Original James Bond poster art reimagines On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, with Sean Connery in the role. Connery is the original Bond and played the English spy in six Eon Bond movies, from 1962’s Dr. No to 1971’s Diamonds Are Forever. Connery left the role officially following You Only Live Twice in 1967 and was replaced by George Lazenby, whose sole Bond credit was On Her Majesty’s Secret Service in 1967. Eventually, Connery returned one last time with Diamonds, with many Bond fans wondering what could have been if the suave Scot had played the role instead of Lazenby.

One artist created a poster art based on the original Japanese artwork for the movie, but with Connery replacing Lazenby as Bond. Twitter user Sean Longmore posted their work with the caption, “We’ve got all the time in the world,” the most iconic line from the movie. He also labeled the work as “My ‘what if?’ pieces.” Check out the poster art below:

The poster features a snowy background, with scenes and events from the movie and characters who appear centered sporadically. Connery’s Bond is positioned prominently in the top middle of the image. He is dressed as Lazenby was in the movie and points his silenced pistol at the audience. Below is the movie’s title in Japanese, with ‘007’ written under it.

What Would On Her Majesty’s Secret Service Have Been Like With Connery As Bond?

To this day, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service remains perhaps the most divisive installment in the James Bond franchise. Many critics regard it as the strongest Bond movie with the weakest 007 portrayals, while others view it as a mess and don’t care for any part of it. While it is clear that Lazenby was regarded as a miscast (and was replaced by Connery and later Roger Moore after just one film), the movie itself does have its faults.

It is also true that some issues might have been solved with Connery in the role. Bond’s love affair and subsequent marriage to Contessa Teresa Di Vincenzo forms the story’s emotional heart, and her death at the end shapes his character irrevocably. Many viewers felt they could not connect with the emotional anguish Bond felt as they had no prior investment in Lazenby in the role, and it feels likely that the emotional weight would have packed a bigger punch with Connery as Bond.

RELATED: On Her Majesty’s Secret Service Wouldn’t Have Worked With Connery As 007

James Bond fans will never get the opportunity to see how the movie would have panned out with Sean Connery in the role. But it is clear that, as a fan favorite, the Scotsman’s involvement may have turned On Her Majesty’s Secret Service into one of the most beloved and highly regarded James Bond movies. As it did when Connery first left the role, the Bond franchise sits at a crossroads right now, and whoever is cast next, there will be hoping the movie is better received than On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.

Source: Sean Longmore/Twitter