Sean Connery very nearly had a cameo in the latest Bond flick, Skyfall, according to director Sam Mendes.

Beware, minor spoilers for Skyfall follow.

In an interview with The Huffington Post, Mendes explained that he considered bringing back the original Bond as the ultimate nod to the series' 50 year history.

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So, it was a very brief flirtation with that thought, but it was never going to happen, because I thought it would distract.

Apparently Connery was very nearly approached to play the role of Kincade; the Scottish gameskeeper who appears at the Bond family estate of Skyfall.

"There was a definite discussion about that - way, way early on," Mendes revealed. "But I think that's problematic. Because, to me, it becomes too... it would take you out of the movie. Connery is Bond and he's not going to come back as another character. It's like, he's been there.

"So, it was a very brief flirtation with that thought, but it was never going to happen, because I thought it would distract."

Ultimately, the role went to veteran English actor Albert Finney, which seems like a good decision. As exciting as the thought of seeing Connery back in a Bond film is, as Mendes points out having him appear as another character would be pretty jarring.

Regardless, it seems that the decision not to include Connery hasn't harmed the film's prospects; since opening in the UK two weeks ago the movie has smashed box office records. Let's see if it can do the same in the US when it opens there on November 9.

Luke Karmali is IGN's UK Editorial Assistant and reckons he would make a hilarious Bond. You too can revel in mediocrity by following him on IGN and on Twitter.

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