Summary
Michelle Yeoh very nearly returned to theJames Bondfranchise, and her comeback would have achieved a feat only two actors have managed acrossall James Bond movies. Michelle Yeoh joined the James Bond franchise as Wai Lin in 1997’sTomorrow Never Dies, and entering the pantheon of so-called “Bond girls” immediately propelled her to the international stage. Yeoh would later appear in classics likeCrouching Tiger, Hidden DragonandMemoirs of a Geishaon her road to Oscars success forEverything Everywhere All At Oncein 2023, but she almost made an unexpected stop along the way.
According toDie Another Daydirector Lee Tamahori, the last ofPierce Brosnan’s James Bond moviesinitially planned to bring Yeoh back. Wai Lin would have assisted 007 as part of the movie’s Hong Kong sequence, and the idea got as far as discussions with the actor herself, but Tamahori acknowledges, “She [Yeoh] turned it down. She didn’t wanna play a small part.” Had the winds of fate blown in the opposite direction, however, Michelle Yeoh would be just the third actor to achieve an impressive feat within James Bond’s cinematic universe.
All 007 Agents In James Bond Movies & Books Explained
Along with James Bond, there have been a dozen characters who’ve been given the 007 designation in the long-running spy franchise.
Only 2 “Bond Girls” Have Returned For Multiple Movies In 60 Years
Michelle Yeoh Would Have Made It Three
As a consequence of 007’s promiscuity, the various women he encounters typically don’t get a second mission. Standard procedure is that James Bond ends his movies in a female character’s arms, then said female character goes completely unmentioned in the following release, allowing the British super-spy to embark upon his next romantic liaison. Only two of Bond’s romantic interests have managed to avoid that fate.
If Michelle Yeoh had agreed to Wai Lin’s guest spot inDie Another Day, she would have become the first Bond girl to feature in multiple movies since Eunice Gayson.
Eunice Gayson portrayed Sylvia Trench inDr. No, then made a fleeting returnas the same character in its sequel,From Russia With Love. 007 and Trench evidently drifted apart beforeGoldfinger, as Gayson never returned to the franchise. Across the 22 official EON releases thereafter, any James Bond love interest lucky enough to reach the end credits of their movie alive also received the “offscreen breakup” treatment. That streak remained unbroken untilNo Time To Diein 2021, whichreunited Daniel Craig’s Bond with Léa Seydoux’s Madeleine SwannfromSpectre.
If Michelle Yeoh had agreed to Wai Lin’s guest spot inDie Another Day, she would have become the first Bond girl to feature in multiple movies since Eunice Gayson. In the modern era, Yeoh would be the third overall alongside Gayson and Seydoux - an astoundingly small club, considering the longevity of the James Bond franchise and the number of other recurring allies in 007’s contacts list.
How No Time To Die Ended The “Bond Girl” Trope For Good
Daniel Craig’s last outing as 007, No Time To Die, ended the sexist “Bond Girl” trope and made the Bond franchise all the better for it.
Despite not being the first, Yeoh’s prospective return inDie Another Daywould have broken new ground. Sylvia Trench’s briefFrom Russia With Lovepart was barely enough to be described as a cameo, meaning Wai Lin would have been the earliest two-time 007 love interest to actively, directly assist the spy in successive films. Ultimately, that honor went to Léa Seydoux’s Madeleine Swann instead.
Why Michelle Yeoh’s James Bond Return Wouldn’t Have Worked
It’s Hard To Argue That Yeoh Didn’t Make The Right Choice
Michelle Yeoh reprising the role that kickstarted her Hollywood reign sounds like a tempting proposition indeed, and would have perhaps elevated the largely unlovedDie Another Day. On the other hand,a cameo in Pierce Brosnan’s swansong might have hindered Michelle Yeon’s movie momentum more than helping it.Die Another Dayreceived criticismfor its more outlandish tone, and remains among the least acclaimed James Bond movies with a score of 55% onRotten Tomatoes. Michelle Yeoh, fresh from her success inCrouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, arguably dodged a bullet.
The fact that Michelle Yeoh’s planned role inDie Another Daywas only minor further suggests turning down a comeback was the right call.Die Another Daycould only have done justice to Wai Lin by keeping her as a main supporting character - the same route later taken by Madeleine Swann inNo Time To Die. While Michelle Yeoh would have boostedDie Another Day’s star power and provided a rare, fan-pleasing moment ofJames Bondcontinuity,Wai Lin only getting a short cameo would have represented an injustice to both Yeoh and her character, especially after Halle Berry’s Jinx effectively replaced her.
Sources:Rotten Tomatoes
James Bond
The James Bond franchise follows the adventures of British secret agent 007 as he combats global threats. With a license to kill, Bond faces off against various villains and criminal organizations, employing high-tech gadgets, espionage, and charm. The series spans multiple films, featuring exotic locations, thrilling action sequences, and memorable characters. Bond’s mission to protect the world and uphold justice remains central, making the franchise an enduring icon in the spy genre.
