James Bond Legend Spotted: Amazon Takes Control of 007 Franchise
One-and-done 007 – George Lazenby – stepped out for a sunny stroll in Santa Monica last Thursday.
An 85-year-old Australian wore a relaxed outfit, consisting of a red, warm-lined hoodie layered over a blue polo shirt, black trousers, black trainers, and a navy-blue ‘2024’ ball cap.
Or, more colloquially:
The old Aussie bloke was casually dressed in a red hoodie, a blue polo underneath, black pants, sneakers, and a navy-blue ‘2024’ baseball cap.
On the very same day, it was reported by Deadline that George made a significant spotting on his street, Amazon Prime Video announced spending more than one billion dollars to gain ownership of the James Bond series. Previously, they had already invested $8.5 billion in acquiring MGM Studios.
More than five and a half decades have passed since George Lazenby was chosen from among 400 other candidates to take over the role of the tech-savvy secret agent from Sean Connery in Peter R. Hunt’s highly praised directorial debut, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.
1. The movie version of Ian Fleming’s 1963 book brought in $82 million with a production budget of just $7 million, while the actor previously known as the ‘Marlboro Man’ of Europe received a Golden Globe nomination for best newcomer.
or
2. The film based on Ian Fleming’s 1963 book grossed $82 million against a $7 million budget, and the man once famous as Europe’s ‘Marlboro Man’ was nominated for a Golden Globe as most promising newcomer.
In George’s own words from his first appearance on the big screen in Mark Edlitz’s 2019 book The Many Lives of James Bond, he expressed, “I gave it my all. I felt it was necessary to emulate Sean Connery in some way.
It’s been said that Lazenby was given a chance to star as James Bond in seven additional movies, but his representative, Ronan O’Rahilly, persuaded him that the spy genre would seem outdated during the free-spirited 1970s and the contract, spanning 14 pages, was excessively stringent.
In a change of heart, the five-time father who had been through two divorces later expressed regret about his choice, while Sean Connery received an unprecedented $1.25 million to reprise his role in Guy Hamilton’s 1971 film Diamonds Are Forever.
Among the seven actors who have portrayed Bond, George stands out as the one regularly seen at fan events.
In various films such as Fox Chase, Battle of Gettysburg, The Great American Movie Hoax, The Man from Asia, Never Grow Up to Die, and the Emmanuelle series, Lazenby appeared.
This former Australian Special Forces sergeant was featured in various shows too, including Baywatch, Diagnosis Murder, Kung Fu: The Legend Continues, General Hospital, and The Pretender.
The retired Australian Special Forces sergeant has made appearances on TV series such as Baywatch, Diagnosis Murder, Kung Fu: The Legend Continues, General Hospital, and The Pretender.
Both options maintain the original meaning while being more conversational and easier to read.
Back in 2017, Josh Greenbaum was the one who helmed a documentary series titled “Becoming Bond,” which delved into the life of George and could be found streaming on Hulu.
Lazenby has announced his retirement three times over his career – in 1993, 2003, and 2024.
In a tweet on July 24th, the ex-mechanic with over 47K followers announced his decision to retire from work, stating that he would no longer be acting, making public appearances, granting interviews, or signing autographs moving forward. This wasn’t an easy choice to make, but it’s a step he feels is necessary now.
After a delightful journey, growing older isn’t as enjoyable as before. I’d like to express my heartfelt appreciation to Anders Frejdh, who has been both my manager and friend since 2013 – an exceptional representative indeed. His support over the years has been invaluable. Now, I look forward to devoting more time to my family. To all of you out there, thank you for your love and encouragement throughout the years – it’s truly meant a great deal to me.
In Luma Ilir’s forthcoming action film series titled Mundije, George will take on his last role by depicting the character of the U.S. President.
3 years back, Lazenby had to issue an apology and step down from performing The Music of James Bond in Sydney and Perth due to criticism about his use of profanity, discussing personal sexual experiences, and making insensitive comments regarding the LGBTQ+ community during live performances.
It’s reported that the ex-car dealer had past relationships with Barbra Streisand, a multiple award winner, and Jill St. John, famously known for her role as a Bond girl.
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2025-02-25 03:05