Talk of who will take on the mantle of James Bond has set the internet on fire. People the world over have voiced their favorites for the next 007 .

Bond will irrevocably change whoever secures the part, to be sure. But did you know that several well-known actors have found themselves in 007’s orbit over the decades, and they turned down the plum role? Here are five of them.

Clint Eastwood

Yes, you read that correctly. Clint Eastwood , famously known for headlining some of the most iconic Westerns in the genre, was considered for James Bond. Sean Connery decided not to continue playing Bond after his last appearance in 1971’s Diamonds Are Forever . The creative team then offered it to Eastwood. He rejected the offer.

Decades later, Eastwood explained that his lawyer represented the Broccolis , the powerhouse producers behind the franchise at the time:

“To me, well, that was somebody else’s gig. That’s Sean’s deal. It didn’t feel right for me to be doing it,” Eastwood said.…