From here:
Rumored to have also been in the running were British actors Clive Owen, Ioan Gruffudd, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, Gerard Butler and Ewan McGregor.
One of these things is not like the other. Hugh Grant? Hugh “charmingly befuddled Englishman” Grant? How was that going to work?
Bond: Hi… m-my name is… oh dear, I’ve gone and forgotten it… Bond, yes! That’s it! Bond. Jack B — wait, that’s not it. John. Oh dear… James! Yes, James Bond! My name is Bond, J-James Bond!
Hot Bond Girl: Piss off.