Timothy Dalton stated in an interview about why his Bond was a much darker, grittier incarnation. It was because he wanted to go back to the Ian Fleming novels, and capture the essence and the spirit of the character Ian Fleming created.
In an interview during filming in September 1988, Timothy Dalton denied media claims that his Bond was not allowed to have as much sex due to the AIDS epidemic being a major concern at the time. However, in a 2007 interview, he admitted that this was true.
Desmond Llewelyn later noted that this was the first time that he'd made any real money out of the Bond films.
It is widely and incorrectly rumored that this was Timothy Dalton's last James Bond film due it being financially disappointing. In reality, Dalton was to star in a third James Bond film after this one, titled "Property of a Lady", written by Michael G. Wilson and Alfonse Ruggiero Jr. and set to start shooting in 1990, with pre-production work having begun in May of that year. However legal issues with MGM beginning that year created long delays which eventually led Dalton to announce his retirement from the role in 1994, a year after his initial contract expired, paving the way for Pierce Brosnan's casting in 007 Contra GoldenEye (1995). Had the film been made, it would have been set in Scotland, Tokyo, and Hong Kong, and would have involved nanotechnology. While no director was ever officially attached, John Landis, Ted Kotcheff and John Byrum were all under consideration.
Wayne Newton: The Las Vegas performer played a small part, in a credited performance as a televangelist called Professor Joe Butcher. His character was a dig at televangelists at the time (including Jim Bakker) who had been exposed during the mid 1980s as being involved in extra-marital affairs and/or general promiscuity. Being in a Bond movie fulfilled Wayne Newton's dream.
John Glen: [pigeon] When Bond lands on the balcony outside Sanchez's office at the casino, he's startled by a flock of pigeons flying in his face.