Released in 1983, is one of only two feature-length James Bond films produced outside of the official Eon Productions series. It marked the high-profile return of Sean Connery as 007, twelve years after his previous outing in Diamonds Are Forever (1971). The film was directed by Irvin Kershner and served as an unofficial remake of Thunderball (1965). The "Battle of the Bonds"
As a standalone artifact, it represents the ultimate "what if"—a glimpse at a parallel universe James Bond, produced by a rival studio, starring an older, grittier Connery in a 1980s action landscape. It is a powerful monument to one of Hollywood’s greatest legal and creative battles, and a must-see for any true Bond aficionado seeking the complete 007 story.
Upon its release, reviews for Never Say Never Again were surprisingly positive given its unofficial status. Critics were largely won over by the novelty of Connery's return and the character depth brought by Brandauer. In his review, Roger Ebert, while criticizing the recycled plot, celebrated Connery's performance, writing, “Ah, yes, James, it is good to have you back again,” and praised the “human element” the actor brought to the role. Janet Maslin of The New York Times went even further, heralding it as when compared to Octopussy .
The existence of Never Say Never Again is rooted not in creative ambition, but in a decades-long legal battle over one of the most famous Bond stories: Thunderball . The origins date back to the late 1950s when Bond creator Ian Fleming began developing a potential Bond film with Irish producer Kevin McClory and screenwriter Jack Whittingham. Together, they developed ideas that would become key elements of Bond lore, including the global terrorist organization SPECTRE and its arch-fiend leader, Ernst Stavro Blofeld.
Never Say Never Again opened on October 7, 1983, to mixed reviews but strong box office, grossing $160 million worldwide (equivalent to over $450 million today). Octopussy , released in June 1983, earned $187 million. In the Battle of the Bonds, Roger Moore won by a narrow margin, but Connery proved the demand for a mature, alternative 007 was very real. Never Say Never Again -James Bond 007-
. On the aft deck, James Bond swirled a glass of Vesper Martini—shaken, despite the health-conscious regimen the service had tried to force upon him at Shrublands.
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To understand why Never Say Never Again exists, one must look back to the early 1960s. Before EON Productions brought James Bond to the silver screen with Dr. No (1962), author Ian Fleming collaborated with producer Kevin McClory and screenwriter Jack Whittingham on a script for a potential Bond movie. When that project fell through, Fleming adapted the ideas into his 1961 novel, Thunderball , without properly crediting his collaborators.
If you want to dive deeper into the world of cinematic anomalies, let me know: Released in 1983, is one of only two
: The legendary Monty Norman/John Barry musical theme could not be used. Instead, Michel Legrand provided a jazz-infused, distinctly non-traditional score.
Looking back, Never Say Never Again is more than just a historical curiosity. It proved that the character of James Bond was larger than any single production company. It anticipated the modern trend of legacy sequels, showing a cinematic icon grappling with age, irrelevance, and a changing world long before Skyfall or No Time to Die explored similar themes.
The results were a statistical draw. Octopussy grossed $187.5 million worldwide. Never Say Never Again grossed $160 million. Given that the renegade film cost less to make and Connery took a massive upfront salary, it was considered a financial success. Critically, reception was mixed. Critics loved Connery’s charisma and the novel “aging hero” theme but decried the sluggish pacing and cheap-looking production design (the film feels more like a 70s TV movie than a lavish Bond epic).
Skip it if you require the formula: Q’s lab, the Aston Martin, the gunbarrel, and the flared-nostril heroics of the official series. The "Battle of the Bonds" As a standalone
I rewatched the "Battle of the Bonds" films from 1983 recently, and I have to say... Never Say Never Again has aged remarkably well.
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However, Fleming made a critical error. He incorporated character concepts, plot points, and dialogue developed collaboratively with McClory and Whittingham without giving them credit. McClory sued Fleming for plagiarism.
: Producer Kevin McClory co-wrote the original story with Ian Fleming and retained the rights to adapt it separately, making this film a modernized remake of the 1965 Thunderball .