Did Timothy Dalton Face Unfavorable Circumstances as James Bond?
When I first saw the question “Did Timothy Dalton already get the shaft as James Bond when he made…”, my initial reaction was disbelief and anger. How could one even suggest that the producers actively set him up to fail? However, after giving it more thought, I began to understand why someone might have these doubts.
Acting at a Tough Time
Despite being approached several times, Dalton made the decision to take on the role in 1994, which was likely the worst time to do so. By that point, the general consensus was that only two actors could play the role of James Bond—Sean Connery and Roger Moore. The public had already decided that Connery was Bond, and the other half preferred Moore.
In addition to the public’s established preferences, Pierce Brosnan was the producers’ first choice for the role but had to drop out due to contractual commitments. Dalton’s entry into the role was therefore between the legend that was Moore and the equally popular Brosnan.
Reactions and Challenges
When it came to the public’s reaction to Dalton, the general feeling was that a drastic shift from the suave and sophisticated Bond of the 60s to a more grounded and serious approach would not be well received. Bond was synonymous with the Cold War, and as the Cold War was drawing to a close, there were doubts about the character's relevance in this new world. Action heroes had evolved to the muscle-bound, one-man-army type in the 80s, making Moore’s approach, which was more tongue-in-cheek and less serious, deeply embedded in the audience’s expectations.
Box Office and Legal Challenges
When Licence to Kill was released, it underperformed at the box office, despite facing stiff competition from films like Lethal Weapon 2, Batman, and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. This poor performance was further exacerbated by a 4-year legal dispute over the film. By the time the lawsuit had concluded, Dalton had had enough and was replaced by Pierce Brosnan, who went on to achieve immense popularity.
During Dalton’s tenure, he was indeed squeezed between the legacy of Moore and the rising popularity of Brosnan. His portrayal of Bond was met with a mixed reception, with some finding his more grounded approach too much of a shift from the beloved pastiche of Bond that Moore brought to the role.
Despite these challenges, Dalton’s spot-on portrayal of Fleming’s Bond allowed him to stand out and has contributed to a surge in popularity, especially with the grittier reboot by Daniel Craig.
Overall, Dalton’s journey as James Bond highlights the inherent challenges of taking on such a iconic role, especially when entering at a time when the character and the franchise were in need of significant change.