You know how Liam Neeson is pretty much a rock solid box office draw these days thanks to his action films like _Taken_ and more recently _Non-Stop_? Turns that train could have come in the 90s when he was offered the role of James Bond for the film that would eventually become Goldeneye.

[Hull Daily Mail](http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/Non-Stop-star-Liam-Neeson-asked-James-Bond-chose/story-20727769-detail/story.html):

> “I was heavily courted, let’s put it that way, and I’m sure some other actors were too,” says Neeson, as he chews thoughtfully on a toothpick and rests his long limbs on an armchair.

> “It was about 18 or 19 years ago and my wife-to-be said, ‘If you play James Bond we’re not getting married!’ And I had to take that on board, because I did want to marry her,” he recalls, smiling.

So there you have it, he wanted to marry his wife and she didn’t want him to do it. No explanation why but considering they were happily married until her untimely death in 2009 I’d say he made the right call.

Still, Liam Neeson as James Bond? That would have been an interesting series of films! Maybe they’ll bring him into th franchise as an older agent or something in the future.