The role of James Bond is still up for grabs, but a familiar face may now be open to returning to the franchise.
Pierce Brosnan, who portrayed the spy in four films, has revealed he would consider reprising his role – depending on what director Denis Villeneuve has in store for the British secret agent.
In an interview with Radio Times, Pierce, 72, was asked if he would ‘do Bond again – is it time for a senior citizen 007?’
‘My wife Keely [Shaye Smith] and I have been listening to the drumbeat of expectation of who’s going to be the next James Bond,’ the Irish actor replied.
‘There are many great candidates out there, and I’m sure they’re going to make it a spectacle of delight. I don’t think anyone wants to see a craggy, 72-year-old Bond, but if [next 007 director Denis] Villeneuve had something up his sleeve I would look at it in a heartbeat.
‘Why not? It’s great entertainment. It could be lots of laughs. Bald caps, prosthetics… who knows?’
James Bond icon Pierce Brosnan has revealed he would return to the franchise if director Denis Villeneuve ‘had something up his sleeve’; pictured March
Brosnan portrayed the British spy in four films, including 1995’s GoldenEye (pictured)
Pierce portrayed the iconic spy on the big screen in 1995’s GoldenEye, 1997’s Tomorrow Never Dies, 1999’s The World Is Not Enough, and 2002’s Die Another Day.
‘I wish them well,’ Pierce said of the next film in an interview with SAGA earlier this month. ‘I’m so excited to see the next man come on the stage and to see a whole new exuberance and life for this character.
‘I adore the world of James Bond. It’s been very good to me. It’s the gift that keeps giving.
‘And I’m just a member of the audience now, sitting back, saying: “Show us what you’re going to do.”‘
The role has been vacant ever since Daniel Craig, the latest 007, departed in 2021.
Already a star before playing Bond for the first time in 2005 blockbuster Casino Royale, Daniel amassed a reported $100million from his six outings as the secret agent.
Now actor Aaron Taylor Johnson has emerged as the man most likely to replace Daniel Craig.
Taylor Johnson has previously played it cool when asked about the possibility of him becoming Bond, telling Esquire: ‘It’s not really for me to stay anything.’
Pierce, pictured 1997 as the spy, joked he didn’t think ‘anyone wants to see a craggy, 72-year-old Bond’
In a recent interview with SAGA, Pierce – pictured in a publicity still for Tomorrow Never Dies – said the James Bond universe has been ‘very good to me’
The search for the next 007 has been underway following Daniel Craig’s departure from the franchise in 2021; pictured 2012 in Skyfall
The next James Bond film is set to be directed by Denis Villeneuve
Should he be named as Bond, the actor will be working with Steven Knight, who has signed up to write the latest James Bond movie, Amazon MGM Studios confirmed in July.
The British screenwriter is perhaps best known as the creator of the hugely popular BBC crime drama Peaky Blinders starring Cillian Murphy.
And now he’s set to lend his talents to the long-running spy franchise by drafting the script for the newest 007 film, with Knight revealing that it has always been on his ‘bucket list’.
The latest Bond film is currently in development and is to be helmed by Dune director Denis Villeneuve, with Amazon MGM Studios overseeing the project after longtime producer Barbara Broccoli gave up creative control.
Meanwhile, Amy Pascal and David Heyman are on board to produce the movie via Pascal Pictures and Heyday Films respectively, while Tanya Lapointe will serve as executive producer.
