However, according to Lazenby’s claims in the documentary, he was blacklisted for turning down the role and he struggled to win further parts after reports of his being difficult on-set damaged his reputation.
Sadly, this would become a regret for Lazenby, who told the documentary he was “badly advised” and would have taken the role had he received some better advice.
The producers at Eon tested other actors for the role, but the studio making the movie, United Artists, believed there was only one man for the role on Lazenby’s departure: Sean Connery.
In order to entice him back, Connery was paid a reported $1.25 million (£949,000) to appear, which was a hugely high salary.
source: express.co.uk