Sean Connery is still considered by many fans to be the ultimate James Bond, but producers considered plenty of other candidates for Dr. No. Connery struck the perfect chord as 007, bringing Ian Fleming’s secret agent to life with charm, wit and a hint of danger. He was a tough act to follow, and he was coerced into returning to the franchise for one last ride after George Lazenby failed to live up to his portrayal in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. Connery was key to establishing one of cinema’s longest-running franchises, but his casting wasn’t always certain.
https://screenrant.com/james-bond-actors-considered-before-sean-connery/