Suave. Smooth. Sophisticated. Convincing as a tough guy, and comfortable with a gun in his hand. Burt Reynolds had all the required elements to play James Bond, and the fact he was handsome in his youth helped, too. When Sean Connery stepped aside, Reynolds was the man who got the call. Reynolds was flattered, but didn't think it was for him. He couldn't do a convincing British accent, and didn't think the world was ready for an American Bond.
Perhaps the producers should have taken his advice. Rejected by Reynolds, they recruited Australian George Lazenby instead. Audiences hated him, Lazenby's time as Bond was over after one film, and the producers went crawling back to Connery to beg him to put the tuxedo on again. Connery obliged for one more film, before handing the part off yet again to Roger Moore. Moore proved to be the right long-term choice.