Sean Connery turned down the role of Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings

Also, hear about the time Sean Connery told studio execs they were “living in your Disney F***ing Ivory Tower” and demanded more money…and they said yes.

Legendary actor Sean Connery died this past weekend, and we’ve been thinking back over a long career with a lot of highlights, including parts in the Indiana Jones franchise, The Hunt for Red October, and of course, as the original James Bond.

And then there are the hugely popular roles that Connery didn’t take. For example, the actor was once offered $30 million to play Gandalf the wizard in Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings movies, but turned it down, saying he “never understood” the story.

“I read the book,” he told The New Zealand Herald in 2012. “I read the script. I saw the movie. I still don’t understand it.”

Of course, the role eventually went to Ian McKellen, whom Connery thought was fantastic. “I believe [he] is marvelous in it.”

Can you imagine if things had gone another way? The trilogy went on to become a huge success and produced another trio of sequels down the line. According to the Independent, Connery was also offered 15% of “the box office takings.” All told, an analysis claimed that he lost out on $450 million by turning down the role.

More importantly, around the same time as The Lord of the Rings trilogy was coming out, Connery starred in 2003’s The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, which was received so poorly he basically retired from acting; he only ever appeared in two more movies, and then just with voice work. Had he been Gandalf, it probably would have given his career a huge shot in the arm, like it did McKellen’s.

And that’s one of the fascinating behind-the-scenes tidbits about Connery. In an essay for The Hollywood Reporter, director Michael Bay remembered working with the actor on the 1996 action thriller The Rock, where apparently he intimidated some Disney executives into giving the film more money and time.

The story goes like this: Bay was shooting The Rock, and Disney was hassling him for being a few days over schedule. “You want me to help?” Connery asked.

“Cut to: Having lunch with the Disney execs in a third-grade classroom, sitting at tiny tables and chairs,” Bay wrote. “We looked like giants. I announce that Mr. Connery would like to visit and say hi. Sean comes in, sits down across from the open-mouthed executives.”

"In classic Sean Connery style, he belts out in his Scottish brogue: ‘This boy is doing a good job, and you’re living in your Disney Fucking Ivory Tower and we need more fucking money!!’ Without missing a beat, they responded. ‘OK. How much?’"

Best not to displease James Bond; he can kill you with a pen.

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h/t The A.V. Club