 James Mason (I) (qv) was considered for the part of villain Karl  Stromberg. His famous role as Jules Verne (qv)s Captain Nemo in  Walt Disneys _20000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954)_ (qv) was a major  element in his consideration. He would also be considered as main  villain Hugo Drax in the next Bond movie _Moonraker (1979)_ (qv).  Coincidentally, James Bond creator Ian Fleming (I) (qv) based the  villain Drax on the Jules Verne (qv)s character Robur from the  "Clipper Of The Clouds", "Master of the World" and "Robur, The  Conqueror" stories. Sadly, Mason never got to play either and never  was a Bond villain in a Bond movie.