A Very Bond-y Revelation!

Imagine this: “The name’s Califragilisticexpialidocious… Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!” Yep, those words were a stone’s throw away from being uttered by none other than Dick Van Dyke! Can you picture it? The iconic chimney sweep trading his broom for a tuxedo? Well, almost.

The Legend We Almost Knew as Bond

Now, at the sprightly age of nearly 100 (can we get a round of applause for that?), good ol’ Dick has had more roles than you can shake a stick at—clumsy comedy writer, charming chimney sweep, and even a sleuthing doctor! But there was a moment in time where he nearly zipped up that famous tux and took on the role of James Bond. As he recently spilled the beans on the Today Show, he revealed that the legendary Cubby Broccoli once asked him, “Would you like to be Bond?” Talk about a golden ticket!

What Could Have Been!

Let’s all take a moment to absorb that news flash: Dick Van Dyke as 007! I mean, the internet has been abuzz about casting a non-white actor for the next Bond, with names like Idris Elba and Dev Patel floating around, but an American in the tuxedo? Now that’s a plot twist no one saw coming!

Bond History 101

Back when Sean Connery was waltzing out of the Bond picture, Australia’s George Lazenby popped in for a cameo with On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. But when George decided to take a sabbatical, Eon (the gatekeepers of all things Bond) turned to John Gavin. Poor Gavin got benched when Connery rode back in, and by the time Connery bid adieu for good, Roger Moore nearly threw in the towel too! Guess who was back on the radar? You guessed it—Van Dyke! Even James Brolin was in the running at one point, going through some screen tests for Octopussy, which might I add, sounds like a very cheeky title!

Did He Have What It Takes?

But let’s circle back to Dick. He played the lead in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, which just so happened to be produced by Cubby Broccoli and based on an Ian Fleming story. So, he’s kind of got the Bond vibe, right? However, Van Dyke didn’t think he could overcome the unique “Britishness” that comes with the character. “Did you hear my British accent?” he joked, probably mimicking it with a flourish. You know the discussion probably ended with a chuckle!

A Bond of a Different Kind

But beyond the jokes, Van Dyke had some serious concerns. He thought about his ever-loyal fans and whether they could handle him as Bond. He worried they’d be like, “Wait, the guy who made us sing ‘Chim Chim Cher-ee’ is now ordering shaken martinis? No way!” He’s certainly had a chance to play some bad guys though, stepping into the shoes of a grouchy silent star in 1969’s The Comic and even putting a whammy on kids as the surprise villain in Night at the Museum.

Final Thoughts

In the end, Dick Van Dyke just couldn’t see himself fulfilling the suave, martini-sipping, world-saving 007 role. But hey, can you blame him? He’s carved out a legacy of pure joy and whimsy that remains unmatched. So, while he might not be the Bond we never got, he sure is a shiny gem in Hollywood’s treasure chest!