Meet The Octopussy Cast

The cast of Octopussy

The Octopussy Cast

Chapter 13 of the James Bond universe saw a unique cast and a plot with more twists behind the camera than a Bond chase sequence. It’s almost as if you’d need a crystal martini to follow the myriad of potential Bonds that sashayed across the franchise’s radar to follow it.

Sir Roger Moore, having given us the suave secret agent in For Your Eyes Only, seemed poised to hang up his Walther PPK. His hesitant tango with the character led to what could only be described as a media frenzy, with the likes of Timothy Dalton and Lewis Collins sliding into the list of potential Bonds.

Add to the mix, the likes of Michael Billington, the dashing Oliver Tobias, and—hold your breath—an American twist with James Brolin, and one would think we had enough contenders. Brolin was apparently almost ready to swap the sunny shores of LA for London‘s historic skyline, but the whims of fate (and some very persuasive producers) drew Moore back for some more martinis, shaken not stirred, of course.

The Octopussy cast tales don’t stop there. Casting for Octopussy herself was a saga worthy of its own movie. Sybil Danning, heralded in Prevue magazine, was soon replaced on grounds of being “too vibrant” for producer Albert R. Broccoli’s taste.

Then, with names like Faye Dunaway sounding too much for the pocketbook and Barbara Carrera being swayed by Never Say Never Again, it seemed the casting directors were up against a wall.

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Yet, in a twist worthy of a Bond finale, Maud Adams, having already graced the franchise in The Man with the Golden Gun, clinched the role of the titular character. A subtle nod to her character’s roots saw Adams sport darker locks and flaunt an Indian upbringing.

Amongst these casting chronicles, a hat-tip must be given to Robert Brown’s portrayal of M. His authority, suggested by Rpger Moore who’d shared screen space with Brown during their Ivanhoe days, saw him gracefully shift from the naval brass of Admiral Hargreaves in cast of The Spy Who Loved Me to MI6’s top brass.

His sombre, yet commanding take on M would resurface in A View to a Kill, The Living Daylights, and finally in the ensemble of the Licence to Kill cast. So, there you have it, a chapter from the annals of Bond, replete with tales that prove sometimes, the reel life is just as captivating as the real.

Watch Inside Octopussy Documentary

In the shimmering tapestry of James Bond villains, the rogues’ gallery of the Octopussy cast stands distinct. With the suave and menacing duality of Louis Jourdan’s Kamal Khan, an Afghan prince in exile, it’s a marvel to watch him plot the demise of a US airbase in cahoots with Steven Berkoff’s renegade Soviet soldier, General Orlov. While Jourdan melds charisma with a shadow of impending danger, Berkoff remains resolutely and unflinchingly ominous.

From the heart of Bollywood comes Kabir Bedi’s Gobinda, Khan’s towering sentinel. Not just a bodyguard, Gobinda is a looming storm, his loyalty to Khan fierce and unwavering. It’s this very loyalty that finds him clambering onto a plane’s fuselage, on a mission to end Bond. But alas, every storm eventually breaks.

Kristina Wayborn, as Magda, is not your average lieutenant. The luminous subordinate of both Octopussy and Khan, she seduces Bond, all for a Faberge Egg, and her audacious balcony escape is nothing short of cinematic brilliance.

Enter Vijay Amritraj. The tennis legend leaps from court to screen as Bond’s MI6 comrade in the subcontinent. His natural allure shines through, and that tennis racket-turned-weapon? A stroke of light, cheeky genius that only Bond could pull off.

Adding more layers to this cast are the Meyer twins, David and Anthony, who play Mischka and Grischka, Orlov’s circus performer underlings. With a flair for knife-throwing and some dashes of comedy, they meld effortlessly into the film’s vibrant palette.

Of course, who could forget the irreplaceable Desmond Llewelyn, reprising his role as the gadget guru Q? With his usual delightful quirk, he’s not just confined to the lab this time, he’s right there in the thick of it with Bond.

Then there’s Lois Maxwell, our beloved Miss Moneypenny, who never fails to sprinkle her own brand of charm. Yet, in a delicious twist, when the camera settles on an enchanting woman, it’s not actually Moneypenny, but her new assistant, Penelope Smallbone, brought to life by Michaela Clavell.

In summary, the Octopussy ensemble is an alchemical concoction of stars, daredevils, and acrobats. Despite initial stumbles with casting its hero, the end result is a cadre of luminous talents, each pouring their essence into a Bond movie that’s as kaleidoscopic and silly as it is unforgettable.

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Watch the Octopussy Official Trailer

The rest of the Octopussy Cast and Crew Information

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