The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen was a comic book series created by Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill. The ambitious series brought together iconic names of period literature to help face threats no average person could face. Some names have included Mina Harker from Bram Stoker's Dracula, adventurer Allan Quartermain from H. Rider Haggard's novels and Captain Nemo from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. As a team, these "heroes" faced foes like Fu Manchu, James Moriarty and the aliens from War of the Worlds.
Following the success of the comic series, a feature film was greenlit that brought these characters and newcomers like Dorian Gray and Tom Sawyer into the mix. From a box office and fan perspective, the LXG film failed to live up to its expectations. But it does serve as an early example of a comic book film ensemble coming to life nearly a decade before The Avengers. One of the factors that was removed from the movie was the team's caretaker, Campion Bond. But who is he, and why is he so integral to the League?
Who Is Campion Bond in LXG?
Campion Bond is an original creation by Moore and O'Neill and is a secret agent working in MI5 under M. Inspired by Ian Fleming's James Bond, Campion is actually the future spy's grandfather. Through Bond, Mina Harker and Captain Nemo were able to assemble the League to face off against the threat of Fu Manchu. However, it's quickly revealed that Bond has some sinister affiliations that make him one of the more untrustworthy members of the team.
Before helping to build the League, the secret agent was under the employment of James Moriarty, the adversary of Sherlock Holmes. Bond helped assemble the remaining members of the team, with Moriarty acting as M. However, he eventually decides to work with MI5's next M, Mycroft Holmes, as he believes he should be kept alive due to his self-appointed value. Ultimately, this version of Bond lacks the humility and loyalty of his more heroic grandson.
Why Campion Bond Doesn't Appear in the LXG Film
When the LXG film was set to release in the early 2000s, Campion was supposed to be a part of the team and play a significant role. There were also rumors that actors Jason Isaacs or Robbie Coltrane were going to take on the agent's role. But as production continued, undisclosed factors reduced his prominent role to a small cameo at the end of the movie. There was even talk that former 007 Roger Moore would play the character in the scene.
In the end, Bond's role was cut from LXG entirely and liquidated into a new character named Sanderson Reed. But Bond did make an appearance in the film's novelization, ensuring the integral character still had a part to play in the movie iteration. Sadly, Bond's live-action debut was going to have to wait until future sequels. Because of its mixed to negative reception, however, hopes for a sequel quickly were dashed. As a result, the character of Campion Bond never got his promised appearance.