It appears that The Rock is not secretly a James Bond sequel in disguise as some fans have suggested. For years, there has been a popular fan theory that Sean Connery's character in the 1996 action flick is in actuality and older Bond going by a different name. As the theory has persisted, many fans have gone ahead and accepted The Rock as a movie that's actually about what happens to the original 007
The fan theory has picked up so much steam that it has now made its way straight to one of the film's producers, Jerry Bruckheimer, who addressed the theory in a recent Reddit AMA. Bruckheimer shuts down the notion that The Rock is a James Bond legacy sequel, or it at least was not designed that way. Here's what Bruckheimer said when asked if the filmmakers had written The Rock with James Bond in mind.
"It was never discussed or even thought about."
In The Rock, which was directed by Michael Bay, Sean Connery stars as a former SAS captain who's assigned as part of a team tasked with breaking into Alcatraz when it's overtaken by rogue Marines. The theory is that Connery's character is actually a version of James Bond who was captured and imprisoned at the famous penitentiary, disavowing the former agent. Even with Bruckheimer's denial, many fans will likely still continue to think of Connery as Bond in the film, even if that was not the filmmakers' intention.
Working With Sean Connery Was an Honor for Nicolas Cage
The Rock also stars Nicolas Cage in one of the veteran actor's most celebrated roles. Cage had long been a fan of Connery he did the film, dating back to those classic James Bond movies. Even if Connery isn't playing Bond in The Rock, it was an incredible experience for Cage to collaborate with the famous Bond actor.
“He was a huge influence on my decision to become an actor,” Cage told ET in 2016, commemorating the movie's 20th anniversary. “Going as far back as Dr. No, which I saw at a drive-in movie theater with my father, I knew I wanted to be like that.”
Noting that he used to refer to Connery on the set as "Maestro," Cage added, "We would have a scotch together and just talk about his life. He likes to sing, you know. So, in between shots he’ll be singing. It’s very cool to see Sean Connery singing a big-band version of Donna Summer’s ‘Hot Stuff.’”