With the rights in hand, Ratoff began developing a James Bond film, tentatively titled "Dr. No." Interestingly, this title would later become the basis for the first James Bond film produced by Eon Productions, released in 1962. Ratoff planned to adapt Fleming's novel of the same name, with a screenplay written by him and Terence Young, a British film director and writer.
In 1961, Ratoff’s former agent, , recognized the growing potential of the character as Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman began their own Bond productions. Feldman purchased the rights from Ratoff's estate for $75,000 —more than ten times what Ratoff had originally paid. The Legacy of the "Ratoff Rights" gregory ratoff james bond film rights relinquished
Despite his persistence, Ratoff was never able to secure the necessary funding before his death from leukemia on December 14, 1960. Because Ratoff owned the rights "in perpetuity," they did not revert to Fleming upon his passing. Instead, Ratoff's widow, , and his partner Michael Garrison became the stewards of the property. With the rights in hand, Ratoff began developing