James Bond in film of the funding for the Bond films, fell into financial difficulties following the box office failure of "Heaven's Gate" (1980), bringing uncertainty to the future of the funding. The situation was resolved in May 1981, when Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer acquired United Artists. Following "For Your Eyes Only", Roger Moore had expressed a desire to stop playing James Bond. His original contract had been for three films, a requirement fulfilled with "The Spy Who Loved Me". Subsequent films had been negotiated on a film-by-film basis. The producers engaged in a semi-public quest for the next actor to play Bond, which would be for
Motifs in the James Bond film series Bond" actors. Llewelyn's first film was the second in the Eon series, "From Russia with Love", after the actor who played the part in "Dr. No", Peter Burton, was unavailable for the filming schedule. (Burton's character was not yet called Q, but "the Armourer", Major Boothroyd, who instructed Bond on a new firearm, the Walther PPK.) After appearing as Q's assistant in "The World Is Not Enough", John Cleese appeared as Q in Pierce Brosnan's last film, "Die Another Day". For Daniel Craig's third film, "Skyfall", the character was re-introduced, with Ben Whishaw playing the part. The first Bond film,