Claude Lelouch Says Creative Freedom Drove Him Away From Projects With Steve McQueen, Marlon Brando & James Bond

Despite being a man of 81 years, French director Claude Lelouch has not slowed down in his career. Over the course of five decades, the acclaimed filmmaker has consistently made films, with his latest being “The Best Years of a Life,” which premiered at this year’s Cannes. But according to a new interview, the most famous films in his career might be the ones that he turned down.

Speaking to Collider, the filmmaker talked about how his 1966 Palme d’Or win for “A Man and a Woman,” which would also go on to win the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar, opened his career up to a wealth of opportunity. However, those offers didn’t excite the filmmaker, who has always wanted to keep creative control over his films.

The legendary director said that he turned down chances to work with iconic actors Steve McQueen and Marlon Brando because he didn’t want to be “a slave to the producers.” But as he reveals, it wasn’t just Brando and McQueen that Lelouch turned down. He also gave up the chance to work with one of the most popular characters in the history of fiction, James Bond.

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“I always thought directors were more important than producers but in Hollywood, the producer is more important,” he said. “Of course in America, there are auteurs who have made great films, like Woody Allen and John Cassavetes, and great directors like Coppola and Scorsese have managed to work within the constraints of the studios.”

He continued, “I would have been thrilled to make films with Marlon Brando and Steve McQueen if I could make what I wanted to make. But they wanted final cut. I was once asked to make a James Bond film and I would have loved for a woman to break James Bond’s heart. I would have liked it if he resembled a man and not a superhero.”

Lelouch’s latest, “The Best Years of a Life,” sees the filmmaker return to the characters he introduced in “A Man and a Woman,” but during the twilight years of their lives. The film premiered out of competition at this year’s Cannes. Worldwide distribution has yet to be announced.