Film producers toyed with the idea of a female James Bond before casting Sean Connery, according to a new biography.

Russian-American film director Gregory Ratoff pushed the idea after buying the rights to Casino Royale for around £50,000, and even considered casting US starlet Susan Hayward as the British spy, it is claimed.

The book, Ian Fleming: The Complete Man, details how producers believed casting a woman to play 007 might give the film greater appeal.

However, Bond author Fleming was apparently opposed to the idea - and eventually Connery was hired for the role.

Writing in the biography, author Nicholas Shakespeare says: 'Since the mid-1950s, many well-known actors had been approached. Gregory Ratoff had the arresting idea of having Bond played by a woman, Susan Hayward.'

Hayward was an Academy-award winning actress best known for her portrayal of convicted murderer Barbara Graham in I Want To Live!, as well as the troubled 1930s Broadway star Lillian Roth in I'll Cry Tomorrow.

Her acting career began after she was invited to audition for the role of Scarlett O'Hara in Gone With The Wind. 

Ratoff recruited screenwriter Lorenzo Semple Jr to draft a script for the film.  Speaking to Variety back in 2012, Semple said that Ratoff was interested in Hayward because 'frankly, we thought [Bond] was kind of unbelievable and as I recall, even kind of stupid'. So Gregory thought the solution was to make Bond a woman, 'Jane Bond' if you will.'

It was alleged that Hayward had previously been in a relationship with Ratoff and therefore would be more willing to agree to play the part. 

Before the pair could make the film, Eon Productions bought the rights to the other books and brought out Dr.No in 1962 starring Sean Connery as Bond.

When Ratoff died in 1960 his rights to Casino Royale were sold by his widow and this led to the making of the film in 1967. 

British actor Aaron-Taylor Johnson has reportedly been offered the chance to play 007, with sources claiming bosses have already taken extraordinary lengths to secure him.

Producer Barbara Broccoli, 63, is not considering anyone else, according to insiders, who have claimed costume fittings for Aaron are already underway.

According to the insider, an event will be held where the remaining living Bonds – including George Lazenby, 84, Timothy Dalton, 78, Pierce Brosnan, 70, and Daniel Craig, 56 – will be asked to attend to pass on the torch. 

On top of going all out for the hotly anticipated official cast announcement, Bond execs are also hoping to take the beloved franchise into a new genre.

The insider added: 'They would like it to be a little more of a fantasy, with interesting and iconic bad guys and over the top action and not as real as Daniel Craig's films were. 

'They are looking to steer it more towards the Pierce Brosnan films in terms of tone and referencing Bond's past that people loved, but still incorporating moments to move the films forward.

'There is a set plan, and Aaron has had endless discussions. They don't want anybody else.'

DailyMail.com previously contacted representatives for Aaron for comment.