Never | Say Never Again -james Bond 007-

brings a cold, regal dignity to Ernst Stavro Blofeld. 1983: The "Battle of the Bonds"

In 1983, cinema-goers witnessed an unprecedented event: two different actors played James Bond in two competing feature films. While Eon Productions released Octopussy starring Roger Moore, a rival production company unleashed Never Say Never Again , marking the unexpected return of Sean Connery to the role that made him a global icon.

The stress boiled over into physical mishaps. While training for the film's martial arts sequences, Connery had his wrist broken by his instructor—a then-unknown martial artist named Steven Seagal. Connery didn't realize it was actually broken until years later. The Battle of 1983: Box Office and Reception

However, Fleming made a critical error. He incorporated character concepts, plot points, and dialogue developed collaboratively with McClory and Whittingham without giving them credit. McClory sued Fleming for plagiarism. Never Say Never Again -James Bond 007-

As Fatima Blush (the remake's version of Fiona Volpe), Carrera delivered an unforgettable, campy, and terrifying performance. Her unhinged energy earned her a Golden Globe nomination. The Chaos Behind the Scenes

“You always said never say never,” Bond replied.

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 brings a cold, regal dignity to Ernst Stavro Blofeld

To prevent a competing Bond film from derailing their nascent franchise, Eon producers Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman struck a deal with McClory to co-produce the 1965 cinematic adaptation of Thunderball . Part of the agreement stipulated a ten-year moratorium, preventing McClory from producing any other adaptation of the story until 1975. The moment that restriction expired, McClory set out to exercise his rights, eventually partnering with producer Jack Schwartzman to bring a new Bond film to life under the banner of Taliafilm. The Return of the Original 007

But by 1982, Connery was 52 years old. His film career, while respectable, had not reached the monumental heights he desired since leaving 007. When a unique legal loophole allowed producer Jack Schwartzman to acquire the film rights to Thunderball independently of Eon Productions, Connery saw an opportunity. He agreed to return, but on his own terms: a massive salary, creative control, and a title that directly mocked his earlier vow.

McClory promptly sued Fleming for plagiarism. A grueling legal battle ended in a settlement: McClory retained the cinematic rights to the Thunderball story, including the iconic villainous organization S.P.E.C.T.R.E. and its leader, Ernst Stavro Blofeld. While Eon Productions co-produced the official 1965 adaptation of Thunderball with McClory to keep him at bay, a clause in their contract allowed McClory to launch his own rival adaptation after a ten-year period. By the late 1970s, McClory began exercising that right, setting the stage for an independent Bond movie. The Return of the Original 007 The stress boiled over into physical mishaps

The film’s release in the autumn of 1983 set the stage for an unprecedented and legendary showdown, dubbed "The Battle of the Bonds" by the media. Just months earlier, in June 1983, the official Eon Productions franchise had released Octopussy , Roger Moore’s sixth outing as 007. The two Bond films, one "official" and one "unofficial," went head-to-head at the global box office. Octopussy ultimately won the battle, grossing $187.5 million worldwide on a $27.5 million budget, while Never Say Never Again earned $160 million on a significantly higher $36 million budget. While the unofficial film was technically a financial success, the official Eon entry was both more profitable and a bigger global draw.

The trail leads from the health spas of Shrublands to the opulent casinos of the French Riviera, and finally to the villainous lair of (Klaus Maria Brandauer), a wealthy, psychologically complex psychopath who is obsessed with a video game called Domination (a prescient piece of 80s futurism).

The film exists because of a long legal battle involving producer .