You Only Live Twice (film) declined the offer to direct, but accepted after producer Albert R. Broccoli called him saying: "You can't give up this job. It's the largest audience in the world." Peter R. Hunt, who edited the first five Bond films, believed that Gilbert had been contracted by the producers for other work but they found they had to use him. Gilbert, producers Broccoli and Harry Saltzman, production designer Ken Adam and director of photography Freddie Young then went to Japan, spending three weeks searching for locations. SPECTRE's shore fortress headquarters was changed to an extinct volcano after the team learned that the
Chikara You Only Live Twice May 25, ending the promotion's one-year-long hiatus. In storyline, the return was made possible by former Chikara wrestler Robbie Ellis winning an auction and becoming the promotion's new owner. The name of the return event was later revealed as "You Only Live Twice", making it one of several Chikara shows to be held in 2014 named after James Bond films. Tickets for the event were sold out within days with no roster or matches announced. On April 1, Chikara announced that You Only Live Twice would be broadcast live on iPPV through Smart Mark Video. As part of Chikara's return