- Best-selling Rebus author Sir Ian Rankin has revealed that he turned down an offer from Ian Fleming's estate to write an official James Bond novel a few years ago.
- Speaking at the Cheltenham Literature Festival, Rankin explained that he rejected the proposal because he was only offered 50 per cent of the royalties, citing identical financial reasons to Jack Reacher creator Lee Child.
- Despite having a clear plot idea for the 007 novel, Rankin decided to focus on his own franchise, which has sold over 35 million copies worldwide across 25 books.
- The 66-year-old author joked about handing his 80-year-old character Inspector Rebus over to Richard Osman for The Thursday Murder Club series upon retirement, while acknowledging another writer may pick up the character after he passes away.
- While Rankin declined the project, the Fleming estate recently commissioned historian Dan Jones to write a new James Bond novella titled All In, following previous continuation works by authors including Charlie Higson.
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