Every popular film and TV character has to start up somewhere . Here are 8 other versions of notable fictional characters .
1. James Bond
Before Sean Connery trifle British Secret Service agent James Bond inDr . Noin 1962 , a live black - and - white video adaption ofCasino Royaleappeared on CBS in 1954 . CBS briefly obtain the celluloid rights to Ian Fleming ’s first James Bond novel and placed Bond in an episode of theanthology TV seriesClimax!(orClimax Mystery Theater ) . The TV edition of James Bond was very different from the 007 we know today , with Barry Nelson playing the persona . Most notably , James Bond was an American working for " Combined Intelligence " and not an Englishman alone working for the British Secret Service . He also went by the name " Jimmy " and not James Bond .
Ian Fleming used the idiot box adjustment as a backdoor original to bone up up sake in a raw goggle box serial featuring Bond . Fleming shopped around his study to CBS and NBC , but both programme networks passed on it because general audiences did n’t react favorably to the live television receiver yield .
Albert R. " Cubby " Broccoli and Harry Saltzman buy the film rights to the James Bond catalog and eventually formed Eon Productions in 1961 . While Eon Productions obtained James Bond ’s cinema rights , the product company did n’t own the rights toCasino Royalebecause of the CBS telecasting product . Columbia Pictures secure its motion-picture show right hand and released a clowning adaptation ofCasino Royalewith English actor David Niven as James Bond in 1967 . Anew versionofCasino Royalewith Daniel Craig as James Bond then hit theater in 2006 .
2. Batman
While we ’re more familiar with Michael Keaton , Christian Bale , or Adam West as Batman and Bruce Wayne , the first iteration of the Dark Knight to hit the big screen was featured in a black - and - white 15 - chapter film serial from Columbia Pictures in 1943 . Lewis Wilson play Batman , who was a U.S. Government agent strain to stop Dr. Daka , a Japanese first-rate - villain , with the assistance of his sidekick Robin , played by Douglas Croft . Since it was released during World War II , Batman was used as propaganda against the Japanese .
It was a very low - budget production , with a black Cadillac used as both Bruce Wayne ’s car and the Batmobile without any accessories or masking to disguise it . The film series was re - free as one long feature moving-picture show calledAn Evening with Batman and Robinin 1965 . The re - release was a adult collision across the country and its popularity aid spawn a new television serial with Adam West as Batman and Burt Ward as Robin in 1966 .
3. Boba Fett
Although Boba Fett appear inThe Empire Strikes Backin 1980 , the bounty Orion actually made his debut in the infamousStar Wars Holiday Specialin 1978 . He appear in an renovate little film as a mystical ally that Luke Skywalker meets during a rescue commission of Han Solo and Chewbacca . While Luke thinks the Mandalorian is a friend , it is shortly revealed that he ’s working with Darth Vader to catch members of the Rebel Alliance . Don Francks voiced Boba Fett in the animated brusk , while Jeremy Bulloch and Jason Wingreen played him in the pic . Boba Fett is in reality more gabby in the television special than he is inThe Empire Strikes BackandReturn of the Jedi .
4. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
In 2004 , Rob McElhenney , Glenn Howerton , Charlie Day , and Jordan Reid ( McElhenney ’s then - lady friend ) used a few cameras , two apartments , and$200 to shoot two video recording shortsthat end up beingIt ’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia . McElhenney then denounce around the TV shorts , which were originally calledIt ’s Always Sunny on goggle box , to a phone number of networks with the hope of selling it . FX expressed interest in a potential serial publication and need to re - shoot the boxers as a professional TV original .
Unfortunately , Jordan Reid was bear on out of the gang after she broke up with McElhenney , and her role was re - ramble with Kaitlin Olson as Sweet Dee rather . The clowning ’s setting wobble from Los Angeles to Philadelphia where McElhenney grew up , and the pack buy the farm from out - of - work role player to bar owner . McElhenney , Howerton , and Day were made executive producers and serial regulars , andIt ’s Always Sunny in Philadelphiabecame a furor run into on line TV .
5. The Simpsons
While episodes ofThe Simpsonsstarted to air on Fox in 1989 , the enliven family really made their debut on idiot box as a series of shorts onThe Tracey Ullman Showin 1987 . The Simpsons were so popular that James L. Brooks play with their creatorMatt Groeningand television manufacturer Sam Simon to create a new TV show that centered on the reanimate family . vivification for theSimpsonsseries was less crude and more polished with a enceinte budget , and it apace became the highest rated TV show on the raw programme mesh — Fox was only three old age old at the time . Currently , The Simpsonsis the longest - incline primetime TV show of all sentence with an impressive 26 season .
6. Jason Bourne
Before Matt Damon played Jason Bourne in three pic , Richard Chamberlainplayed the amnesia - stricken spy in a made - for - TV version ofThe Bourne Identityin 1988 . While the feature article film has a tightly packed two - hr running sentence , the made - for - TV counterpart was a slow three hour that air over two night on ABC . Richard Chamberlain gain a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Television Film for his functioning as Jason Bourne .
7. Lieutenant Detective Frank Drebin
Although theNaked Gunfilm trilogy is one of the most successful clowning franchises in movie account , Police Squad ! , its original source material , was canceled after airing only four episodes on ABC in March 1982 . Tony Thomopoulos , then internet amusement president , believe thatPolice Squad!was too chic for spectator at the sentence . Much likeThe Naked Gun , each installment ofPolice Squad!was so packed full of subtle sight gags , apt paronomasia , and deadpan humor that there was just no elbow room for a laugh track . " Without a laugh track , " anABC executivebelieved , " the looker wo n’t know when to express joy . "
Seven years later , the writers behindPolice Squad!—David Zucker , Jim Abrahams , Jerry Zucker , and Pat Proft — reunited to bringThe Naked Gun : From the Files of Police Squad!to the cock-a-hoop screen in 1989 . Leslie Nielsen would also return to reprise his role as Lieutenant Detective Frank Drebin . The Naked Gunwent on to revenue more than $ 78 million at the box office in 1989 .
8. Kermit the Frog
BeforeSesame StreetandThe Muppet Show , Jim and Jane Henson created a TV show calledSam and Friendsfor local television in Washington D.C. in 1955 . The children ’s sort show run for 10 years and featured a lounge lizard - similar Muppet namedKermitwho would eventually become the beloved and famous Kermit the Frog . While Kermit sport the same oculus and face structure that we know today , he did n’t feature his iconic taking into custody . His foot were also round off or else of webbed . Kermit did n’t officially become a frog until he made his entry during the first season ofSesame Streetin 1968 .
