the fascinating aspects of creating shows like this is that it allows you to delve into a subject you already love, almost like completing a master's degree thesis. I dedicated two entire weekends to watching all the Bond movies, viewing four films each day from Friday to Sunday. It was an experience I had never had before, and one that would perhaps be considered quite extraordinary.

One thing I noticed about Bond, and this is evident throughout the series, is that Bond reflects the evolution of Western civilization over a span of fifty years. There are notable changes to highlight, such as M transitioning from a male character to a female character, and Moneypenny transforming from a silly and adoring fan of James Bond to someone who can match his abilities. It's amusing to see her going out into the field on a few occasions. These are just a few obvious examples, but seriously, when was the last time you watched Dr. No? It's been so long, I can't even remember.

Brian Volk-Weiss: It's been at least 20 years since I last saw it. It's astonishing. The protagonist coerces a woman into a sexual encounter through blackmail. He also violently hurls another woman against a wall. What's truly incredible is that this character, along with iconic phrases like "shaken or stirred" and "license to kill," continues to captivate audiences even in 2023. This is what astonishes me. Granted, there have been occasional missteps, particularly in the second Timothy Dalton film, but overall, they have managed to maintain a complex and, from our present perspective, somewhat outdated concept, and yet keep it relevant by adapting it to suit each decade. It's truly remarkable. I can't think of any other franchise that has had to do that. Superman remains essentially the same, while Batman undergoes minor adjustments here and there. However, Batman wasn't resorting to such violent behavior towards women back in the '40s.

I always enjoy learning about the individuals featured in these series. Have you ever found yourself focusing more on a specific film or moment, depending on the outcome of the casting?

Brian Volk-Weiss: It was actually Lazenby. You never really anticipate being able to secure someone like him, and even if you do, you can never predict how forthcoming they will be. I've never conducted an interview with someone as candid as him. He would consistently share astounding anecdotes every few minutes.

One of the things I do is, if someone has previously done interviews, I make it a point to watch a few of them. This allows me to familiarize myself with what has already been discussed, so that I can ask unique questions and focus on different aspects. I am constantly striving to provide the audience with an abundance of information.

In many interviews, he often shares a story about how, during the movie production, he insisted on being flown by helicopter to and from the mountain daily. He would adamantly state, "I didn't want to be on the mountain. I had to get off the mountain, so the production arranged for a helicopter to transport me to town after shooting, and then back once I was finished."

After hearing this story multiple times, I couldn't help but wonder: why would anyone want to leave the mountain? He was residing in a luxurious five-star resort in the Alps, with all expenses paid. He had access to the finest cuisine and talented chefs, while surrounded by incredible individuals. Furthermore, he had the opportunity to engage in thrilling activities such as skiing or bobsledding. So, the question remained, why did he want to escape the mountain?

During the interview, he candidly recounts the entire story, concluding with a momentous revelation. With a hint of curiosity, I can't help but ask George, "Why did you feel the need to depart from the mountain?" To my astonishment, without missing a beat, he responds, "Oh, I simply exhausted my options in the realm of romantic encounters." My reaction? Utter disbelief.

I appreciate your response.

Brian Volk-Weiss: I have an even better ending for you in mind. That statement is not even close to the craziest thing he uttered. It would only rank around a four or five on a scale of ten.

What percentage of the remaining content was included in the series?

Brian Volk-Weiss: We have the freedom to use it, unlike other documentary makers who may choose not to include it for various reasons.

The highlight for me was his humorous remarks, especially those related to women. However, the funniest moment was when he shared a story about attending a James Bond premiere. It seemed that none of the living Bond actors wanted to have a conversation with him, resulting in a challenging few hours for him.

About Icons Unearthed: James Bond

Directed by Brian Volk-Weiss (The Toys That Made Us, The Movies That Made Us, Behind the Attraction), Alyssa Michek (Icons Unearthed), and Ben Frost (Icons Unearthed), the fifth installment of the Icons Unearthed documentary series features exclusive and candid interviews with a star-studded lineup including George Lazenby, Gloria Hendry, Caroline Munro, Catherine Schell, Mike Medavoy, Terence Mountain, John Glen, Vic Armstrong, Andreas Wisniewski, Jeffrey Caine, Jeff Kellman, Trina Parks, Norm Wanstall, Lee Pfeiffer, Steven Jay Rubin, and more.

Premiering on Vice TV on Wednesday, October 4th, Icons Unearthed: James Bond will captivate viewers with its in-depth exploration. Stay tuned for new episodes released every week.