Bond 26 Can Right A Franchise Wrong By Avenging Tracy Bond
James Bond 26 can correct a long-standing franchise wrong by avenging Tracy Bond. The success of the James Bond movies in the '60s were unprecedented, with the franchise becoming a cultural phenomenon. The movies also made a screen icon of star Sean Connery, but by his fifth outing You Only Live Twice, the Scottish actor had grown weary of both the series, the fame and the producers behind it. He soon departed the role, with Australian model George Lazenby beating out rivals such as Michael Caine and future Bond star Timothy Dalton to the lead in fan favorite On Her Majesty's Secret Service.
This 1969 spy adventure made several funny, meta gags about Lazenby taking over from Connery, but the film's initial reception was mixed. Lazenby was considered a weak replacement for Connery and On Her Majesty's Secret Service's grosses were noticeably down. However, the film has been reappraised as one of the James Bond franchise's finest hours, from its setpieces to the tragic love story at its core. Diana Rigg (The Avengers TV series) is also one of 007's best love interests, with her Tracy Bond leaving a lasting impact on the series and character.
Related: George Lazenby's «Anti-Bond» Follow-Up To On Her Majesty's Secret Service
On Her Majesty's Secret Service ended with Bond and Tracy getting married, but the bride is soon shot dead by Blofeld's henchwoman Irma Bunt. This was originally supposed to be the opening scene of Diamonds Are Forever (Roger Moore's favorite Bond) with George Lazenby's 007 setting to return and seek vengeance on Blofeld. However, several behind-the-scenes events saw this plan scrapped. Lazenby famously quit after only one movie, feeling Bond was "outdated," while Bunt actress Ilse Steppat passed away
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