 Peter R. Hunt (qv) originally wanted to direct  _You Only Live Twice (1967)_ (qv) but when that assignment was given  to Lewis Gilbert (II) (qv), he walked off the franchise and went  on a round the world trip. Ironically he was in Tokyo when he bumped  into Albert R. Broccoli (qv) and Gilbert who were prepping "You  Only Live Twice". Broccoli asked Hunt to direct the second unit on  that film with the promise of directing the next entry in the  series.