Could you imagine a James Bond film directed by Alfred Hitchcock? The film could have changed the course of the cinematic history.

In 1959, Bond creator Ian Fleming dashed off a long telegram to novelist novelist Eric Ambler, proposing that Hitchcock direct the first Bond film with Ambler writing the script. Hitchcock passed on the project (which later became Thunderball, led by legendary Bond director Terence Young). Instead of steering his career into the Bond franchise, Hitchcock directed Psycho as his next project.

Here’s more from Letters of Note: “Have written Bond movie treatment featuring Mafia stolen atomic bomber blackmail of England culminating Nassau with extensive underwater dramatics … Would Hitchcock be interested in directing this first Bond film in association with Xanadu? Plentiful finance available.” (Image via)

You can ponder these hypothetical questions when Amazon Publishing reissues the James Bond books this year.