Roger Moore was author Ian Fleming's first choice to play James Bond - and he almost landed the super-spy role ahead of Sean Connery.

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Moore eventually replaced the Scottish star and portrayed 007 for 12 years, but he could have been Bond for much longer, had producers listened to Fleming as they were casting Bond's 1962 debut Dr. No. The actor reveals he was considered as the lead for the film.

He tells Entertainment Weekly magazine, "That's what they told me, at least. They also said I was Ian Fleming's first choice. But Ian Fleming didn't know me from s**t. He wanted Cary Grant or David Niven."

Niven actually played James Bond in 1967's Casino Royale. The film is not considered one of the 22 official Bond films.

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(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)