LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM (DECEMBER 18, 1969) (REUTERS)

***CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY***

CINEMA
PRODUCERS SALTZMAN AND BROCCOLI
LAZENBY WITH DIRECTOR HUNT
DUKE AND DUCHESS OF KENT GREETED
DUKE OF KENT INTRODUCED TO LAZENBY AND CO-STAR DIANA RIGG
Background: THE CINEMA'S NEW JAMES BOND, ACTOR GEORGE LAZENBY WHO TAKES OVER THE ROLE FROM SEAN CONNERY, PUT IN A SURPRISE APPEARANCE AT THE ROYAL PREMIERE OF THE LATEST 007 EPIC ON HIS MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE IN LONDON TONIGHT (THURSDAY). AFTER THREATENING INTERPRETED AS A "SNUB" TO ROYALTY - THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF KENT WERE PRESENT AT THE CHARITY PREMIERE.
LAZENBY, A FORMER MALE MODEL WHOSE PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE WAS MAINLY SELLING CHOCOLATE IN BRITISH TELEVISION COMMERCIAL, THREATENED A BOYCOTT AS PART OF HIS CAMPAIGN AGAINST BEING TYPE-CAST IN THE BOND ROLE.
AND ALTHOUGH HE FLEW BACK SUDDENLY FROM AMERICA FOR THE SHOWING OF THE FILM, HE REMAINED ADAMANT THAT HE WOULD NEVER AGAIN PLAY THE PART OF THE MOST FAMOUS SECRET AGENT IN BRITISH FICTION.
HIS WITHDRAWAL IS UNLIKELY TO AFFECT THE PRODUCTION OF FUTURE JAMES BOND FILMS. PRODUCERS HARRY SALTZMAN AND ALBERT R. BROCCOLI, WHO WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FIVE RECORD-BREAKING 007 HITS STARRING SEAN CONNERY, ARE EXPECTED TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT ON THE FUTURE OF THE SERIES EARLY IN THE NEW YEAR.