McClory assembled a team to produce a new script based on Thunderball and convinced Sean Connery to reprise the role and compete against Roger Moore, Broccoli, and Octopussy. McClory was awarded screenplays he and Fleming co-wrote because of the plagiarism suit filed against Fleming. The second was Never Say Never Again in 1983 in the “Battle of the Bonds.” Broccoli and Saltzman wanted Thunderball to be the first Bond film, but due to a legal dispute between Fleming and producer Kevin McClory, that film was not an option to start the franchise. Casino Royale was first in 1967, starring David Niven in what was a spy movie spoof by Columbia Pictures. Two of the movies featuring the famous spy are considered “non-Eon” films, having been produced by other studios. When looking at how many James Bond movies there are, it is a bit more complicated than expected.
