The existence of this film is due to a 1950s collaboration between Ian Fleming, producer Kevin McClory , and writer Jack Whittingham . When their project fell through, Fleming used the ideas for his novel Thunderball without credit, leading to a massive plagiarism lawsuit . McClory won the rights to that specific story and the characters of SPECTRE and Blofeld , eventually paving the way for this 1983 remake. Production and Casting Highlights
“Never say never,” he murmured, thinking of threats, of hopes, of the strange human urge to imagine endings. “But always be ready.” Never Say Never Again -James Bond 007-
Never Say Never Again is a fascinating anomaly in the James Bond franchise. Released in 1983, it stands outside the official Eon Productions series, marking the high-profile return of Sean Connery to the role that made him an icon. While it essentially remakes Thunderball due to complex legal rights, it offers a more self-aware, mature take on the character. The Return of the King The existence of this film is due to
The Atlantic hissed against the hull as Bond’s yacht cut a slow crescent through charcoal water. The moon, a witness to old deeds, hung thin and distant. James Bond sat on deck, suit jacket draped over his shoulders, eyes fixed on a horizon that never promised rest. Retirement had been a thin paper curtain—an idea he’d entertained, folded, and tucked away. Men like him learned early that some things would never stop knocking. Production and Casting Highlights “Never say never,” he
They are more "prototype" in nature, fitting the theme of an aging spy in a changing world.
"I’ll tell you what I’ve always found helpful. A dry martini. Not too dry. Two measures of Gordon’s gin, one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shake it very well until it’s ice cold, then add a large thin slice of lemon peel. Got it?"